Col. J. J. Dickison, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 11.2, Florida
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[98] however, showed no signs of advancing during the day, but held his position firmly. On the morning of the 17th Captain Simmons, Second Florida cavalry, was sent down with 50 men to relieve Captain Gwynn's command. During the day, while our cavalry was confronting them, their cavalry under Major Fox dashed up the north end of the King's road to Callahan and burned two flat-cars loaded with railroad iron and Mr. Jones' house, carrying off his horses. On this raid they arrested Joseph Hagans and Washington Broward, citizens, and carried off Mr. Geiger's negroes and burned the house of Joel Wingate. They also carried off the horses of Elijah Higginbotham. About 100 negro troops accompanied this raiding party as far as Thomas' swamp. Reliable citizens whom they visited on the route to Callahan state that they had 125 cavalry and 100 infantry negroes. All the damage done on this raid was accomplished in one day, the distance being very short from the line of the road to Broward's neck to Callahan. On the night of the 17th Captain Dunham arrived at Baldwin with 84 effective men. I also received instructions from you to attack the enemy next morning at daybreak with my whole force, if I did not consider them too strong; and if so, to send for Captain Rou's command and act on the defensive. I was satisfied they were too strong for me, and especially in the position they occupied. I accordingly telegraphed for Rou's command and determined to attack the enemy as soon as it arrived. Two trestles about 12 miles from Baldwin having been burned during that night the train from Gainesville could not come through, and the companies of reserves did not reach me until the 18th.

Meanwhile I had sent Major Scott with his entire effective cavalry force, 200 in the saddle, to feel the strength of the enemy and to ascertain if there had been any change in his position. He found upon arriving at Higginbotham that the enemy had retired in the direction of Yellow bluff. He was delayed some time in crossing Trout creek,