Freedom by the Sword - US Army Center Of Military History

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Freedom by the Sword: The U.S. Colored Troops, 1862–1867
Ruins of Charleston after the Confederate evacuation
sive operations in the district, and began to ponder a raid toward Gainesville. On 15
August, the 34th, 35th, and 102d USCIs left Baldwin at daybreak accompanied by
twenty mounted infantry and three artillery pieces. They marched south along the
railroad for about ten miles and destroyed half a mile of track before camping for
the night. Continuing south along the line for the next three days, they burned an
estimated fourteen tons of cotton and a large steam-powered cotton gin and mill.
On 19 August, the expedition turned northeast and marched to Magnolia on the St.
John’s River, arriving toward sundown. It brought with it, General Hatch noted,
“about 75 contrabands, and some few horses and mules.” 69
Even before Hatch’s raid got under way, Grant had demanded more troops
from the Department of the South for his operations in Virginia. General Foster
sent three white regiments from South Carolina, but he in turn demanded that
Hatch, in Florida, return the 102d USCI. This reduced Hatch’s command to the
69 Ibid., pt. 1, pp. 428 (“about 75”), 430, and pt. 2, pp. 212, 215 (“very sanguine”).