Lest We Forget - African American Military History by Researcher, Author and Veteran Bennie McRae, Jr.

Report of Capt. J. H. Mickler, C. S. Army, commanding Battalion

JANUARY 29, 1863. -- Expedition to Danfuskie Island, S.C.
Report of Capt. J. H. Mickler, C. S. Army, commanding Battalion.

CAMP PALMETTO,
Bluffton, S. C., January 30, 1863.
SIR: I beg leave respectfully to report to Lieut. Col. F. H. Gantt, commanding post, that, in consequence of information furnished me by Mr.------ Magee (a scout from district headquarters), I proceeded on yesterday, the 29th instant, to Danfuskie Island, where I succeeded in capturing 12 negroes, the only occupants of the island. As they proved to be old persons, several of them imbeciles, I did not think proper to remove them. An examination of three hours disclosed a remarkable accumulation of valuable bed furniture, clothing, provisions, dry goods, and sundries, besides silver and gold coin to the amount of $188, which latter I have turned over for the use of the people of Fredericksburg. I have also reported to the quartermaster's department 1 keg and 2 bags of nails, 172 pounds of bacon, 2 muskets and a shotgun, besides a small quantity of rope.

I was accompanied by 10 men from my company and 5 from company B, Eleventh Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, and Mr. Magee. Having only two boats of limited capacity I was able to bring off only a small proportion of the spoils. The men, however, succeeded in supplying themselves bountifully with many necessary articles of clothing, blankets, &c. For prudential reasons I did not think proper to burn what I was unable to remove. The men all behaved well. The value of the articles removed is not less than $2,000.

J. H. MICKLER,
Captain, Commanding Battalion at Bluffton.

C. F. Davis, Post Adjutant.

SOURCE: United States War Department. THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Series I, Volume 14. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901.

Category: Civil War | Subcategory: Reports - Confederate | Tags: South Carolina , Georgia , Florida , Washington
Related Topics / Keywords / Phrases: 1863, 1880, 1901, Company A, Company B, Davis, South Carolina, The War of the Rebellion (Book), United States War Department, War Department,