2nd Florida Volunteer Infantry

Saturday Engagement

Camp Narcoossee, near Orlando, Fl.

March 27, 1861

Captain Kearney,

SIR: I have the honor to make the following official report of the Saturday, March 24th, battle of the Narcoossee Mills engagement on this instant:
    Having reached a position about 2 miles North

from Narcoossee Mills on the 23rd at about 5:00 o’clock, I learned of your absence and was informed by Cpl. Tom Dye that you would most probably turn your command over to me as your duties on the home front were more urgently required regarding the health of a dear and honored family member.  Under the circumstances, with the information at my grasp being very conflicting and unsatisfactory, I felt I had no other choice than to assume the command of the unit and, in the instant, brevetted Cpl. Tom Dye to 1st Sgt. and Pvt. Jeff Schwartz to 2nd Sgt.  and forthwith endeavored to gain the necessary information regarding the strength of our Company and our state of supplies regarding ammunitions,  rifles, and other various accoutrements and necessary articles of war.  At 7:00 o’clock the following morning, Pvt. Nate Greene—that most wonderful banjar player that you so skillfully traded from the honorable Colonel “Jeb” Stuart—played Reveille and at 7:10 sharp we proceeded with the Company roll call which reported as follows:

Capt. T. H. fiddlin’ “Star” Saunders (brevetted)

1st Sgt. Tom Dye (brevetted)

2nd Sgt. Jeff Schwartz (brevetted)

Pvt. Tad Dye

Pvt. Jeff Chandler

Pvt. Zach Evenwel

Pvt. Nate Greene

Pvt. Luke Logsdon

Pvt. Chris Maniaci

Pvt. Andrew Sealing

Pvt. El Schlegel

Pvt. Paul Sershon

I introduced myself to the honorable Capt. Dennis Short of the 3rd Infantry  (by all accounts a most worthy and gracious gentleman),and as well met his 1st Sgt. who is a most outstanding man in his own right, and informed him of your misfortune and of the likelihood that the 2nd Florida Volunteers would not be going into the afternoon’s battle under your leadership.  He was, of course, disappointed by the unexpected and untimely news, yet, still most gracious in offering his services in whatever manner I saw fit, whether allowing us to fall in with his Company (mind you, one of the most fit and experienced forces President Jefferson has the good fortune of commanding through the CSA), taking on his Lt. as our brevetted Capt., or falling in with his brigade as the 2nd Company of the Union forces.  Having evaluated the options we had discussed and assessing the strength, courage and overall experience level of our good men, I opted to lead our Company into battle and carry our flag with honor and dignity to the death of our very last man or to victory under the banner and leadership of the gallant Gen. Short (brevetted) and his brave and gallant fighting men.

At 8:30 a.m. we again formed Company and prepared the men for Colors which was to be held at 9:00 o’clock sharp (delayed until 9:30 due to inclement weather).  Prior to Colors I drilled the Company to familiarize myself anew of the proper commands and protocol expected of a Captain in the leadership of his men.  I owe much to my dear brother-in-arms and pard, 1st Sgt. Tom Dye (brevetted), who tirelessly assisted my every move and did all in his power to assist my thoughts and actions to ensure our safety on the battlefield, honor on parade, and dignity in the presence of our piers.

Upon being called to the field, fighting in blue, Capt. Short (brevetted brigade commander) issued my first orders which were to begin reconnaissance to both the East and to the West of our present location on the extreme South side of the small lake.  At the instant, I deployed two scouts to determine the location and present activities of the nearby enemy forces: pvt. Sershon to the west, and pvt. Logsdon to the East.  Logsdon returned forthwith no sightings or useful information to be had.  Sershon, on the otherhand, returned out of breath and having dodged the lead of confederate fire from a band of ragged and scoundrel skirmishers.  I immediately relayed this information to honorable commander Short and my orders were to deploy the Hammock Guards, as skirmishers, solely and deliberately to the far West side of the battlefield.  With haste, I forwith gave the command to deploy as skirmishers and the Second Florida Volunteers sprung into action, armed with rifles, and a few flintlocks.  The skirmishers grew rapidly to a full and well stocked fighting line, with intermittent cavalry playing havoc with our extreme left flank consistently throughout the hour.  Because our numbers were so few, I deemed it necessary to present ourselves as a larger force by spreading our line yet keeping our powder extra heavy and fervent to give the enemy the brunt of our force, tirelessly and with every refusal to give our ground.  In due coarse, however, we could do no good but falter and were forced to retreat to safer and more firm ground. With a firm and hardy command, though, Commander Short charged us with every might to the front and we forced the enemy to a more localized and retreating position Northwest of the lake where the enemy then, in a last and unrelenting push, opened up with an incessant and torturous fire of small arms and lashing of bayonets.  In the end, the illustrious and honorable Capt. Short fired on the enemy to the point that they could no longer be rallied to the front and we are indebted to his leadership for our gallant victory on the field of battle and I will never, in my lifetime, ever be able to bestow too much praise for his gallantry on a field so thickly laden with blood stained lead.


I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant and wait your further orders,

Cpl. T. H. fiddlin’ “Star” Saunders,

(Brevetted Capt. at the Battle of Narcoossee)