Lieutenant Colonel Andrew B. Spurling’s Report on His Cavalry Expedition to Pine Barren Creek Bridge, Florida, November 1864

Although cavalry in the Civil War was utilized as a branch of the large armies that fought in major campaigns and battles, there were also countless smaller raids, expeditions, scouts, and actions undertaken by cavalry units of both sides independently. These occurred in all theatres of operation throughout the war.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew B. Spurling led one such expedition for the U.S. on November 16th and 17th, 1864. Spurling led a 450 man expedition consisting of his own 2nd Maine Cavalry and the 1st Florida (Union) Cavalry from their base at Fort Barrancas, Pensacola, Florida, north to a bridge crossing Pine Barren Creek. Spurling’s expedition was highly successful; the bridge was destroyed and the Rebel garrison guarding it was captured. Spurling filed this after action report:

Camp Second Maine Veteran Cavalry,
Barrancas, Fla., November 18, 1864.

Lt. Col. Andrew Spurling 2nd Maine Cavalry Post War Image

General: I have the honor respectfully to report that, pursuant to orders from headquarters District of West Florida, I left camp at Barrancas, at 12 m. November 17 [16] in charge of all the then available force of the Second Maine Veteran and First Florida Cavalry, amounting in the aggregate to 450 men. After fording the bayou at Gun-boat Point, I marched the force fifteen miles in a northerly direction and bivouacked a little after dark four miles from the Fifteen-Mile House, a point on the railroad leading from Pensacola to Montgomery and distant from Pensacola eleven miles. At 3 o’clock on the following morning the march was resumed on the road running parallel with the railroad. After a march of about three hours, and at sunrise, the advance guard, commanded by Lieutenant Sanders, Company F, First Florida, came upon a rebel picket of three men, surprising and capturing them; at a distance of a mile another picket of four was surprised and captured; and a mile farther on six men, constituting the reserve, were made prisoners, from whom it being ascertained that at 10 o’clock they were to be relieved, the column halted for an hour, and the advance guard was sent forward to intercept and capture the men who were anticipated as the relief. In a short time the men who were coming out to relieve the picket were captured and brought in. The column then moved forward and reached the bridge at Pine Barren Creek. I succeeded without difficulty in capturing the rebel picket on the bridge, not a single shot being exchanged, and without alarming their camp, although it was close by, within twenty rods. The bridge was in a very bad condition, having been partly swept away by the river, much swollen by recent rains. I succeeded, however, in crossing my advance guard mounted, and several squadrons dismounted, without being discovered by the enemy. A sudden dash was made upon the
camp; nearly every man was captured, all their equipments, arms, horses, &c. The whole number of prisoners taken was 38; 47 horses, 3 mules, and 75 stand of arms, were captured. Nearly every effective man, including the lieutenant commanding, of Captain Leed’s [Leigh’s] company, Colonel Maury’s Fifteenth Confederate Cavalry, was made a prisoner. Two companies had been ordered away the day before to some point on the railroad in the direction of Pollard, or undoubtedly they would have shared the same fate. All the barracks, stables, shelters, &c., sufficiently extensive for a regiment, were burned, together with what commissary and quartermaster’s stores were found.

Having accomplished all that was intended I recrossed the bridge destroyed what of it remained, and in accordance with my orders started for Barrancas. I arrived in camp with my command a little after midnight, bringing with me all the prisoners, captured mules, horses, &c.

There were no casualties among our troops; not a man was injured. The conduct of both officers and men was at all times good all and that could be desired.

Cavalry Orderly by Edwin Forbes

It would hardly be doing justice did I not make special mention of Lieut. Joseph G. Sanders, Company F, First Florida Cavalry. He is a worthy officer, and deserves high praise for his meritorious conduct. He was at all times in command of the advance guard, and much of the success is due to the prompt and faithful manner in which all orders were executed. Among those under his command who did excellent service may be mentioned Sergeants Hollinger, Company E, Woodham, Company F, and Morgan, Company C, First Florida; Sergeants Butler, Company B, and Baker, Company F, Second Maine. These sergeants were at all times brave, active, and zealous in performing their duties. Major Hutchinson, commanding the Second Maine, and Major Ruttkay, commanding the First Florida Cavalry, were prompt and energetic.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. B. SPURLING,
Lieutenant-Colonel Second Maine Cavalry, Comdg. Expedition.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. J. Bailey,
Commanding District of West Florida.

Source: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 44.