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The Battle of Gainesville was fought on August 17, 1864, as part of the Florida Expedition of the American Civil War.
[edit] Background
Gainesville, site of a crucial railroad junction and depot in north central Florida, was the scene of small-scale fighting during the war. On February 14, 1864, a skirmish erupted when about 50 Union troops entered the city intending to capture two trains. Company H of the Second Florida Cavalry with 130 men attempted to repulse this raid but were defeated by the Federal force which successfully returned to Jacksonville after holding the town.
[edit] Battle
The Battle of Gainesville itself took place on August 17, 1864, in the town square. The fighting was viewed by many of the townspeople from the windows of the Beville house near downtown. 342 Union troops of the 75th Ohio Mounted infantry, reinforced by two companies of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry and supported by a battery of 3 cannons from the 3rd Rhode Island Artillery under the command of Colonel Andrew L. Harris occupying the city were attacked from the rear by some 200 soldiers of the Second Florida Cavalry under Captain Jonathan J. Dickinson (companies H and F), supported by local militia, elements of 5th Florida Cavalry Battalion and a small artillery battery of two cannons for a total strength of about 290 (though only 175 would be engaged in the actual fighting).
The Union column, tired from a long march in the hot summer sun of Florida, were taken by surprise and did not have time to fully deploy when the main attack commenced. After just over 2 hours, the Federals were routed, driven out of town and suffered significant casualties—28 dead, 5 wounded, 86 missing or unaccounted and 188 captured, along with 260 horses lost and a 12-pound howitzer. The Confederates lost 3 killed and 5 wounded (2 mortally). Only 40 Union troopers and Colonel Harris escaped. He reported his column was destroyed by a large Confederate force of 600-800 men and 3 cannons (on this last figure he was only off by one).
After hearing his account, the remaining Union forces in the north central Florida area withdrew to the garrison at Jacksonville. Gainesville would remain in Confederate control for the duration of the war.
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