Colonel Thomas Higginson and his regiment of former slaves, the 1st SC Volunteers, along with 125 black men under Colonel James Montgomery were ordered to sail from Beaufort, SC, on March 5th for Florida. Many of these men were from the Jacksonville area. They were to capture and occupy Jacksonville and recruit as many slaves as possible for the Union Army. In the early morning hours of March 10th, the steamers carrying the men (Boston, Burnside and John Adams) crossed the bar of the St. James River led by the gunboats Paul Jones, Norwich and Uncas. Their landing was unopposed and all the men would be ashore by later that same day and establish a defensive perimeter. On the outskirts of the town on March 11th Captain William Apthorp’s camp was attacked by Confederate cavalry and infantry. There were only about 500 residents still in town and Higginson set up his headquarters at the John Sanderson house. Two earthworks were constructed on the west side of town, Fort Higginson and Montgomery. They were built to protect the railroad and were located near the intersection of Broad and Bay Streets on opposite sides of the tracks. The 3rd Union occupation of Jacksonville is interpreted on the sign below at Camp Milton.

The Confederates were located eight miles to the west at Camp Finegan. Here General Finegan had command of only 803 men. Finegan requested reinforcements realizing the danger that most of the local slave population would flee to Union lines and the effect that this would have on local planters. None would be forthcoming and Finegan would have to make due with the men he had.

Many of the white residents in town requested to be transported out of the city beyond Union lines. The Federals would conduct several raid along the St. John’s River. One on March 17th was led by Captain Apthorp to the Laurel Grove Plantation of Colonel Bryant at Doctor’s Lake. They captured and confined Colonel Bryant on the General Burnside. Finegan assigned Captain J.J. Dickison and his cavalry to protect the river. On the 20th, 800 men from the 6th CT arrived in town. Three days later on the 23rd, 850 men from the 8th Maine were sent to Jacksonville under Colonel John Rust who assumed overall command. This would be the first time that black and white soldiers served together on regular duty during the war.

Although General Howell Cobb, the Commander of the Middle District of Florida, could not send reinforcements, he did send a 64-pounder cannon capable of firing an 8-inch explosive shell up to 2 miles. Finegan would mount it on a flatbed railroad car and use it to fire on the town. It would first be used on the night of March 24th by the 1st Special Battalion of Florida Volunteers under Private Francis Soule. From 1.5 miles away they fired at Union headquarters. The railcar was forced to withdraw under fire from Union gunboats on the river as well as from Forts Higginson and Montgomery. There were no casualties but several buildings were destroyed. The next day 600 men from the 8th ME and 6th CT were sent to destroy the rail lines. They were unsuccessful as the Confederates pulled back the gun but not before firing it and killing two members of the 8th ME (Thomas Hoole and Joseph Goodwin). The Federals brought their own gun out on a railcar each night thereafter to keep the Confederates at bay.

On March 27th Montgomery led another raid of 120 black troops 75 miles upriver to Palatka. They made at least six landings along the way. When they reached Palatka, they were met by Dickison and 50 men of his cavalry. After driving off the Confederates they seized cotton and about 30 Contrabands. Union Lieutenant Colonel Liberty Billings was wounded. They captured Confederate Lieutenant F.J. Braddock and 15 men. The gunboat Boston arrived the next morning with orders from General Hunter to evacuate Jacksonville in order that the men be used in operations against Charleston. Several Union families from Jacksonville left town with the Federals. Soldiers from the 8th ME and 6th CT set fire to the city as the Federals were leaving. A timely rainstorm and the arrival of Confederate cavalry under Winston Stephens helped put out the fires, however, much of the city was destroyed.