The USS Columbine and Battle of Horse Landing-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

The USS Columbine was a 117-foot side-wheel steamer, originally built as a tugboat in New York City in 1850 by the name of A.H. Schultz with a 6-foot draft, crew of 25 and mounted two 20-pdr Parrott rifles.  It was purchased by the U.S. Navy 12 December 1862 and assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

From January to February it was off Port Royal, SC and March 9-12, was on an expedition up St. John's River in Florida.

THE BATTLE OF HORSE LANDING, FLORIDA

In May 1864, Confederate spy Lola Sanchez  alerted Southerners that the Union forces were planning a secret attack and the 2nd Florida Cavalry under Captain John Jackson Dickison,  crossed the St. John's River and set a trap with a cannon  from the Milton Light Artillery.

On the morning of May 22nd, the Union force was ambushed in skirmish that came to be known as the Battle of Horse Landing.      

Old B-Runner