March 12, 1864: Union Expedition Up the St. John's River in Florida

MARCH 12, 1864:  The USS Columbia, Acting Ensign Francis W. Sanborn, supporting an Army movement up the St. John's River, Florida, captured the Confederate river steamer General Sumter.

Acting Master John C. Champion, commanding a launch from the USS Pawnee which was in company with tug Columbine, took command of the prize, and the two vessels pushed up the St. John's River, reaching Lake Monroe on the 14th.

That afternoon the naval force captured steamer Hattie at Deep Creek.  The expedition continued for the next few days, destroying a Southern sugar refinery and proceeding to Palatka, where the Army was taking up a fortified position,

--Old B-Runner