GENERAL J. J. DICKISON (1816 – 1902)
The “Swamp Fox”
“Our band is few, but true and tried,
Our Leader frank and bold;
The Federal Soldier trembles,
When Dickison’s name is told.”
Of all the men who achieved greatness while serving in the Civil War, Charles Hemming (Hemming Plaza) immortalized Florida’s Confederate General J.J. Dickison.
In 1888, when the Confederate War Memorial, which Hemming donated, was unveiled in Saint James Park (later Hemming Plaza) it was J.J. Dickison, Company H Calvary commander who was honored.
But why would he choose Dickison?
In Jacksonville’s Old City Cemetery, a high-relief granite block, complete with the Confederate flag, stands tall proudly reminding us of a Confederate General who led his men into numerous Civil War battles and survived to tell about it.
In 1816, John Jackson Dickison was born in Monroe County, West Virginia. He was raised in South Carolina and received his military training in the state militia. He advanced to the position of cavalry officer. Between 1855 and 1857, Dickison moved to the Ocala, Florida (Monroe County), area and purchased a plantation. Named “Sunnyside”, its crops made Dickison a wealthy man. He married twice and had two sons; Charles and R.L. Dickison. Both served under their father’s command.
If statisticians kept records of Civil War commander’s fatalities per conflict, Dickison would win by a landslide. Miraculously, nearly every one of his 170 to 175 brave soldiers survived. Throughout the war, Dickison’s sharp military strategy disrupted nearly every Union mission on the east coast of Florida. Union officers nicknamed Dickison “Dixie.” Under his leadership, many Union troops were either caught or killed. Proof of his effectiveness can be found in captured Union documents. They describe the necessity to capture or kill Dickison or “Dixie” at all cost. Several assassination squads were sent to complete this task but Dickison and his troops traveled such distances in short periods of time that no troop could discover his exact location.
General Dickison, 45 years old, was requested by Confederate southern commanders to lead soldiers against former countrymen. The United States had split in two and the warring factions would not halt the fighting until one side or the other surrendered.
If the phrase “lead by example” did not originate with General J.J. Dickison, he definitely drove home the expression. Dickison fearlessly led charge after charge into direct fire, guns blazing and sabers waving. Records attest to the fact that in nearly every battle, he was outnumbered by five to one. One particular skirmish his troops were outnumbered thirty-five to one.
His first duty was to serve as First Lieutenant under Captain John M. Martin, Marion Light Artillery. This brought him to the area surrounding Fort Clinch. While on a mission to round up Union misfits, Dickison rode his horse around a corner right into well-armed Union forces. Rather than surrender or die, Dickison directed his steed to leap an impossible barrier expecting disaster. Instead, his horse (like lifted by angels) easily cleared the impediment.
On July 2, 1862, he was ordered to create and command a new cavalry unit.
His first true recognition came in the form of the letter below addressed to Confederate command:
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I directed Captain Dickison, of the Second Florida Calvary, who had just returned from a most successful raid east of the Saint John’s, to endeavor to get in the rear, and concentrated on a large a force as I could at Newnansville. The enemy meetings, perhaps, more opposition than they had anticipated, fell back and were followed by Captain Dickison, who attacked them on the mainland, near Cedar Keys; and though his force was outnumbered five to one, the enemy retreated to Cedar Keys, after a sharp skirmish, leaving a portion of their dead on the field. Captain Dickison reports that he killed and wounded between sixty and seventy, and captured a few, with very slight loss on his part. I have heretofore frequently had occasion to report the gallant and valuable services of Captain Dickison and his command, and to present the captain, as I do now, to the favorable notice of the Government.
Very respectfully yours, Sam Jones, Major General, Commanding
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Imagine the fear of Federal soldiers when suddenly the ground begins to tremble and shake from hundreds of hooves pounding the ground. When they would finally catch a glimpse of Dickison’s threatening “war chief like face” with his mounted soldiers following close behind, it would be too late, their fate was sealed.
Loading a gun or even raising it in defense would take too long. The Federals would run, die or surrender. And though it sounds impossible, Dickison would not risk his men or their horses. Instead, he used speed and surprise to his advantage.
It was going to be a sweltering hot day on August 17, 1861, when Dickison received word that Federal troops had invaded Starke and burned Confederate train cars. He rallied his Calvary and moved toward Gainesville, their next position. The sun was just rising and cool dew was still fresh when Dickison and his 175 mounted soldiers swarmed down on the ransacking Federals. In minutes the battle was over. They struck with such violence that “A savage, scattered fight follows. The federal force is utterly dispersed.” According to published reports, 28 federals are killed, 5 are wounded and more than 200 are captured. Scattering like scared deer, over 125 escaped with their lives into the woods. After such a violent skirmish, Dickison proudly reported that only one of his soldiers died. Five of his men were wounded.
On October 24, 1861, Dickison was alerted to plundering by 50 federal soldiers. He reported that the troops were made up of “blacks and whites.” Again with his swift attack strategy, the soldiers were easily overwhelmed
and defeated. Ten Federals were killed and eight wounded. This time, not one Confederate soldier was wounded. Dickison reported, “By the protection of Divine Providence all come out safe.”
On April 22, 1864, N. Talley, Acting Assistant Adjunct General wrote of Dickison: “The faithfulness, promptness and superior judgment which you at all times manifested, give assurance of your possession of those soldierly qualities which inspire confidence, and command respect and admiration everywhere.”
In a letter dated May 24, 1864, Assistant Adjunct General Barth reported to Confederate Headquarters “Crossing the St. Johns River in small boats, Captain Dickison surprised and captured the enemy’s detachments at Welaka and Fort Butler, taking eighty-eight infantry and six cavalry prisoners, with the arms and equipment. Captain Dickison and his men then returned safely to their camp, bringing in the whole of their capture, after an absence of forty-four hours, during which time they traveled eighty-five miles, and affected the results detailed, without the loss of a man.”
Capture of the Columbine
One of his most successful and daring missions involved the capture of the heavily armed Federal war ship “Columbine.” It sailed down the river towardPalatka, transporting over 148 Federal soldiers and several significant pieces of artillery. Knowing the banks of the river like the back of his hand, Dickison advanced his men into protected tree lines. His sharpshooters hid patiently waiting for Dickison’s signal of attack. Artillery was readied for the order to shell. The entire outcome rested on the ability of Dickison’s men to remain silent and not fire until the ship was within sixty yards of shore.
At the exact moment necessary to succeed, Dickison raised his saber signaling his men to attack. Before the Union forces could fire their weapons, the Dickison’s artillery had lofted 20 shells on board the ship. The sharpshooters and other soldiers unleashed a rain of lead killing and maiming defenders on board.
After less than one hour, the flag of surrender was quickly visible. Dickison had captured the war ship, dozens of weapons, food stores and several large pieces of artillery. In addition, the remaining 60 soldiers surrendered without a struggle. One third was injured. After ravaging the ship for supplies, Dickison had the ship destroyed beyond repair. Only one soldier in Dickison’s command was slightly injured in the conflict. He was stunned by the sound of an exploding shell but recovered days later.
Lake City “Columbian” News July 1864 – Regarding Captain Dickison
“Who is there who has read and known of the dashing exploits and repeated captures, accomplished without loss of blood or the sacrifice of a man, can but stand in awe, and wonder how, by what skill, and stratagem, such feats were accomplished? Surely they were not commonplace. To the understanding of the citizens, they evince that he is a man of gifted military genius, born to command . . .”
Loss of Charles Dickison
After several small skirmishes in June and July, Dickison was informed of a significant force heading toward Palatka. On August 2, 1864, he quickly intercepted the contingent and forced them to surrender. Suddenly, without warning, the prisoners exposed previously concealed weapons and opened fire. Dickison’s son, Sergeant Charles Dickison, was shot through the heart. He fell from his horse mortally wounded. Sadly, Charles joined a limited number of losses his father J.J. Dickison suffered throughout the entire Civil War.
What greater sacrifice could one man give in his service to his country?
Hemming – Dickison Connection
There is no record of Charles Hemming serving with Dickison. Records reviewed for this story reveal that two of Hemming’s closest friends Seth Barnes and W. Ives served in Dickison’s Company H, Second Florida Calvary.
In fact, in the midst of one conflict, Seth Barnes followed Dickison who was attempting to capture a Federal commanding officer. When the officer failed to surrender and belligerently stated “shoot me and be damned” while raising his weapon toward Dickison, Dickison wounded the officer and Seth Barnes fired the fatal shot instantly killing him.
Dickison died in 1902 but not before being honored by Charles Hemming and the men he so gallantly served.
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