| Capture of H Cate 1st Lieutenant Company C 7th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers |
| January 20, 1863.
General G. T. BEAUREARD. SIR: One week ago last Friday in connection with S. T. Riddell, C. Rowell and 0. F. French were captured by a detachment of cavalry under command of Captain Dickison near Saint Augustine, Fla. We had been out by invitation to see them grind cane and were returning when we were captured. We were taken to Captain Dickison’s camp, near the Saint Johns River, and from thence to General Finegan at Lake City, where we were paroled and sent to this place in charge of Captain Mays, who has our paroles. On our arrival here we were lodged in jail where we now are. I would state further that there are two other prisoners with us who belong at Key West, Fla., and also two others who claim to be deserters. They have all been paroled. Permit me now, general, to call your attention to the following facts: First, we have no clothing except what we have on, and, second, our means for providing ourselves with these articles are very limited; consequently we would most respectfully ask that we may be sent North as soon as possible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,, H. CATE, First Lieutenant Company C, Seventh Regt. New Hampshire Vols. Captured by the Enemy - Advices for St. Augustine bring us the news of the capture, on the 9th instant, of a party of three adventurous young men, including a lieutenant of the Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers, the sutler of the regiment, and a civilian who had visited St. Augustine for his health. We do not learn the names of the unlucky captives. They rode out beyond our picket lines, taking a road which has been frequented by pleasure-hunters ever since our forces have occupied the town, and were made prisoners before a thought of danger flashed upon them. Two of them had their wives at St. Augustine. Letters were subsequently received by the afflicted women, informing them of the safe arrival of their husbands at Tallahasse. We confess to very little sympathy for the captured parties, who, in the light of all the mishaps of this nature which have occured during the war, were so culpably careless as to venture unprotected into the enemy's country. The New South, Port Royal, Saturday, Jan. 17, 1863. |