Dickison and His Men

This book is one of the few surviving first hand accounts of the Civil War in Florida. As leader of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Maj. Dickison led his men throughout the war in actions around Jacksonville, Florida.

From the introduction...
In the development of our reasoning powers, there is a fascination in the beautiful truth revealed, the charming lesson taught, that our life is a dual one, made up of the material and spiritual, the real and ideal. Truly inspiring and elevating the knowledge that it is not all of life to eat and sleep; for in our hearts throbs loud the truth, that "man for nobler ends has birth." We daily learn that more than one-half our pains and pleasures is derived from the imagination of the mind, either in the contemplation of ideal beauty or in brooding over imaginary evils. There is an inspiration that awakens the deepest emotions in the soul, in contemplating objects that bring up associations of the past. There is an inexpressible pleasure in the perusal of long-treasured letters written by our loved ones around their camp fires, or by dear ones who have gone before to the spirit world. How sweet the silent language even a faded flower breathes, of brighter, happier days!

We can not well analyze the sentiment, but it seems to be an attribute of the human mind to pay instinctive homage to all that is noble and grand in the warrior, the statesman, the poet, the artist. With what earnestness and interest do we gaze upon some trifling relic that bears the impress of ancient workmanship! The excavations in Indian mounds reveal long-buried utensils of pottery that were made by these untutored sons of the forest, and are regarded with interest by the race that now own their old hunting grounds, and have built cities over the burial places of their dead.

In obedience to that all-pervading sentiment I have so feebly attempted to describe and illustrate, I have lovingly cherished many sacred memories of the "Lost Cause," and carefully guarded the records of as gallant a defense as was ever made by a wronged people, and am now led by its promptings to chronicle a few events of our struggle to secure our independence, and establish for ourselves a separate government.

It is no historic effort, only a simple narrative of events that transpired in our own little State, and have been so long familiar they seem a part of my own home life. It is not my purpose, in this record of our eventful struggle, to defend the right of a State to secede from the general government, or attempt a vindication of the secession of the Southern States from the Union. Such action has been firmly asserted, clearly elucidated and bravely vindicated by our wise and able statesmen; and, though disastrous the results, I repeat the language of our illustrious chieftain, President Davis:

"We have cause to feel proud that the course of the Southern States has left no stain nor blot upon the honor and chivalry of their people."

Dickison and His Men
By Mary Elizabeth Dickison
281 pgs.