Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-19
FLORIDA.
Ertrdct from Il Letter to sGnhcman this city, dated
Enc


Ertraci from n Letter sendeman in this city, dated
FoRT FANsixG, East Florida,
Dec. ;, 1910.
/ embarked at New York, on the 10Th October with
22J recruits and reached Savannah on the 18th. From
thence in steamer, came by inland channels 10 the
mouth of St. Mary and the village Of that BY
sen 10 the ST. Johns, up il ia miles, by Jacksonville
and Picolata 10 Palatka. encamped here week,
waiting for teams, and then escorting Is mule teams
and 81 unarmcd Dragons, came the first day 10 Fort
Holmes, l. miles; next j. miles, b. Fort Russell the
third II miles, Fort Whrcoch, leaving % men, and
- at Fort IIielcman, Black Creek the fourth /" miles
to Mcanopy, leaving - men: the filth miles, TO Wa
cahooe, leaving % men; the sixth j miles, to Waca-
sassa, lea wing the remainder, 45 men. We then rode
j. miles next day to this place Orr route mostly
through open pine woods for the first three days av-
inc the Ockanaha river cur left, about one two
miles distant then We had Lake Orange for two days
OH our right.
The harnmocks formidable and Withholding in
their appearance. The largest passed is the Tus-
coua, seven miles through. We not house
the whole way, but desolate plantations. The
remarkable features Of The hammocks, the wide
spreading live oak and the palmetto, the hay and mag
nolia all frequently mantled with grey dropping moss,
and every where n dense undergrowth oi palmetto.
FAM vines and bushes
The eve can penetrate but little way into them
Many scene of boodshed pointed out TO us.
took steamer hence TO Cedar Keys, and from there to
Tampa Bay. These two beautiful and interesting
Spots where one sees the VITA
with moss and istooned with the green mir plant; the
palm with umbrella shaped top; tie stately pine The
groves of orange, lemon, and lime trees laden with
rich fruits Their shelly beaches, oyster beds and
turtle crawls, barracks, hospitals sockades, pcke,s
and tented sodicry their shady mansions and fisher
hut made of matched palmetto; their hotels, stores,
and shops; boarding houses and oyster houses: Span
ards and Nongrel Indian Negroes; their thrones Of
buzzards and if you please their mosquitoes and leas
their hot days and damp nights; bright skies and pour
ing torrents; paradcs and revcs. My whole regiment
was assembled at Tampa. Tie first time in fourteen
years seven companies Of the 9Th and three of the lst
regiments also there met great numbers of my
old comrades We have since dispersed; four compa
MES Of my regiment here, on the Suwannee two com
panies six miles lower down. two at Wacosassoc, and
two at the coast, three miles from Cedar Keys.
The LIST regiment goes to Sarasota, &c, and the 9Th
to Annultabga Hammock, Fort Clinch on the Withla
cooche, &c; the 9Th 10 Tampa.
The express rider large trail near Wacahoote
part of the 9Th are in chase with Colonel Whistler.
Our commander, Major Wilson, is out with a mounted
men, and Captain Beals 50 Dragons. Lieutenant
Gordon, with % mounted infantry, left this morning,
escorng provisions to MicanoPg.
Exposure to the sun and excessive heat, after being
for some days exposed to drenchng rains, has laid
up for a week with intermittent fever, but ] am reco
vering.-G Globe.