New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-24
A UNION COLONEL On 4 DRUNK
outragea Of tie Flying Rebels
FURTHER UP THE RIVER.


9Th for ! .eksonviDe or the g, jeans River, one o
tie chief towns OF Florida. ISo hoet com
the gunboats Ottawa, Lieutenant Come anDi's ''1
Vens; Seneca, Lieutenant Commenting H',i-''
Hrron I;,,,enan, Comnaandiue Downes; Peia-ns, /
Leu;enal.: Commanding Bankheau is'"e H'"'D'
I,eutenart Commanding Nicholson; ana ene"' 'i''- /
a., co,,,,,a,5in,, Buda. In addition 60 this force,
were t arm ed launches and cutters OF the aoaei'
Ia eonruand q Lieut.. Irwin. Lieut.. Barnes A'''ps
Master, Pearson and Keaph, and A,idslipmen VAL
lacs erd Lowry, all officers Of the ManstA' were
undeg Lieet levin, il command O. separate boa1S'
The Transport Boston conveyed the ohfen "a slneh'
New Hampshire Volunteers, under Col thon~s 4
Whffe. Capt. Stevens Of . Ottawa lsad COMMAND
oil The whole force, position OF respons' olA! ana
importance, which bis services on ,hc Ottawa Ione
aimee entitled hia 10. Ills purpose WAS 90 proceed mp
the ST. Johns River, oecoYy Jacksonville, anu open
M the river above 50 iar 80 pilatka, beyond whci
no water was supposed " exist deep enough iVi i1e
punboats. Guns had been carried by the Rebels
from Ternaudipa 70 ~. Johns Bluti ne m"os ifo"
The ter AZ the mouth OF tue ryer a,C t-tefeh we're
Known 20 have been erected cou'nandin6 he en-
sssuce The place being il many res ecIs Of more
imrortance than Fernancina, snd having been 30 90
Gently fortified II was Supposed he Ae,els meant TO
make desperate defense.
The fee; sailed ai y. AZ ; the vessels were 81
Esssau, which port battery lad Tor SONS tine pro-
t.c,ed sud where q Rebel steamer was SAID 10 be
living There was no water for the gunboats, and
force was therefore sent IN the launches and cutters,
under Lieut. Irwin. \ pssssge through the breakers
Syas found with some dibc1i,y, tie bos's pulled IN
by the fora. which WAS deserted and NJ. Irwin
landed " ith ole boats crew, took possession o. the
work, FROM which three guns uad been carried Of,
end boisted tbs American Gag. \ eoupe Of Secs
tionists were found 10 the WOODS near by, one Of
whom declared hms' IF British subject. This per-
con was Mr.. Hanmbsl. Scot, miii-owner at backs
eousiIle. as we alterward discovered. lie VEG not
dsposed to give Information Of any kind, bn, went 50
far ss to assure u thai ST. Jobna River wa. strongly
defended and tfss the euuhoats would nave oi' the
fighting they wanted. The mon were sui'rred TO 70,
and the boats retarasd 10 tie neet, the pot loang
his way in the darkness, and taxing us OF through
The uidet Of tie breakers, which were heavy enogga
20 have swsmped largor can less sklinlly handled.
81. Johns River was only Eve miles hrtheF south
and was reached Toe same evening, ,ae feet anchor
ing off he bar. The boats went tsFly nex, morning
90 SOUND ont tie CHANEL, which constantly sbdts,
sometimes materially changing is bed IL less ibaa
fortnight Across ths whole bar he sea wac break
N my heavily. CAPT. Aamen, who lad sone in lis
Gig. reyored thai # would be Impossible 70 til
che sea went down. Two batteries were discovered
on shore, each mounting two guns, and apparently
both deserted. Ei2gs Of truce were seen on the
beach but 10 boat could get over lie bar. Capt.
Ammen went III the next morning and brought Of
four negroes who reported that all tie troops had
been ordered out Of East and South Florida tnst
defense would be made on the river and thai the
Mayor Of Jacksonville was anxious TO sonj Rag Of
uuce 10 the feet byt col.d be found o. bring
IL. The information was considered u 70 auci m
portance that Capt. Stevens went CIT in the Utowa
10 communicate with C.u. Dupont, who bad come
down tho day before in the Wabash, on La Wa 30
st.. Augustine. II wae asceua'ne3 also ,i4t tue
depth OF water or the bar barely su.tc.ea; for
the gunbo2;s Of the Otowa's drayht. The Huron
was accordingly ordered by Con-. Dupont tn accom-
paDy hin down TO St. Augustine.
Cs.t Stevens returned in the afternoon, aud
determined to make an effort u Tao oar once
IN the Ellen drawing two feet lcss tbsn bis own
vessel, and with lie launches and cutters. Ito
attempt was successful, aud thc Ellen cafe.
anchored inside tho ont which fdos Jte ryeg from
che SEQ. Lieut.. Irwin meantime laD6ec wit he
force under his command and ,ook possession Of the
deserted forts. Four heavy 80 were found, and
with them quantity o. cartridges and shot ilags
were hosted on the lighthouse ana the forts. 4
camp IN rear of The further battery he'd evidently
been not long since abandoned. an inscription in
chalk On the door Of Of The huts recorded that the
Rebels had LEFT from the force Of circumstance,
but hoIed 70 meet the Yankee, rs usg8i 81 another
point
The Ellen being unable TO accommodate conye-
vicinity TIE crews Of the boats, Lieut. Irwin landed
his men On the opposite side OF the river for tie
night -Four rlinous old houses, rejoicing in the
name Of Pilo;town gave shelter % the party.
Pjclets were stationed, the bowilze.s landed and all
preeau,ion taken to quad agains. surprise. II all
Otbers had failed, the muskotos would have been
entirely sufficient. We al gave up tie notion Of
sleeping after one or two attempts, ind bestowed
our undivided attention on thl
Tuesday afternoon the rest Of tie feet succeeded
81 crossiIg the bar, Capt SeyHs returning OF board
the Ottawa, taking charge Of L~ himself, and com
ing in under full steam, in spite Of tle circumstances
Of hs oYeI.caatiouf pilot. Tie vessel s.fuch twice
IN crossing but went over without dnmage. II she
had been under lees Roadway, the ra,uli might have
been less fortunate. Tic Seneca, .Pemb;ua and
Isaec Smith followed, the two former touching and
going over in the same way. u bei,R TOO late TO
rraeh Jacksonville Lat night, tie Acct again
anchored. Two men were cent Oh board ne Ottawa
during the evening By CAPT BauAhcad. who con- {
frmed the sa'emenie Of the negfoes az - the d.
ienscess condition Of The river. From the account c
Had the dessrton OF tie lons al the entrance il was
evident Tat no serious effort a. ress1ce wac 20 be