New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-22
OCCUPATION OF APALACNICOLA. A.
OmciaI Report Of Com. stelIwaEen.

NAsHlNNIONt
Commander Sterwagen Of the u. S. steamer Mer-
cedts off Apsachicoa, under date Of March 20
makes report to Flag Officer Mexican, who has
forwarded it to the Navy Department.
He states that in consequence Of intelligence re-
ceived from two oontrabsnds, the town had
been abandoned wo days after our coming in by al
the soldiers, numbering some $50. followed by
nearly all the inhabitants; and seeing steamboats,
either re-enforcing preparing TO evacuate he oe
termiped TO send TO the clty ana ascertain 'ne "u0
facts of the case.
The report which was made TO him proved to be
strictly correct there not being soldier, cannon, or
weapon of any kind, apparently, remaining IN we
town. Certain persons, clslInlnR 10 DC lnhu-h'iai
men, state that everybody bad oeeh 0,uereu per
emptorily away BY Cover or Milton Of FLORIDA.
The city, Commander Stelwagen reports, was en-
tirely at our mercy, the few remaining inhabitants
having no means Of defense whatever those eit
were part of few white families, q small NUMBER
of slaves and some Spanish fishermen, numbering
altogether from $40 TO bOU souls lnciuoln8 nlapy
women and small children.
He reports that he restrained from hoislng the
American flag because bis vessel did not lie near
enough TO protect Union citizens IN the place from
the inhumsn assaults Of the Rebels, who nave
threatened to burn the town in the citizens held
any intercourse with us.
The negroes represent the exodus Of women and
children being truly heartrending. They were
taken away at lie shortest notice, and III storm,
gathering what little clothes and household furniture
they could to take with them.
He also states that the batteries at the town ap-
pear TO be entirely Of sard. The one ut St. Vincent
he entirely destroyed, burning the platform for the
guns &c. Some few soldiers are at Riccat's Biufi,
90 miles MP the river. Tie rest are a. Johnson's,
2iO miles higher. At the latter place they have
been FIVE months building gunboats, which had not
yet been IlaDked IN.
The soldiers, it is stated, are dissatisfied and
dssprited and some 800 will leave as soon as their
time Is up.
later report from Commander Stellwagen, off
Apalacbicos under date of April 4, states that the
town was captured without resistance ms well as the
vessels in the vicinity by an expedition OF eight
armed boats from bis ship, the Mercedi'a, and the
United States gunboat Sagamorei Lieut.. Drake com-
manding.
In this report Commander Stellwagen states that
on the Goth ut. be heard that the soop Oetsyia had
ran into 81. Joseph's Bsy from Hsvana and -.1'
Acting Master Wilder, with snlboht, 10 that place.
so uiies via the land, Portage the mar
row "trip of land connecting Cape 81. Bias with the
II wa. found that she bad left but indications from
wheel tracks, spilled coffee, a., showed that hay
fregh, had been landed and csrted away. On the
same day his boats chased small sloop from Indian
Pass 20 the city, and st night he sent bis gg nown
20 miles to the last pass directing the Ssgamore TO
ioin him al the earliest convenience.
She arrived the let inst, and the next day the
boats were fully prepared for an armed expedition
TO the City and "Old Woman's Bluh, seven miles
DID the river. The sX boats started a. p. m under
command Of Lieut.. Abbott of the Mercedta, and
Lieut. Bigeow of the Sycamore, intending to pa"
tue town ia the night.
Lieut.. Drake and Com. Stellwagen followed in
gigs to support them On arriving at the city early
in the morning they found the Octavia and all the
small vessels in possession of our men. In due time
the PARTY came down the river, towing the pilot
boats Cygnet, Mary Olivia, and schooners New
I-land, Floyd, and Rose, the latter loaded with
cotton.
Considerable time was spent In trying TO get the
pilot-boats and the New Island over the bar, but
without success they grounding in seven feet Of
water. Late in the afternoon, We pulled 10 With all
the boats to the landingpace, and hsd interview
with the people Of the town.
Commander Siellwsgen told them, knowiog that
they were in want Of necessares Of liie that they
should be allowed 10 ish aud oyster 40 long as they
were friendly. After trying to get Off the three
boats which wore aground, without any succees, he
ordered them 10 be set on fire.
The slOops OctsviL ord Rose he determined 10
send 10 Key West for ADJUDICATION. He states:
think the demon trait will be sslliary TO the peo-
pie and serviceable to the cause. The men deserve
great credit having been from "a TO 80 hours away
from the ship, engaged in very heavy work, which
was cteeTfully accomplished