The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-03-28

WASHINGTON, March 10.
Capt. Davis, late feet captain Of the South
Atlantic Squadron, arrived here tonight,
bringing an official dispatch from Commo-
dore Dupont, Of which tho following is q
copy:
FLAG SHIP MoHicAs. HARBoR OF FERSAs.l
DINA. FLoRiDA, MARCH 4rH, 1862.
SrR,-I had the honor to inform you in my
last despatch that the expedition for Fernan-
dina was equipped and waiting only for suit.
able weather to sail from Port Royal. |
have now the pleasure to inform you that /
am in full possession of Cumberland Island
and the Sound OF Fernandina and Amelia
Island. and the river and town OF st. Mary's.
sailed from Port Royal on the last day Of
February, in the Wabash, and on the I'd inst.
entered Cumberland Sound by st. Andrews
Inlet, in the Mohican, Commander s. w.
Godon, on board which ship have hoisted
my flag. The feet comprised the following
vessels. sailing in tho order in which they
are named :-Ottowa and Mohican, accom-
panied by the Ellen. Seminole, Pawnec, Poe
ahontus. Flag, Florida, James Adger, Bien.
vile, Alabama, Keystone State, Seneca, Hu.
ron, Pembina. Isaac Smith, Penguin, Potom-
ska, the armed cutter Henrietta, the armed
transport Mcclellan, the latter having on
board the battalion Of marines under the com.
mand Of Maj Reynolds, and transports Empire
City, Marion, Star of the South, Belvidcre,
Bastow, and Georges Creek, containing
brigade under the command OF Brigadier
General Wright.
We came to anchor in Cumberland Sound
at half past 10 on the morning Of the I'd, To
make an examination Of the channel and wait
Tor the tide. Here learned, from 'con-
traband,' who had been picked up at sea by
commander Lanier, and from the Dcighbor-
ing residents on Cumberland Island, that
the rebels had abandoned in haste the whole
Of the defences OF Fernandina, retreating
from Amelia Island, carrying with them such
Of their munitions as their prccipitato flight
would allow.
The object Of carrying the whole neet tbro'
the Cumberland Sound was to turn the heavy
works on the south end of Cumberland and
the north end Of Amelia Islands; but on re-
ceiving this intelligence | detached the gun
boats and armed steamers Of light draught
from the main line, and placing them under
the command Of commander Drayton, of the
steam sloop Pawnee, l ordered him to push
through the Sound at the utmost speed to
save public and private property from threat
ened destruction, prevent the poisoning Of
tho wells, and to put stop to all those out.
RACES by the preparation Of which the lead
ers Of this neiarious war hope to drive and
exusperatc the Southern people. I
In the meantime went out Of the Sound
and came by the sea to the main entrance Of
this harbor. In consequence oi bad weather
was unable TO cross the bar until this morn.
ing.
Commander Drayton, accompanied by @.
r. p. Rodgers, with the armcd launches and
cutters, and the armed companies from the
Wabash, had arrived several hours before me.
Immediately on entering the harbor com.
mandcr Drayton sent Lieut.. White, OF the
Ottowa, to hoist the Gag on Fort Clinch, the
first of the National forts on which the on.
sign Of the Union has resumed It's proper
place since the first proclamation Of the Pres
,dcnt of the United States was issued. A
few scattering musket shots were fired from
the town by the flying enemy, when 1t was
discovered that o railroad train was about to
start. Commander Dnyton, on board the
Ottawa, and Lieut.. Commanding Stevens,
chased this train for miles and fred several
shells ut Il, aiming at the locomotive, eome
of which took effect.
Il was reported that Hon. David Yulee,
late q Senator Of the United States from the