Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-20
THE OPERATIONS ON THE COAST OF
FLORIDA.
The oecuPat ion of St Augustine and Jack.
senviiie.

s FLORIDA.
The occupa tjon of St Augustine and Jack.
senviiie.
We gather the following interesting particu-
lars Of the late operations on the coast of Florida
from the official dispatches.
Com. Rogers, of the q :. Flag Snip w abash,
reports to Com Dupont the occupation Of ST.
Augustine, as follows:
" Having crossed the ban with some difficulty,
I'm obedsn 9 10 YOUR orders approached st Au-
gus,iue under flag Of truce, and as drew near
the city " hite Tag was hois.ed upon one Of the
bastions Of F ort Marion.
- Landing at the wharf and inquiring for the
chief authority, was soon Joined by the Mayor,
end conducted 10 the City Hall, where the mu-
nieipel authorities were assembled. Informed
them that having come 10 restore tie authority of
the United STATES, you had deemed IL more kind
to send an unsfmsd boat to inform the citizens of
your d determination than 20 occupy the town at
once by force of arms. That you were DESTROYS
to calm any apprebensIons Of harsh treatment that
m 'Pht exist in their minds, and that you should
carefully respect the persons and property of all
citizens who submitted to the authority of the
United States. That you had single purpose
TO restore the state of as!rs which existed before
the rebellion
| informed the municipal authorities that 30
long as they respected the authority Of the gov
eminent we serve, and acted In good faith mu-
nicipal affairs would be left in their hands SO
far as might be consistent with the exigencies Of
the times.
The mayor and council then informed me that
the place had been evacuated the preceding
night by two companies Of Florida troops and
that they gladly received the entire assurance I
gave them, aud placed the city in nv hands
recommended them to hoist the flag Of our
Union at once, and IN prompt accordance with
the advice, by the order Of the mayor, the ma
uonal ensign was displayed from the flag staff
of the fort.
The mayor proposed to turn over to me the I've
csnIon mounted at toe fort, which are in good
condition and not spiked, and also the few mu-
nitiOns Of war left by the retYeatInu enemy I
desired him 20 take charge Of them for the pre-
cent, TO make careful Inventories and establish
patrol and guard, informing him that he would
De held responsible for the place until force
should enter the town.
called upon clergVmen Of the city, reouestipp
t5etn 70 TeassUte their Deopesad to fide in our
lind Intentions towards them. About 500 per
sons remain in st Augustine, about one ffth Of
the Inhabitants having fsd I believe that there
are many citizens VINO earnestly attac he'd to tbe
Union. large number who are silently opposed
foit ard still larger number who care very little
about the matter. think that nearly all the men
scquiesce IN the condition OF affairs we ara now
establishing.
There is much violent and persistent feeling
among the women. They seem TO mistake trea-
son for courage, and have theatrical desire to
inquire as beroinss. Their minds have doubtless
been tllea with the falsehoods so industriously
circulated in regard to the lust and hatred of our
troops. On the light before our arrival a marty
OF women assembled Ia front Of the barrac ks and
CT down the flag staff In order that II might not
De USED 10 support the old flag. The Men seemed
anxious to concilitate us in every way.
There is rsat scarcity of provisions I'm the
place. There seems TO be nc money except wretch
ed paper currency Of the rebellion, and much
poverty exist
Ia the water battery at the fort are three Rne
q my 50 Founders Of Z. 900 pounds and twn EIGHT
Inch sea coast howitzers Of s, 600 pounds. with
shot and some powder. There is a number Of
very old guns Ia the fort, useless aud not mount
ca. several good gums Were taken away some
months ago to arm batteries at other harbofs. The
garrison OF the place went from 81 Augustine Al
midnight on on the 10Th for SMYRNA where are
said TO be about 500 trOoTs, battery the steamer
CsioilHa ana considerable quantity Of arms and
1t is very positively stated that the Governo, he.
ordered the abandonment Of/East Florida and
proposes to make stand near Apalachicola
Nj Dennis, OF the coast survey, wh, accompa.
MED me, rendered me much valuable aid,
Lieut.. Stevens, Of the gunboat Ottawa, reports
The occupation Of Jacksonville as follows
succeeded I'm crossing the bar with tbis vessel
The Seneca and the Pembina, the day before YES,
brIaY, about O'Clock, having no water 10 snare
under our keeis. The Smith arrived half an hour
afterwards, and crossed without pilot
AS u was necessary to make arrangements IN
land company Of soldiers for the protection of
the guns before leaving the entrance of the river
found 1t TOO late to move up to this place thai
evsning.
Near 10 O'Clock discovered large fires. bearing
w. ". w from the anchorage, which proved 70
De, on my arrival here, the burning Of mills and
houses, and other property belonging to orthern
men with suspected Union procfivities, burnt nv
order OF the rebel commander.
leit ayport Yesterday with the vessels named
Tor this point, ordering the Ellen to stop at st
John's BIuu and take on board the guns and mn
nitions Of war at that point and afterwards to
Join me here, which mission was successfully
accomplished
We succeeded in reaching jacksonville with.
n fnfr
found evidences Of peaceful demonstrations and
returning reason On our arrival at this nlace
the corporate authorities, through s. Burnett
70 came oil with flag Of truce and gave up
From conversations with intelligent citizens
nnd that the Inhabitants are seeking and WAITING
Tor the protection Of our flag; that they do moi
rear Us, but their own people. From the occuna
ton of this important point, ann satisfied n IN,
opportunities are improved great results will
How Many OF the citizens have fed, but many
,ssLnAIn, ana there Is reason to believe most Of
them win return. 1 have Just heard that the mn.
niciPal government has been restored
Com. Dupont says his officers and men bave a,
all occasions displayed great spirit and ,b,l,tv
a dispatch from him, dated March Is, Off 2,
Augustine, contains the following:
"Further information from the "A. Johns ,,,.,
Is satisfactory The burning Of the valuable mill.
sad lumber, with the fine hotel at Jacksonviiis
and the house OF Nj Robinson, Union man WAS
" oruei oi tne feDel OenefdI Trapier, who, after
lngloriouslY flying with his forces from the town.
Win very considerable N ans Of defense at hand
sent a large detachment back for this incendiary
purpose, on discovering that our gunboats had
nor oeen able, on their frst arrival to cross the
Down on The fOBAcco TAx-The st. Mayv,s
bsae0H and the Marlborough Gazette, papers I'm
the nei2hbOTing counties Of Maryland, strenuous.
ly object to the proposed tax on their principal
agricultural staple, which they allege to be equal
70 more than oae AaLftb average amount received
Tor II In the market. They recommend the far.