The New York herald., 1862-03-25
OPERATIONS ON the FLORIDA COAST
Our Fernsn dina Correspondence.
NINA March ~ 1890

Our Fernsn dina CorrespOndence.
FRRxANpNA, Fla. March II 1862.
Captsre ard Return Of Rstsi CoowI-Ntws frpm
Georga-Proores Of tie Draftins Sysem-U Umcilling
Rstsls in Arms-Rscownoissane Of St Aarys River-A
Bod DasA-Fwtite Attempt TO Capture the United States
0srSoat Oaaoa-Ionominious Plight Of tas Ewemy-Coo
and Bravery Of a -Cdptain-Nanes Of the
Woswdcd-Grees Peas, Strasterries, Fresh Shad and
Osh~ Luzxes-TAanks TO tie Captains of ne AeClelIan
and Pembtna-Ths Armed Gutter Henrietta, de-, &c.
Lieutenant Colonel Holland Of the First Florida batta
ton, was brought in to-day by the Onward. It
that he went on with flag Of truce to her while she
lying or shore blockadng little south Of this and who
she was flying Frepch nag decoy. He de-
ceived thereby and put himself into hands. General
Wright will send him back to-day tomorrow respect
ing the nag Of truce which he bore. The Colonel ex
presses himself under great obligations for the courteses
received at hands. He Is NOT inclined TO be very
Communicative on topics relating TO rebel affairs, but
his decided opinion that the rebels damned
rols sOr dssortng this place without rst Offering nght
aud testing their ability hold tam opinion which we
all concur in.
Since advent upon the Georgia coast Governor
Brown has issued proclamation ordering the military
authorities 10 drafting IL tho twelve thousand
called for by JeG Davis from the State
cruted by the 9TH Of March From their papers the
reports Of and refugees learn that recruiting
extremely slow IN spite OF the threats Of the autho
rifles aud the appeals OF the press Not half the number
required was forthcoming by the 4th and drafting began
on that day. II met with great opposition from the
people, but the order carried out most vigorously
aud 20 the letter. The quota is undoubtedly made up,
but from men unwilling to take up arms. Torn from
their families 10 take the Geld under officers placed over
them by the Governor cannot be expected that they
will become brave and efficient soldiers. Their hearts
not In the work and We are not at all surprised TO
learn Of wide spread dissatisfaction among them OF
characterization and deserton They are not supplied
with uniforms horses much food, and the officers hnd
IL most arduoas and discouraging " attempt to get
them INTO shape. 1t was body OF four hun
dred OF these drafted that rode from
Jefferson post town Of eight nine hundred nhabi,-
ants about fifteen miles from Sc. Marys one OF the
river blus the other night. TO take the gunboa Ottawa
The first design was TO retako ST. Marys, but learning
that the Ottawa had gone up the river they renqshe
their first ldea and concluded TO intercept our re-
turn frcm country. so they marched brayely down
the bluff and having pickeed their horses took a po-
siton In short rife shot OF the river, ready ap
proach 10 clear decks with rife balls, and then
well, they were TO capture the steamer They spent
long night very unconfortably, without shelter when
ice forming nearly half an inch thick the Ottawas
dock. Much 10 their disappointment did not appear
during the night, and they waited until ton O'Clock the
next day, when came in sight. As had got a new
idea from the affair had Just passed through on be-
coming aware Of their presence s that point the QUA
eleven inch shell and second Immediately after
wards thrown, both Of which exploded retreat
kicking up aterribe dust, and ning the woods with
their beIlowngs Two three PARROT projecles also
served 10 make known to them that we were
intentions. The shells did the business secosh
took 70 horse, and the brave four hundred
retreasd IN most confused order, each one for him
scampersd home at rate faster than they came not
dgnng 70 give shot or choosing 10 attempt the
in the affair with the Mississippi riGsmen the men
working the eleven inch gun forward and those working
aS na on. o. Sn sns ss s
the hro will illustrate the character Of seamsn for
bravery, cooness and selfposssssion. Maroney, the
captain ot the ioecastc gun during the heat Of the
test served his gun beautifully as II II had been
salute be was drng Two men had been wounded by
his sde and storm Of rifle balls sweeping over the
exposed forcastle deck when his gun being loaded he
was about to hre but before he could pull the lock string
rino ball carried away the lock- He instantly seized
hatchc and struck the cap once but failing 10 explode
g. raised the hstchet again when rife ball struck ths
handle split 4 and sent singing sensation up his hand
bachet down quickly upon the cap, exploding IL and
dischArgng the gun The shell did its work and Marc.
tired from the forecastle for moment Tho filing from
the rhed gun was uninterrupted thereafter.
the forecs.te who happcncd 10 be- in pe s,scv men On
their heads. Nearly every one Of the guns was
wounded, or showed tho marks OF rife balls. The box
At the mastbeads seemed 10 be target for the
mys Are, but they escaped unscathed. Certainly tho
escape from loss fife was almost miraculous
The following the names OF those wounded, all doing
very wsilJohn Ds cordy Masters Mate, rife shot lef
arm, through below the shoulder; 3. Roberts ordnA
~ seaman, rifle shot right wris-slight Michael Cray,
ordinary seaman rho shot, calf Of right leg Benjamin.
Ripley, rife shot, loft humb-not serious. DR.. G. q.
Csrpsper Surgeon OF the ottawa, dressed their wounds
sklnul manner ana all soon % well under h
treatment Mdshipman, Acting Muster, II. X. Duer suf-
Tered oontusionin the left groin from rife shot which
fortunately was stopped by copper cent in his pocket
This saved him from very pamh 81 not q very dan.
gorous wound.
The reconnaissance up the ST. Marys by the Ottawa is
pronounced the Doldes, most brilliant and most success
ful Of tho war The idea Of penetrating ly miles into
the heart u an enemys country, with single gunboat
bold that The very dash Of the movement ook tbe
rebels by surprise which they to recover from
bovsvcr, while wo were yiug az found in the swamp
SLsY employed the samO tactics that proved
o. DISASTROUS 10 the Eritsh in tho last war
6egsrd English officers and many men VOC