The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-15

From the Port Royal True South of March
22d, We clip the following:

The news from East Florida is of the
highest importance. Since the fall Of Fer
nandina, announced in our last issue, Jack
sonEille, the largest city in the State, and
situated about tweaty five miles up the st.
John river, has fall IN without firing gun !;
and st. Augustine also ia in our possession.
Both places were evacuated as soon as the
National gunboats appeared In sight, about
ten days ago. At jack sonville, q delegation
CT important citizend, including the Mayor,
Immediately went aboard the flagship and
claimed the protection of the u. s. forces
At st. Augustine, the Mayor raised the
NatiOnsl. flag, and nearly all the inhabitants
remained protesting loyalty. News of
these facts being conveyed to Gen. Sher-
man, he visited Jacksonville in person, on
Wednesday last. a committee Of the loyal
citizens Immediately waited on him and
represented the feeling Of all who remained
ia the town-to be strongly loyal. The next
morning q Union meeting was held at the
Court House, where nearly every man left
in Jacksonville was present. and the mani
Hesitation was of the most decidedly loyal
character.
The people state that the rebel forces
abandoned Jacksonville soon after the cap
tnre of Fernando, and did many of the in
the Nationals would lombard the town
Others under the threat of the Rebels to
every man who dared to remain after the
departure of the Rebel troops. Organized
bands of guerillss roam over the country
pillaging and destroying property. These
are encouraged by the confederate general,
Trapier. They entered jacksonville the
night before our troops arrived burned an
immense foundry, several saw mills and
1000, 900 feet Of lumber, a large hotel, and
a great dry goods warehouse, all because
the owners of this property were supposed
to be Union in their sentiments. They also
threatened 10 destroy the entire city; con-
sequently most of those inhabitants who
dared to remain were obliged TO cross the
river, but before the Regulators, as these
guerlllas sty le themselves, had an opportu-
nifty to put into execution their nefarious
purposes, our gunbOats appeared. The Un-
ion people describe their feelings at the
sight as uncomfortable men burst into
tears of Joy, and their voices trembIe as
they relate the history Of their wrongs and
their long delayed deliverance. About
three or four hundred people are now in
Jacksonville others are coming in daily;
emongithem deserters::from the Rebel troops,
anxious to take the oath Of allegiance
These assert that numerous desertiOns are
snre to follow. It is declared that the sem
timent of all Eastern Florida is loyal
Many are wiiIing.tO take up arms to defend
themselves against the tyranny to which
they have lately been subjected, and as we
occupied the town when the RegulatorsWere
expected, even the women seize arms. The
citizens invited the National officers TO their
houses, introduced them to their families
and entertained them Hospitality. They de- |
clared that unless protection was afforded |
them against the enemy, they would &C.
company our gunboats In their departure.
But measures have been taken which will !
secure their safety and assist in the recoV-
cry Of the entire State to its allegiance
Capt. Stevens of the guHboRt Ottawa has |
been one hundred and twenty miles up the |
st. Johns river, beyond Jacksonville, and |
met with no opposition white flags were |
displayed slong the banks, and numbers of /
the inhabitants claimed his protection. He /
found the steamer st. Mary's and the ia
NOUS yacht America, both of which had /
been sunk by the rebels, but Capt. Stevens
Ia now engaged in raising them.
Il is hard to over estimate the impOr-
lance of this discovery of Union senti-
ment in Florida, the most Southern OF the
cotton States; Jacksonville is further south
than New Orleans, and if all this dormant
loyalty springs up at our approach away
down there IN Dixie, it is fair to count
upon similar manifestations wherever our
armies penetrate. -
From the people of Florida we learn that
Pensacola has been evacuated, Forts Baran-
cas-, McRae and all, and that the Rebel gov
eminent announces its abandonment of all
hope of holding Florida; the troops raised
In that State have been ordered away, bnt
refused to obey.
Brunswick, Ga, is also in our possession,
The harbor having been occupied by gun
boats for neaaly a fortnight sF