Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-03-20
The Expedition to the Georgia
and Florida Coast.

The telegraph made brief mention of the
capture of Brunswick, Ga, and Fernandins,
Fla. We give below few additional
particulars:
The first point of the coast approached
by the fleet was the town of Brunswick,
Georgia, the enemy abandoning their
works and precipitately flying at the ap-
groach of our gun boats:it was taken pos
session Of, and the gun boats left in charge.
This gives the government the control of
the whole coast of Georgia, from South
Carolina to Florida, Brunswick being dis
posed of, the fleet moved twenty miles fur
ther, 10 Cumberland Sound, the entrance
to the harbor of Fernandina, Florida.
When the expedition come in sight of
Fort Clinch, the rebels were discovered
making hasty flight, and fired two or three
random shots from the barbelte guns Of
the fort.
The shells of the fleet however, caused
a hasty evacuation, and Fort Clinch was
Immediately taken possession of, and the
flag of the Union raised on an old staff
which had so long been disgraced by the
traitor colors.
This is the first of the old Southern
forts of the Union that has been recovered
since the proclamation of President Lin
coin declaring that they must all be re-
stored to the Union.
AS the fleet approached the fort train
of cars was observed leaving Fernandina,
and as the track runs some three miles a.
long the shore of the Sound, Com. Du-
pont sent one of tie gunboats in pursuit of
her.
An exciting race took place, the steam
er throwing shells at the flying train, some
of them falling in such close proximity,
that some of the fleeing rebels jumped from
it, and took to the bush. Among the lat
ter is said to have been the late Senator
Yulee, of Florida, accompanied by his serv-
ant, The train, of course, outran the gun
boat and thus escaped.
The cid case-mated Fort Clinch having
been taken possession of the Union flag
was speedily raised.
From the eight rebel eartworks aban-
doned by the enemy, twelve large guns
fell into our possession, including one
large rifed cannon of l2O pounds calibre.
Five were found in Fort Clinch, and
the others were. in the earthworks. The
rebels had hastily removed portion of
their guns, which were said to be at ST.
Johns, further up the Sound. An expedi-
ton was preparing to go up to capture
them when the Alabama sailed. Consid-
cradle ammunition was also captured, and
the same evening the rebel steamer Dar-
tinglon, loaded with wagons, ammunition
and camp equippage, was also captured
while endeavoring to escape.
The expedition accomplished its mission
on the 4th of March, the anniversary of the
Inauguration of President Lincoln
Brunswick is connected with all the great
Southern lines Of railroad. By a canal re-
Gently constructed, it is connected with the
Altamaha, and by the river and the rail-
road from Macon to Atlanta with the two
great lines which connect the Atlantic with
the Mississippi, and which have their east
ern termini at Charleston and Savannah,
and their western at Memphis and Vicks-
burg. Into these run the more northern
roads from Kentucky, Tennessee and Mis-
souri,. The line of the Brunswick and Flor
ida Railroad penelrates large portion of
the great cotton belt of South Western
Georgia, and runs through vast tracts OF
the richest cotton lands
The magnificent harbor of Brunswick,
with its ease of access, depth of water Sc
cure anchorage, fine climate and eapabiliiy
for imprrguable defense, all indicate this
place as an unsurpassed site for a CONNER
cial and maratime port. Its position is
nearly midway between the Chesapeake
and the Southern Cape of Florida, and it
is nearer to the Mississippi than any other
Atlantic part, its distance from Vicksburg
being about 600 miles.