Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-23

49,
dawa of the troops At this time, aud at this distance
the whole affair to have been criminal bunder of
the worst kind"
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE EVENING POST.
Tile Evacuation OF .acksoneill Burning Of
The Totoa-A Cruel Outrage.
JACKSONVILLE, GLAD MARCH 20, 1863.
Three weeks SINCE in pursuance of authority from Gen.
Hunter to aud hold this place the black forces from
Beaufort here and occupied Jacksonville under the
most suspicious circumstances for the speedy acquisition
Of the entire State of Florida There were known to be
less than three thousand rebel troops IN the State and all
who were conversant with the affairs of the State believed
that the time had when small force could be made
effective in opening it to the occupation OF loyal citizens
and of creating of escape for the hunted negroes
berded 10 the Interior and watched with such malignant
vigilance by the rrbels.
Jscksonyle was under the control Of gunboats
the St johns and il unwise to make any movement
for it's occupation until were prepared 70 mold IL as
base Of operations into the interior 1t is the
kew to East Florida and it's occupation by us would have
Immediately compelled the rebel ABANDONMENT OF all the
territory east of the ST. Johns and have secured an i'm
me nse amount Of cotton turpentne and other rebel pro-
pertv 10 the Government 1t presented most promising
field for the experiment as it is still regarded by some) Of
testing the character aud capacity of the negro troops and
such it was seized upon with away I ~ S
s was supposed permanently here aud commenced gath
erng advantages within reach when u was thougnt
proper make more extensive and powerful
and for this purpose the Sixth Connecticut and Eshtn
Maine came 10 reinforce army These came with ten
DAYS racns and evidently intended only TO remain
long enough strike blow and then return 70 assist IN
the movement Charleston. Ihey were deiayea some
day. in reaching here therefore scarcely debark
ed when an order for their immediate return ana
onlyths but for the recall OF the oack troops aso'
and the abandonment of the place.
more fatal order for the place, the interests oil the
people, aud the Government could not have been made
Every body taken by surprise and every pody was
xasperatd perhaps few who feared the negro so
d;srs would acbiev. n reputation Was General Hunter
crazy2 Why occupy the place at Jail il not prepared TO
hold lit Why come and embarrass the people anu haZad
the es and of deeuceess inhabitants thus wan
tonly There and thousand similar questions were sug
and bitter expressions aud deep felt curses were
uttered against tickle, capricous ana not
faithless commanders But there was no afernale the
order must be ed nstanter In he midst OF the mar
vest of patriotic hopes compelled 10 ABANDON ALL
and thus render the expedition Dght ana curse, IA
Their than blessing aud OF strength 10 the Union
cause. -, . r
To add to the wanton cruelty of the enterprise some OF
the sodiery allowed TO set fire to the town 10 various
places and now as leave it is IN blsze Ihs last
act of vandalism regret to say, was mostly perperated
by the soldiers of the Eighth Manen some Instances
the sanction of subordinate officers bur IL que 10 Cor
Rust 10 saw that every thing he could do was done 10 pro-
tect the property and tie people. One company OF the
black regiment also implicated 10 hripg one olock
but they did it under the sanction not approval OF
white lieutenant We leaving with such articles
az rana ss can be most easily removed and such OF the
citizens Ms become compromised by our presence
s to render certain that they would not DC spared py
the rebels. ::
And here regret to be compelled to record acts OF in-
iustce and cruelty on the part of officer Tor whom
have heretofore had the highest regard and io whose
character and reputation had conceived Tue Des
A. hsst bare aust be on such much personal
suffering and distress. Families suddenly conPehed 10
abandon their homes and find refuge among strangers,
mnst suer under the best administration oil AFFAIRS vi
this do not speak Gen Hunter cent SUFFICIENT transport
taton az was opposed for all who wished TO leave with
their personal effects The steamer Convoy under sPe
cnl charge of Col Hggnson of the First South Carohna
loaded with Government property acquired by the
troops and such furniture could well be taken on
beds bedding and necessary articles Tor the comfort OF
the refugees they had time to get away Col higgin
.on comes on board and orders the upper deck TO be
cleared claiming that he must have the room LOT MS oack
soldiers The order was carried out athlo Tue tears
and protestatone of defenceless ana unProeceu
and children and even the last mattress OF one old lady
with family Of three persons was thrown on anu aoan
doned and she cooly told she could steep on lne
gronnd as the soldiers do This family now go forth,
from comfortable home, well furnished with the results
of long years Of toll to find refuge among Strangers
without bed TO tleep on, or chair-Wtn nothing put
what they their persons And tns crue wrong
moi the result of necessity all the furniture coud
have been taken and though the boat would nave peen
crowded every article brought on board couo nave re-
manned without serious inconvenience, and would nave
,de many poor women and children comfortable IN tner
involuntary exile 1t is abandoned 10 oestructlon
and its owners to want and suffering. Col montgomery
and Col Rust both did all that coud De done ~ itsato
the evils of the occasion and regret that unnecessary SUI
fernp should be thus inflicted and COL Hggnson was the
last person from whom expected ~. ,
and the cause Of freedom and Unn in the South the great
eat ipury-f he wished to parayze the parosm ana de-
sroy the LOYALTY Of this people and blight the hopes OF the
st,e he could not have adopted course more certain oil
than the one he has adopted from the hrt 10 re-
GARD 10 this State This is the third time that the
have been cheated and the loyal sentiment placed
AZ the mercy of the common enemy Now THIS ace-the
hest and most ourishng 10 East Florida, and the
onv n,ce whose citizens and property holders were gene
ray oyal-has been irretrievaby ruined ana It's people
scattered abroad without homes means OF present SUD-
ssence Many loyal citizens further up the riVer peng
assured OF protection rendered service ana so den
fed themselves with the Union az ooutiaw them win
the rebels and abandoned TO their tender merces
God save the country and where such things are
done in is name and by its friends. Nothing could have
been more satisfactory than the conduct OF black soders
as general thing No white soldier could do better and
IL left here and by such accesons as they could
have secured they would have gradually obtuined posses
zion Of the State aud acquired reputation that would
have been terror TO Southern rebels and Northern
copperbeads. - !,
The troops are now all embarked with fourteen rebel
aud the trophies Of war; and such OF the citizens
as can find place on board the steamers Delaware Boston
John Adams, and Convoy and propelers General NeiRs
and Tley and leave this devoted place third lime,
and now in ruins the reward Of the fidelity OF it's citizens
to the flag which has been uUfured them but TO EN-
barrsss and ruin them You will undoubtedly receive the
official report Of the expedition by the mail which
takes this and have time for its details now.
-o
FURTHER PARTICULARS.