Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-28
The war in En.t FIor,dn.


Correspondence Of tbs Savannah Republican
The blacklist page in the history of this most
/ infamous war, has been written By the Lincoln
1 dynasty on the soil of Florida. Hitherto, and
in other States the Yankee minions have bsen
content to make this war between the whites,
but it has been reserved for the little State of
| Florida to be Invaded by negro foe, bent on
carrying out the war of races and the war of in
surrecsion indicated by Seward in his correspon-
dance with Adams, at Lpndsn last year. Cedar
Keys, Fernsndins, St. Augustine, and Ja k
sonVille, had all been taken from us during
the war by the enemy, and we submitted
with the best grace We could assume, because
| it was q white enemy; but when it was an
nouueed that a negro regiment had landed and
thrown out picke,s soma mile or two beyond
Jacksonville, it fell upon the ear like the slerm
of fire. bell at midnight, and every man
thought seriously of his wife and daughters,
and every wife and daughter thought Of their
fame and good name, desrer to them than life
itself
On lssrnidg the negro regiment had landed,
Brig. Gen. Finegan concentrated all the avail
able forca to meet and repsl them, and pre-
vent their advance into the interior. The position
was one of fmuch dslicacy and dangert to the small
fo,cs he had at his command. The enemy's gun
bosts lay in font, having longer ranged guns
than the general had in his possession. Add to
this the fact that two creeks, eight miles above
town, are nsvigable in high tide, on eseh side Of
the railroad, rendering it extremely hazardous
for the general to encamp below them, lest the
enemy might come up aud flank him, and fall
upon his rear while the enemy and his gunboats
were in 'front.' To avoid the danger the general
fell back above those creeks, but daily and
nightly felt in scouting parties to harrsss
and annoy the enemy. By many the falling
back, and the establishment of his permanent
camp above those creeks, was deemed an un-
wise, timid and worse than Fabian policy, and
the strongest pressure was brought to bear upon
the general to risk all, and to make a bold dash
into the town and drive the negroes to their
gunbosts and transports.
Fortunately for bis men and our csuss, the
General was firm and refused to sacrifice the
lives of his men in the attempt to take town
which the gunbos's could have driven him from
in an hour, and when the enemy evacuated the
place and our men rushed in, they were as
founded at the number and extent Of the ride
pits and fortifcations the enemy had erected to
D event our reaching the town. Then it was
apparent to the bumblest soldier that the Gen
eral had acted wisely and we'll
O1e black regiment and two white regiments
constituted the enemy's force. The blacks
would not stand FIRE but ran on every occasion,
aud their white brethren became disguised and
say they are not worth hgndng tor. Before
leaving, the town was fred in all quarters, and
our troops, including the 1st Georgia regiment,
aided by a drenching rain, extinguishsd the
Ere Two churches and many valuable rest
dence, were consumed. The whites lay the
blame on tie negroes, with what truth know
not. but deem all equally guilty.
Many acts Of indiguity aud insult were prac
ticsd by The slaves while on the S. Johns. Mr..
Bryan, q non-cOm 5atant, was cspiur d and car
red to the enemys camp By bis own runaway
slaves who, while 'eseorting him, subjected him
30 all manner of insults. What led the people to
believe the enemy had come to occupy jack
sonville permanently was the fact that several
formerly prominent citizens of that place were
along with stocks of goods aud had really
opened stores. Why they came and why they
left so abruptly is still mystery. By many 1t
is believed they left because the regroeS CON-
neneed running away from them to us. b
the cause what it may, the people of the whole
South has reason to rejoice that their nefarious
attempt to eolonize Florida with our runaway
slaves proved abortiv0, and for its so doing are
under especial obligations to General Finegan
and the officers aud men under his command
He has proved himself in deed aad in truth
equal to the emergency, and has the consolation
of knowing that he did not rashly expose the
lives Of his noble men. For the prompt sction
of General Cobb and his men, and the lst
Georgia regulars, East Florida feels truly CRATE
full lola.