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


states the results Of which made
after Col Rust had arrved-the ten miles on the way
towards Tallahassee and the other TO atka. Iu the first
the Union troops lost two men killed and had four
wounded and in the second they surprised aud captured
sixteen rebel soldiers secured $4,000 worth Of cotton
and procured thirty negro recruits He then proceeds to
describe the burning of Jacksonville We copy entire his
account of this disgraceful affair:
JACKSONVILLE, (FLA) MARCH %, 1868.
Jacksonville is in Iuias That beautiful city which has
been for many years favorte resort for nyad from
the North has to-day been burnt to the ground and what
is sad TO record by the soldiers of the national army
Scarcely mansion, cottage, negro hut or ware
house The long lines Of magnificent oaks, green
and beautiful with the thckes foliage the orange groves
pertaining the air with their blossoms the sycamores the
old century plants adorDlng every garden the palmetto
and bayonet trees tropical in verdnre the rose and
the essamne-a that at this season, indeed might say
through all seasons has made Jacksonville little Eden,
has been burnt and scorched and crsped if not entirely
consumed to ashes by the devouring flames.
writing the deck of the fine transport ship
the Boston Three gunboats-the Paul Jones, the Nor
wch and the John Adams-are lying out in the river,
with guns shoted ready TO fire the moment rebel APP
pears in sight The transport vesses-the Boston, the
Delayan the Gen Megs, the Title and the Cossackare
the wharves filled with troops. all on board except
about two hundred of the Sixth Connecticut, who
picket duty Three blank shots from the Paul Jones have
just been fired, as signal for them to come in.
From this upper deck the presented to the speca
tor is of the fearful magnfcence On every side,
from every quarter of the city dense clouds of black smoke
aud flames bursting through the mansions aud ware
houses A fine south wind is blowing immense blazing
cinders right into the heart of the city The beautiful
Spanish dropping gracefully from the long ave.
of splendid old oaks has caught fire. and far as the
eye reach through these pleasant streets nothing
but sheets of flames be running with the ra
pdty of lighting to the tops of the trees and then darling
off to the smallest branches
The whole city mansos warehouses trees, shrubbery,
and orange groves all that refined taste aud art through
many years have made beautiful and attractive being
Tapped up and devoured by the bowling fiery blast One
- a., hat.. Erao
and lean hasarved dog the only living inhabitants
to be the streets Fifty families, most of them
processing Union sentiments have been taken on board OF
the transports and provided with such accommodations
the tubs will afford Some of them have been able to
bed and few chairs but most of them have nothing
in the world but the clothes their backs Is not this
war, vndclive, unreentDg war; Have we not gotten
up to the European standard :
Yesterday the beautiful little cottage used the Catho
lie parsonage together with the church fired by some
of the soldiers and short time burned to the ground
Before the flames had fairly reached the church the SOL
ders burst open the doors and commenced sackng it Of
every thing of value. The organ moment to
strips and almost every soldier who seemed to
be celebrating the occasion by blowing through organ
pipe. To-day the spectacle has been repeated ony
upon much grander scale There must have been some
understanding among the ncendaries with regard to the
confagraton At eight O'clock the flames burst from
vera buildings different parts of the city, and at later
hour still more fired The wind then to stiff
gale and the torch of the ncenary became unnecessary
to increase the fire. The only mansions of any value left
standing We move down the river the elegant
sions of Gel Sanderson and Judge Burr both rebels Of
the deepest dye Why much property known to be-
long to Union men, should have been destroyed and the
mansions of these notorious rebels left standing is hard
to understand
1t gives pleasure to report that the negro troops took
part whatever in the preparation of this vandalism.
They had nothing whatever to do with it, and simply
silent spectators of the splendid but sad spectacle The
9th Connecticut charge upon the 9Th Maine and the 9Th
Maine hur it back upon tue 9th Connecticut After the
fires in different parts of the city had broken out Col Rust
ordered every be shot who should be found apply
tho hYft ha tnnl xta
marshal aud his guard could shoot arrest the wind
No human power could stay its ravages
Sir o'clock, p. M.-Mouh Of the 81. Johns.-A herce
northeast storm raging upon the Gunboats and
transports lying here in safety waiting until it abaes
Again we are witnessing confagration. Some OF the
soldiers have gone ashore and fired fine steam sswm
at May Port Mills said to belong to Union in Maine
Much indignation is expressed board. The white sol
ders again the criminals The blacks have not been
off their transports.
April lst-We arrived in this harbor early this
ing after splendid of fourteen hours from the mouth
of the st. Johns Below give you list Of the families
we brought with whose dwellings burnt, and who
utterly destitute. Many of hem, before the
lived luxury and Independence Now they subsist
SaxtoD has set apart several of the largest mansions in this
city for their occupation until their friends at the North
can come to their assistance.
The following the list of families referred TO above
Mrs. Divees and family Mrs. Cole and family, Mrs WAL
lace, Mrs Dunbar Miss Jordan of the Crespo House. DR.
Emery and son, Mrs. Poettng, Mrs Hague and family,
Mrs. Poinset Miss Poinset Mr.. aud Mrs Thomas, Mrs.
Church, Mr.. and Mrs. Cover Mrs Curvck, Mrs M.
Leonardy and family Mrs r. Leonardy and family, Mrs.
Shaddock and daughter Mrs Foster Mr. and Mrs Syprel
and family