New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-08
OPERATIONS OF COLONEL MONTGOMERY
OCCUPATION OF THE TOWN OF PILATKA,
THE PLACE SHELLED IN RETALIATION
Treachery Of the Citizens Of Jacksonville
The City Burned and Evacuated

Jacksonville ia in ruins. That beautiful city
which has been for so many years the favorte resor
for invalids from the North has to-day been burne'
to the ground, and, what is sad to record, by thu
soldiers Of the National army. Scarcely mansion
cottage, a negro hut, or warehouse remains
The long lines Of magnificent oaks, green and beau
tiful, with the tbickest foliage, the orange grove
perfumng the air with their blossoms, the sycamores
the old century plants adorning every garden, thu
palmetto and bayone trees, ever tropical in verdure
the rose and the jessamne-sll that at this season
indeed, | might say through all seasons, has made
Jacksonyills little Eden has been burned, and
scorched, and crsped, If not entirely consumed II
ashes, by the devouring flames.
But before entering upon the details OF this lament
able destruction Of property, allow me to return Il
Hilton Head, which place l left last Thursday
morning. At that time at an early hour 1t Wa
whispered around headquarters although the utmost
secresy had been enoined that Jacksonville for the
second time was TO be evacuated by the soldiers o.
the National army, who had twice driven the enemy
from it, had occupied it, had promised the loyal IN
habtsns protection, and had assured them that the
city would be beld by our troops during the war.
Desiring 10 Wait this portion OF the Department o.
the South before the grand expedition set sail, and
also 10 witness the evacuation took passage on the
steamer Boston and arrived here with the accompa'
Qyflp tranfpOrtH, Inc tODFOI, luC bohNhcy but
Cossack and the Title, on Friday evening.
At Hilton Head much surprise, indeed much In
dieuaiion had been Expressed the moment it wa
made known that we were TO abandon this import
ant point; not perhaps, 30 much because 1t was i'm
portant, but because many loyal PEOPLE would be
utterly ruined by the movement.
Arriving At Jacksonville 1 called upon the lead
ing officers and found that they, too, could scarcely
resirain their Indignation. Is is an outragei 1t IL
yillainous; il viii inure cause terribly, were
the most frequent expressions. 10 was IN vain that
one tried TO demonstrate that 1t was OF the great
eat Importance at this moment that oil the troops in
this DEPARTMENT should be concentrated for the
grand conhict in Cbarloston or Savannah harbors
Either Of these important cities taken, the whole
state of Florida would be, II were, hanked, AND
the enemy compelled 10 abandon it ins antly.
But IL this 10 20, said they, why should we have
occupied II at all: This inseHoRatory conld mol
ansgsr Gen. Hunter undoubtedly can, and 10 hin
leave Il. / am satisfied that IL there has been 9
mistake made IL has not been 10 Withdrawing the
troops. Every one knows how much We have lost
all Trough the waa by scattering, instead Of con.
teiifhting our fLTcts. To continue such course IN
n tepartment embracing three large States would be
ruinous indeed, and am thankful that It has not
been persisted in.
the 10th of March by the negro brigade under the
command of Col. Higginson. What they achieved,
and how admirably, have already written You, up
10 as late date rs the 18th inst Before alludng
10 the events Of to-day, 1t remains for me 70 fill up
the interval from the 18th 20 the 18th. len days
ago, Gen. Hunter, upon representations made 70
him, not by Col Higginson, but by several loyal
men of much wealth aud influence, long residents OF
Florida, decided to re-enforce Col Higgnson with
two regiments Of white infantry-the 9th Maine,
COL Rust, and the 9th Connecticut, Col. Chatfeld.
Col Rust, outranking Col. Higginson, took COM
mand of all the forces In Jacksonville upon his
arrival. Before, however, Col. Rust arrived, Col.
Higginson bad by the severest labor his black
brigade could endure 80 strengthened his positlon
thai he deemed himself sufficiently strong TO bold
jacksonville against all the forces the Rebel Gen.
Finnigan could bring 10 bear against it.
The natural defenses Of Jacksonville are very con-
siderable. The ouly weak point was on the south.
west or in that portion OF the city where the railroad
from Tallahassee enters 1t. To guard this point,
Col. Higpinson caused two forts 10 be erected one
On the right of the railroad named Fort Montgome-
nv after Col Montgomery Of Kansas fame, aud one
on the left, Fort Higginson. To give range to tue
guns from these FORTS large forest of pine and oak
trees had to be cut down, and about oO dwellings,
mostly of an inferior class, destroyed.
Fort Higginson not only commands the left OF the
railroad bat the approach on the south to Jackson
VILE. by the st. Johns River. All the work upon
these forts was performed by the black troops. 1
have seen about all the earthworks in Virginia, and
do not hesitate to say that those
works will compare very fav0rably with the best
ever thrown up 6y the Army Of tho Potomac.
After Col. Rust had taken command OF the forces
here he projected reconnaissance Of tho enemy
stronehofd about 10 milos distant in the direction
of Iailahasse. In this little affair black and white
troous marched together. -Four companies of the
Gih Connecticut formed the right, six companies Of
the LIST South Carolina the center, and four compa-
MES of the Sth Maine the left. About four miles
ont the enemy's pickets were reached, driven IN,
and the ground near where the Rebel Gen. tinni-
CAMS br gade was encamped closely observed. AT
This distance a railroad bridge was destroyed, many
mile of the track torn up and other obsIruvtiohs
placed in the way Of Rebel advance.
Having accomplished ell he detred, Col. Rust
ordered return; but Just at that moment platform
chr WIS seen coming down the road with three pieces
of artillery on board At the instant II wac observed
n blisk ire from 6i-pound rited gun and TWO II
pound howitzers VIA opened. One shot passeu d.
Tec,ly through platoon of the Sch Name, killing
two men instantly and wounding four. NO oiher
casualties occurred, although the long gun kept up
brisk fire on the return. But tho most successtul
little affair since the second occupation OF Jackson
VILE was one planned and executed by Col. Mont
go,nery Of tie ID South Carolina. ...r.
He left Jacksonville day before yesterday on
board of the Gen. Meigs, with 100 men from his
regiment and few oi' from the LIST South Caro-
lima. amoug whom was Lieut.-COl Billings.
The point which they desired to reach on the ST.
Johns was Paiatca, small villsge rs miles from
where they had been told large
amount OF cotton could be obtainedand new recruits
for the regiment.
This they reached without meeting single Rebel
until they touched the wan ut Palatka. Just as
they were about landing company OF guerriilas
opencd vigorous fire with musketry upon the boat,
but more especially upon Lieut.. Col. Billings, VINO
stood out upon the deck exposed 10 the entire vol
lev. It was as II by q miracle that this ardent
Emancipationist and true philanthropist was po'
killed inrtantly. As 1t was he was wounded IL
three different parts Of his body-one ball passioe
through bis right hand, another through Dis ic' anu
stlll another through his hip.
; The moment Col. Montg emery brought MS ooat-
howitzsp 10 bear upon the town the Hs0eis scat
..I et.l t4. D..