Washington telegraph., 1863-05-06
PENSACOLA, March % 1863


PENSACOLA, March %, 1868.
My DEAR -: | scarcely know how
70 begin to tell you of the awful times We
have had with these deviish United
States troops. Thank God they have
evacuated the place! The last ones went
off this morning. For the past four days
they have been ben, on destroying this
city On Wednesday night they set fire
to Z. Monroe's (Rioboo's formerly build
ing. which was consumed, together with
Miss Victoire Gagget's corner house, and
all her other small houses, down to Mrs
Gonzales house, on Palatox street, which
suffered the same fate as the rest. Pyer's
store caught fire, and 80 did St Mary's
hall, but il was extinguished. Next night
there were three fires, which did consid-
cradle damage The day following, while
at breakfast, the children came in and re.
ported 81. Mary's hall on fire, at the four
corners. The wind was southwest, so |
thought that the little that was left of
PalafuE -ucat would be safe, but Judge
f ny horror, when | saw four fires brake
out at ouce-une On Baylor street, one
heiwee lt";uana and Intendeutia streets,
and two between Romano and Mrs Hut
NJ sch"' house. The wind hauled to
The sout.', and thought the whole OF the
hcu.es would be a pile of smoking ruins
10 short while, but thanks to our
Heavenly Father, the fire did not cross
The street The two squares included
bet veen lntcndcntia street and Mrs. Hut
tons school house Cd Palifox street, are
10 ashe,; alNi, west of that as far as Jo-
seph GUn2lies' dwelling. While the FIRE
was ragln. the soldiers were a lawless
mob, going about tile streets stealing what
ever they could 10y their hands on. From
Miss Nesbet they stole nearly everythin .
she had 4 party of these wretches en-.
tered DIR. Brn~nahlm's house, and there.
before him ard MS wife, robbed them of
all their provisions and almost everything
else. and such articles as could not be
carried away they would dash out Of the
windows aud smash to pieces. The off,
GERS said they had no control over their
men.
| never could have believed what took
place had | not seen tit was terrible
The soldiers hare sworn vengeance against
DIR. Brosuaham aud the Spanish Vice
Consul, i. Merenc, Esq and may come
tiendish acts. Nearly all the people have
followed the troops to the navy yard and
Barrancas, where the troops have been
removed; and as there are no ascommo-
dations there for them, they are suffer
ing very much
Last night white a steamer was taking
down me troops and citizens, a Mrs.
Hanson discovered some of the Yankee
officers breathing open her trunks and
stealing her things. In attempting to
prevent them, She was pushed or thrown
overheard and dluwned She leaves one
child to mourn Ter loss. May God have
mercy ~ US.
Another letter which is dated March
23d, 1868, says:
The irceudiarics and thieves belonged
to the 18th reg't Connecticut troops, and
the 26th reg't Of Maine. Remember
them Floridians, if you should ever meet
them in battle. The Yankee officers were
witness Of all the burning and stealing Ut
their men, but would not Interfere to put
stop to their horrible deeds. There was
one officer among them who deserves to
be mentioned--his name is Plummer.-
Seeing the 2Sth Connecticut engaged 10
these infamous acts, he approached their
colonel and told him to make bis men &C.
sst from committing such outrages; but
the gallant colonel told him that ne DID
not intend to interfere with them.
Poor Joseph Gaguet fell victim t. the
devouring flames kindled by those hell
hounds of the North. Peace to his ashes