New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-08

all the cotton In the place ana aDout oV negroes LOT
his regiment, Col. Montgomery started on ms return.
Earning however thai some cotton could De Cd
tanned al q landing about IS miles above Jackson
vile he stopped the boat and went OH Win his men
In thu country about ten miles. should have sald
thar lis little expedition was in the night and that
the Segroes Col Montgomery took with HIM were
familiar with the ground: several OF tnem having
been slaves on the plantations along the road:
When about ten miles out, they discovered what
appeared at some distance to be small campfire,
and upon closer reconnaissance proved to be such.
Col. Montgomery divided his little company into
parties of four or five, and disposed them 30 az to
entirely surround the camp. Much to bis surprise,
he found the entire party, consisting Of Lieutenant
and sixteen privates, lying on the ground, sound
asleep, without single man on guard. Or course,
all he had to do was to take possession Of the arms
fifteen new Enfield rifles, stacked in front Of the
camp, arouse the sleepers, and announce to them
that they were prisoners Of war; The moment the
Lieutenant discovered that his entire party had been
captured by company Of negroes, his modification
was extreme, and manifested itself In expressions
not pleasant to polite ears. He was, however, en-
tirely In their power, and in little while, with his
could command. -
This little party Of Rebels had been cent out from
the command Of Gen. Hnnygan as an escort 10 the |
Inhabitants who desired TO seek safety from the
Northern invaders beyond the lines of the Rebel
army. They had with them two good army wagons. |
heavily laden with valuable sorss and eight mules.
The drivers were soon compelled to hitch the mules
TO the wagons and turn their heads in the direction
Of the landing, where the entire party arrived be-
fore morning. Just as they reached the boat they
received the order TO return TO jacksonville sent up
by gunboat as courier. and to prepare to leave
with the rest Of the troops.
Although Col. Montgomery did not accomplish all
he desired to do on account Of the order to return
he yet has reason TO feel proud Of what he achieved
Sixteen live Rebel soldiers, every one OF whom can
A l.. IL haas n
has been thus dealt with on account Of hs color,
$40 900 worth OF cotton, 30 negro recruits and two
wagon loads Of Government stores. Ii circum-
stances had not compelled US to evacuate Jackson
vile, Col Montgomery has not the least doubt that
he could have raised 10000 volunteer recruits in
less than month in the valley of the ST. Johns.
As it is the experiment Of raising negro regiments
important 40 it is, will have to be abandoned in
Florida.
To return again to Jacksonville-its evacuation
aud destruction by fire.
/ am now writing on the deck Of the fine trans
mort chip, the Boston. Three gunbosts-the Paul
Jones, the Norwich and the John Adams-are lying
out in the river With guns shotted, ready 10 fire the
moment Rebel appears in sight. The transport
yessels-the Boston, che Delayan, the Gen. Meigs,
the Title, and the Cossack-are at the wharves,
filed W it'll troops. All are on board, except about
200 of the 9th Conn.,, who are on picket dnty.
Tnree blank shots from the Paul Jones have Just
been fired, as a signal for them TO come 10.
From this upper deck the scene presented TO the
spectator is of the most fearful maeniiicence.
On every side from every quarter Of the city, dense
clouds of black smoke and fame bursting through
the mansions and warehouses. A fine south wind is
blowing mmeose blazing onders right into the heart
of tie city. The beautiful Spaniah NOES, dropping
90 gracefully from the long avenues Of splendid old
oaks has caught fire, and far the eye reach
through these once pleasant streets, nothing but
sheets of flame can be seen, running up with the
pdity Of lightning TO the tops Of the trees and then
darting oil TO the smallest branches.
The whole city, mansions, warehouses, trees,
shrubbery and orange groves; oil that refined taste
and art through many years have made beautiful
this bowling fiery blast. One solitary woman,
horse tied TO fence between two fires and lean,
half.starved dog, are the only living inhabitants 10
be seen on the streets. Fifty families most Of them
nrofessinR Union sentiments. have been taken on
board of the transports and provided with such &C.
commodations as the tubs will Afford send lIst
herewith. Some Of them have been able to save q
bod and few chairs but most Of them have nothing
in the world but the clothes upon their backs.
In not this war, vindictive, unlelenting war
Have we not gotten up to the European standard
Yesterday the beautiful little cottage used as the
Catholic parsonage together with the church, was
fred by some Of the soldiers. and In short time
burned 70 the ground Before the flames had fairly
reached the church the soldiers burst open the doors
and commenced sacking it of everything Of value.
The organ was in raoment torn 20 stripe, and al
most every soldier who came out seemed to be cele
bratina the occasion by blowing through an organ
pipe.
upon a much grander scale. There must have been
some understanding among the incendiaries with
regard to the conhagration. AT o'clock the flames
burst from several buildings in different parts of the
city. and at later hour still more were fired. The
wind then rose to stiff gale, and the torch Of the
incendiary became unnecessary TO increase the fire.
nh Ia of standing
we move down the river are the elegant mansions OF
Col. Sanderson and Judge Burritt, both Rebels and
scoundrels of the deepest dye.
Why so much property, known TO belong 10 Union
men, should have been destroyed, and toe mansions
of these notorious Rebels lett standing, il hard to
understand.
IL gives me pleasure 10 report that the negro
troops took no part Whatever in the perpetraon OF
this vandalism. They had nothing whstever to do
with it, and were simply silent spectators OF the
splendid but sad spectacle. The 9th Connecticut
charge 1t upon the 9Th Maine, and the 9Th Maine
hurl IT back upon the 9th Connecticut After the
Gres in different parts Of the city had broken ouI,
Col. Rust ordered every man to be shot who should
liza found applying tue torch. But the order came
too late The Prov Marshal and bis guard could
not shoot or arrest the wind. No human power
S,r O'Clock o. m.-Mouth of the 81. Johns.
fierce northeast storm ID raging upon the ocean.
Gunhoa,s and transports are lying here in safety
waiting until II abates. Again, Witnessing a
conaagration Some of the soldiers have gone ashore
andl found fine steam-sawmill at May Port Mills,
aid TO belong 70 a Union man In Maine. Much in-I
dIgpation ia expressed on board The white soldiers
AGAIN ar. the criminals. The blacks have not been
Oh their transports.
Aprl |, lS63-we arrived in this harbor early
this morning, after splendid run of IA hours from
the month OF the st. Johns. Below hand you
int of the families we brought with us, whose
dwellings, were burned, and VINO are nov utterly
destitu,e. Many of them before the war, lived In
luxury and Independence. Now they are suDsisting
upon the raIions of the Commlssary Depar.men..
Gen. Saxton has set apart severai o. .no ,;