The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-11-04
JOHN E. BUTLER, Editor and Proprietor.

burned several elegant residences and IN their
second aigbt burned more. One man told
me that he rowed across the river and while
standing on the opposite bank, saw his DWELL
ing, which cost $50 900, reduced to ashes.
But there is solemn grandeur, which speaks
Of better days.-How dreadful, how desola'
ting Is war! ..... .... ...
The St. Johns River, isa noble stream.
flowing north as far as this place, thence east
into the Atlantic. II is navigable about one
hundred and City miles. and Is from one to
seven miles wide; il il also very deep. and
flows silently, but with great force and beau-
ty. A few days since party went up the
river rs far as Magnolia and Glen Cove Sui
phur Springs. The former is a charming
little village nestled among the live oaks. on
u fine eminence on the western bank OF the
river. and was, prior to the Rebellion, much
frequented by people FROM Philadelphia,
Boston and New York. The water at
the Springs is very strongly impregnated
with sulphur. and Floridians tell us its med.
icinal properties cure all kinds of disease that
"human flesh is heir to-" Ii is clear rs
crystal and tolls up from the bottom Of the
spring thirty feet, and flows of from its large
basin in very rapid stream. The rebels
were within one half mileof the Springs, but
we felt perfectly sale, for on this occasion.
Col. Montgomcry's black regiment did escort
duty. After drinking and bathing to our
hearts content, we embarked on U. ). steam
er, Mary Benton. for home. The trip down
the river was perfectly delightful; the Post
Band discoursed sweet music for dancing,
which was we'll improved Never while
memory lasts shall forget my happy visit
at Magnolia
st. Augustine is, perhaps, the most beau
tiful place in the South, and has suffered less
rrom the war than any other town in this
Department. and nearly all OF the buildings
are in good state Of preservation. The sea-
wall Is constructed OF granite imported, some
siy. from Maine it is a solid structure and
will stop the dashns waves for centuries to
come. A walk on the top OF this wall in
the cool of evening, when the delicious sea-
breeze is blowing. isa rare treat Tor one who
has lived on the burning sands OF Hilton Head
s. c., or ut Fernandina in this State, or even
in jacksonville We visited with interest,
tho ruins OF the Oldest house in the United
States, which was built nearly three hundred
wears ago. The climate Of ST. Augustine is
very salubrious "a case Of yellow fever has
never been known there and it is, without
doubt tho most healthy city in the South,
and some physicians say, their is none more
healthy in the world.
In this garden Of Eden are orange groves,
where the luscious fruit has fallen in golden
showers for more than two hundred and dfty
years But over all its natural beauty, its
splendid gardens, its pleasant walks, its
charming drives, its tropical climate so mag
zeal in restoring health to the invalid, has
hung for centuries the blighting curse OF hu-
man chattel slavery. Slaves for six genera
tions have drank the balmy atmosphere which
God made free Tor freemsn. Whole troops
Of little children have been hurried. not to
the schoolhonse, but t6 the auction'b block. TO
he scattered like the chalr Of the threshing-
floor IRON their natural protectors. Allow
Inc one littlc incident OF this ancient city
An old stakeholder called on the U. ).
Di.trict Attorney, to recover pay Tor some
property which the President had cmancipa'
ted. This old villain had two daughters
which were also his slaves, These two
daughters bore hiu fourteen children. which
were also slaves. The fourteen slaves
were his own sons and daughters, and being
children of his own children, were also hi.
grandsons and daughters. Such beastly
crininality, incest and impudenc, combined
can be found no where on earth save in the
slave States Of America, God grant, that
this war may never close while single slave
clanks his chain am Sir,
Very respectfully, Yours &c.
NAPOLEON T.. DENSErT,
General Supt. OF Freedmsn.