Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-08
Letter from the Department Of the
South.

nandna. 1t is situated on an arm of the |
sea, six miles above Fort Clinch. 1t |
may have been before the rebellion,
pretty and flourishing village, but at
present more lonely and desolate place
could not well be imagined, Nearly all
their homes, and as but few Federal
troops are stationed there, it is inhabit-
ed chiefly by "crackers" and contrabands
Twenty-four miles along the coast
brings us to the mouth of the st. Johns.
The voyage up this river is exceedingly
romantic and interesting; and the in
terest is considerably increased from the
fact that there is a possibility of our
steamer encountering torpedoes which
our humane brothers, the rebels, have
seen fit to sink in the channel. Three
steamers have already been ruined in
this way and several lives lost. The riv-
er is very crooked and branches off into
| innumerable bayous. Its banks are Dor
dered by magnificent forests Of giant
trees, their branches covered with Span
| ish moss which often hangs down even
| to the surface of the water Occasion
ally an opening reveals plantation, and
a pleasant mansion is seen almost hid
den among grand old trees. Twenty
four miles from it's mouth, on the left
bank lies the city of Jacksonville, with
out exception the most attractive place
we have yet seen in the South. Before
the war it numbered about five thou
sand inhabitants, but large part of it
was burned by our forces when evacuat-
ing it in 1862. Its streets are wide and
regularly laid out and were formerly
lighted by gas. Its streets and build
ings are all completely shaded by great
variety of trees many of them of great
age and immense size. Many of the res
licences are very fine and surrounded by
rich gardens and orchards of tropical
fruit. As military post it is valuable
chiefly as affording protection to Union
residents and refugees from the rebel
lines.
Many question the policy of the gov
eminent in holding this part of Florida
at all; but if the Federal troops could
succeed only in cutting off the rebel sup
ply of beef cattle from this state, it
would be a most serious blow to this re-
bellion. 1t is estimated that there are
million of cattle in the state of Florida,
mostly running wild, and although the
beef for the last Is months, the number
does not appear to be at all diminished.
But we are sorry to record that thus
far success has not crowned our efforts
in these parts. A raid is now in pro-
gress, and reports have just been received
here that the Union forces have again
been unsuccessful. 1t is said that a
body of soldiers belonging to the 10Th
Ohio were drawn into ambuscade and
attacked by superior force of rebels at
GAINESVILLE, resulting in the killing and
capturing of the greater part Of the COM
mand This may be an idle report, how
ever
1t is almost an impossibility for our
forces to fight the rebels successfully in
Florida. In country covered with ex-
tensive forests and immense swamps,
having but few good roads, but thor
oughly intersected by trails and bride
paths; whose whole surface is known to
almost every one of the enemy but with
which our forces are totally unacquaint-
ed, it must continually occur that our
forces will meet with loss and defeat
while the enemy suffer comparatively
little.
Large numbers of Crackers" or poor
whites, are coming into town daily and
expressing deep love for the Union; but
it is thought that this deep love results
from the fact that Uncle Sam feeds them
better than the greybacks do. | am of
the opinion that but little dependence
can be placed upon their protested 10y
atty. Their favor goes with the side
which feeds and clothes them best,
| l have formed the acquaintance of
your recruiting agent, Capt. Noble f.
Dunshee of Bristol, formerly of the 18th
Vermont regiment. He is meeting with
some success in this benighted land and
doing as well as any man can do to raj
ly soldiers for the Union. His invita-
tion extends to contra bands and crack
ers and to whatsoever will"
The weather here is extremely hot and
but little can be done by the army until
| Autumn. In the mean time our gal
liant boys will keep the rebels within
due bounds, but not far in the distance
we are looking for a general cleaning
out"
| Later information confirms the report
of our failure in the recent raid. Two
hundred and forty of the 18th Ohio
mounted infantry and 4th Massachusetts
cavalry entered the town of GAINESVILLE
several miles in advance of their sup
port, and after charging through the