New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-01


The Plans Of the Enemy-At,aek on Pi-
Ia;ka-Conscrip,iou OF Ncgrces-schoois
for White and Einck Children.
Corres pondenoe Of TLr n. y Tribune.
HEADQUARTERS DIST FLORIDA.
March %, 1864.
Some of the few and true friends of the Union
cause Which We found in this place and vicinity,
gave us information on our arrival that number OF
steamboats, might be found the hcodwaters Of the
ST. Johns or in its lakes and tributaries. The Sumter
Hattie Brock Reliance. and Silver Springs were con
slcrcd the most valuable As Col lia-ton had
fortified bis position OF pilatsG and felt fully able TO
take cnre of himself and hold the place some enerprs
ing officers ana marines from the nRvyyard resolved 10
make cruise up the river in search Of these boats.
The expedition was considered full Of danger, as II
must nee ssarly De small and go far from all assist
ance into the eucmv's country. Acting Master Cham
pon and LIST Mate +. w. Sanborn and 70 marines, vol
unteered 10 undertake the pcTious cruise The Col
umhine," sieaui-tuc, mounting on her prov one SIX
PONDER and launch from the PaT'nce. comprised me
hcet On the morning Of the 18th Master Champion cit
Puaka with the good wiFha3 and bcncdictiOns Of
Bartcn'S amy res,ng upon him. Tie next DAY lie en-
tered Lake George and after short Search found The
"Sumtcr" smFll stern wheel transport. IL was made
especially for the carrying trade on the ST. Johns ana
its tributaries IL Is OF very light draugt, ana can as
ccnd far W these smC streams into the INTERIOR anu
before the war, did very profitable business. VITA
bis prize be returned 20 Iaka and cast anchor amid
contained small cargo Of cotton fosln and tLfIen
tine.
SECOND EXHIBITION
was Immediately planned, and ready TO leave
pilltka in tie evening Of tie 18th prize from
the launch was put aboard the Sumter, and she was
Immediately put into service. AS before the Coinm
bnc led the way. Only three days raiions was taken
and when five had passed We hearing hoiling from
them became little concerned Tor their safety But
we knew Mr. Champion 20 be an earnest leader. ard
that lie was safe if nothing had bellen him Of greater
moment than loss Of TGtinEs. Alter little cruising
about in Lake George he moved mp the river, exploring
every tributary. bay and secluded spot Of that ragged
aud crooked stream till Piiaka lei 70 miles
ia bis rear H. resolves 10 Tise still further. and he
goes up into Lake HusfTd, but finds nothing. Lake
Jesup II but few miles further and he pushes fur
ter mp into That with the same result lie deter mines
70 ST. Lake Halaey $50 miles from Pilutka before &C.
turning.
1t was On this broad and beautiful sheet u water hat
perseverance YVES crowned with success. The HAtte
AS she was fondly and amiary called was found tied
10 In IN oui-1thc way place and left 90 her fie uuf
mon without opposition took possession towed her INTO
q place If safety and made some has'y ctnmrniious
She had on board 400 bales OF cotton quantity OF lu
pentine loi Of resin. AID cooper boiler Tor tlIen'
line dise1y. Ii fouGd that the side valves Of bcr
give he'd been removed, but wooden ones woIc soon
cxtcporizcd and ~ four hours stecm was mp and the
enlarged fleet moved down tie river.
The hold Of the le'te Brock ca" contain 800 bales o
cotton She has cabins 70 accommodate rom - 70 NV
nas.engers IN excellent bleenGlne nearly new ana
-. oiout 500 OOO She was the best boat ever bui
exprrs. IN for the ST. johns trade
On the way down, in passing Font Gates Gan old earth
work built dining tie wiz the Seminoes) ayoicy
of mu etry Wa. fired iutn the boats but without effect
The Coluubinc's long eun, projecting over heF Prov
put TIE guciles 10 Hight ard hey were seen no more
The most oxquisitoly painful paii o! The uo|nwnid
trip occurred at EntcrpIEc-a smal! town on Lake
Monroe As tho feet moved mp 10 tie landing near
where tie Brook House" stands the yeritahlc Miss
Hattie after whom the boat y the wont throughout
the clyarous South was named made her appearance
on the vclandsh overwhelmed with ast0.ishmeut,
indi gnation and grief she That her namcsIkc,
the pride o( her lie had fallen into the hands Of the
YanLees The Little backes cd belle seemed like HuGcl
angry She eloquent ~ her grief ana our marines,
poor fellows, were glad T. get away as soon as they h
sut,ued their boats with fuel. No misiGps occurred,
md on the 9Oth the expedition without loss arrived ~
Pihtka aud on the Gid, were in jacksonville The
whole affair Is regarded OF the daring and bill
liant exploits OF the Nar AS the prz were taken by
volunteer mgTiues Il is thoughl that tlc prize money
about 100000 will be divided between them-the il
men two OF them officers.
SPRINGS Is far up TIE uca"aba III large bisin-like
spring OF the same name.
The Reliance, and It'll another boat, in the 81.
Johns higher up somewhere and these marinss having
rot taste OF adventure and prizes viii not nest Til
Tbougl he utmost pans was taken by the owners Of
these boats 10 them beyond our lines, and keep
them in concealmcnt yet thcy now have the mpndencc
10 como forward aud request the privilege Of taking The
oath Of allegiance OF ptng the amnesty proclaim
zion and taking possession OF tr property again Gu
the captiycs were nsde ny lAe hhiiaI{ po"'r ~
gals are returning too late. Time will show.
DESERTER5
come into lines nearly every day but they nre most
lv nersons OF Northern birth and pressed into ia"
Rebel service Native forldians especially the wreck
eTs and upper classes, have not as general thing
any more idea Of abandoning the Rebel than the
leonard has Of changing hs spots Tic stories II dis
aster are quite contradictory IN most respects. The
Important point Of agreement H. Tie Rebels mean to
hold Florida LET the cOsl be what II may. some think
an attempt will be made TO drive us on Of Jacksonville
and nd the state OF presence altogether. And why
Should ut theyr Thomas has fallen back from Dalton
Sherman no longer threatens any place, Schohe.d Is
otdi IN Knoxville and appears the COnederates are
m liberty 10 throw crushing fo;cc upon ua. III thor
war councils decide that both Richmond and Florida
cannot Be held there IL no doubt an attempt VIII be
made 10 CAPTURE drive us from the state Such are
leir railroad facilities that weeks time il sufficient
10 reinforce Fnncgan 10 any extent needed, aud only
few days more would be required TO fight battle aud
remove the troops any other part of the tohfderocy
But such our decnscs and tho spirit OF the army
that all would ray Let them come"
On tn evening of the d inst. little after dark ar
sttaak was made upon PaatkH by the enemy ~ small
force The firing lasted about an hour and WAS very
bsk on our part The gunboats took part IN the melee
and their ban sting shell fell quite freely among the
enemy 1t l. thought the enemy simply feeling
of oui lines to their strength and readiness for
general engagement Al La left few dead and
wounded behind it b presumed Le retired satisfied
There were no casualties on our side.
GIN. sKYnoUE
issned an order No H. for the c0nscription or all
alc.bodied color in his district, embracing Fer.
nardiDa St Augnstinc jacksonville Piiatka. and all
Intermediate places. Had this officer INDUCED in
pyeudices against coored previous TO The Olatee
disaster lis experience that DAY OF their lighting quail
ties ard his need Of more men. have no doubt done
mach 10 remove them. But not moe than two or three
hundred men will be brought into the army under this
order unless we advance into the interior.
THE REV. DR. BARE0Ws,
AN ,u,uloyee Of the FIeedmans Aid Society and super
OF the education Of coored children for this
Department has commenced his work in jacksonville.
The Odd-Fellows' building has been appropriated by
the Provost Marshal for school purposes. school,