The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-20
THE FLORIDA SALT WORKS.


~~~~y~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.ner lSestrucsaon Urged Two Year,
As6-Negstgsncs Of the Navy Depart
mens-Whst Might Have Been Done af
Attended To, Sc, SO.
fhe following letter YVES addressed BY Captain >ar,.
w. Browne late acting volunteer lieutenant In aa Uu,ted
States Navy 70 the Hon. John p Hale. Chirwsu Of ,he
Committee on Naval AfAirs the UeAd sss tea Senate
The suggestions and recomu,sudaons con- aimed therein
Of the highest importance 10 the government. and
they had been carried out with promptitude and en-
ergy by the Navy Department the rebels would have
been deprived Of that material article salt, without
which they could not have existed the presumption 10
clear ,he duess nseectthst the rebellion could not
have survived after the destruction OF these import
ant work. had TAX place. similar communication
had previously been addressed by Captain Browne to
Admiral Farragut Of the Mississippi squadron, but from
some cause unexplained that gallant officer did not
receive ~ About eight months subsequently, Captain
had personal interview with Admiral FarrAgut
and communicated 70 him IN brief the contents Of his
communication Thas ofcer, with the energy for which he
proverba At once acted upon the and forwarded 10
Admiral Barley . letter informing him Of the converse
tion which he had with Captain Browne, wing the
cept Of which letter. s supposed the destruction Of
salt works At s. Andrews Bay was accomplished, tho
particulars Of which fully described at the time 10
letter addressed the Hon. Secretary Of the Navy BY
Admiral Theodorus Bailey
UNITED srArEs BRIG BONO,
PHSsIcoLA BAY, Jan. 8, 1863. I
sR-ltake the liberty Of addressing you, unofciay,
on sabect that bas engaged my mind continually the
direct and Immediate attention OF the government
consider the duty OF every man claiming to be true
ton that would enhance our cause be iDu.
rous TO the enemy therefore, respectfully submit the
hcent Importance to be Interested In give
u your earnest attention
On the lam Of November last we len this port, IN
expedition TO St. Andrews bay for the destruction Of
salt works We remained there twenty days but owing
10 the want Of energy the part OF the officer in charge
fourth Of the work. oush. TO have done
thousands OF men engaged thereat, many OF which
we destroyed We made but two descenss. the
peoations and indeed success. See enclosed re-
port Of our share Of the days work. We demolished
three hundred and fifty caudrons averaging hundred
and gallons each; thousand bushels SALT some
fifty wagons, killed several mules, cattle, &C. This 10
accomplished but Iltile owing to reasons am 10th to
mention Before leaving the bay had positive niorma
works ct the head OF Bear creek some thirty miles M
North bay, from 81. Andrewe employing some fifteen
hundred mon together with numerous private works
other works in the branches Of this bay full blast and
the whole coast is lined with them In fact in all the bays
and nles OF the whole Southern coast wherever there
the least security from attack these salt works be
found.
tho greatest contributor TO the support Of this ggan
tic rebellion. 1t. is far more valuable than powder,
iederacy Every prisoner took confessed this to bs
the truth, and said. 1--WE had injured the rebsls
lost . battle !" They said openly tina. without
salt tho rebels could not carry on the war; and told
in civ life They stated that many mon had joined tho
army 70 obtain money TO buy salt for their families to
q a.sS asS s s
70 $40 per bushe and from 81 to 81 80 pound and
this with all their facilities to make It. These facts
and deserve than casual consideration, goes
TO prove scarcity OF the article and what the
sequences would be thegsalt making establishments
among them speedy overures would have 10 be
made their whole army would perish for the want Of
salt By breaking up their salt works believe in my in.
most soul that would touch vital part Rebeldom
and she would fail never 70 rise again; for without salt
she exist. II is we'll known that salt can only be
manufactured where the salt water nows There are |
many salt Marshes truly, In rebeidom but our forces
they are and erectuay destroy all the works with
In short space Of time. and with little trouble. Our
supply Of sal. Tor our ens@iss or would have a.
tanned such gigantic proportions would be glad TO
to in Rebellion, ana would advise strict secresy. be-
II the least inmaon Of intentions should get
ties and bury them. and we would nud the nest warm,
but the birds flown and departure they would
their game; but il can easily DC blocked Kettles are
equally scarce, and worth in proportion 10 salt the
p % Thoss IN se
mostly sugar boilers Steam boilers also use, being
severed in two parts Wooden boilers lined inside aud
out with sheet iron, made TO the purpose
also
The boilers in size from twenty Eve gallons
Ave hundred gallons From oil could learn they are |
sadly want Of kettles. Many OF are de-
fended gueas whose force does not exceed
ded men, but the most OF them entirely without de-
fence the operators themselves. To insure sue.
would be necessary TO scour thoroughly all the
bays and creeks OF the coast to the very head Tor
Is at the extremes of these places that the |
salt business 10 most Furnishing, the men feel. |
ing quite secure from attack, and with few 1
exceptions this security is complete from any attempts
part TO break them up. commanders Of expedi.
tons should be extremely wachfu and wary, moving
with caution and che utmost celebrity when ia the vicinity
their movements II can possibly be avoided, their
.entions because there always individuals on
,ha lookout to the salt makers OF approaching dan.
~ ,ut expeditions starting during the night,
r. a, th<s OF act1on by daylight, would be the
oo.s succcssul Thus the whole day be employed to
aTn,s write this with other motive than to |
eorssssn .-ssts OF my country by putting these
~ ,h a sne III - Unonfca, manner Knowing
snsryy 20 when in
thought this salt subject 1ttpg "a iis ,rna Iioh,
tion, and sincerely hope you Will view .-cnve ror
as have fully represented. And as another --ua
this liberty, beg TO state that also bail from the Ora
State. Hoping you viii be kind TO inform me OF the
reception OF this statement remain very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
GEO ". BROWNE, Acting Master Commanding
Hon. JOIN P. HALE, Member Of Congress, Washington,
Arrival or the America.
tN.AE susUa