Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-03-17

henSible lncendariSm Ct some OF people and
after this profession of goodness, and making great
promises of intention to hold the place forever thus
dupng good many of our citizens to take sides With
them in some sort of State goVernmrnt which they
proposed and finding much less of their kind of Union
ism than they expected, but of military demon
stration in their front than they looked for they de-
parted "bag and baggage, after three weeks stay in
the "water oak city.
THE SECOND INvASIoN--A NIGER SPECULATION.
They came again in October, 1862, under Gen. John
NJ Brannan, whose preliminary achievement was that
of taking the st. Johns Bluff Battery near the mouth
of the river OF that name and about twenty miles below
Jacksonville. This expedition turned out to be very
heavy negro trade, for Gen. Brannan relieved bar.
raccoons of tremendous beVy of contrabands'' on
that OCCASION and instead of leaving the impression
that he to tread the path of glory On the field
even in the of the "tars and Stripes" he sat sail
with his cargo perfectly satisfied with having made
good operation.
THE THIRD INYAs40N-NEaRo TROOPS.
They came again in March, 1868. Then of course
we expected certainly permanent occupation."-
They would not be Playing the " ing of France 1"
game often. Now they introduced their experiment
of the black regiments commanded by certain old
broken down parsons of New Epgland-a Mr.. Hig
gnson and Others who have laid down the stole for the
gilt buttons and epauettes-put off the new Adam,
gorying in the Od-a set of men described by the c
zens, who vouchsaled sight of them, the most
lfavored, hideous visaged creatures to be called men
ever behed.
Gen. Finegan, on the Confederate side, concentrates
his few scattered companies at point miles from
Jacksonville, and he is joined by few companies from
Middle Florida and Georgia, swelling his command
perhaps to twelve hundred men. The enemy is met on
bis first advance and his second, and his third, he
saes out day after day, as if to try the strength os
our lines. That demonstration showed that Sambo
will ea but he will not be depended On as good tight
ing material neither from fear of the halter, no
quarter what Sambo is pretty authenticay report
ed to have inched when our Infantry confronted him.
All accounts agree that, ut about the time of firing
being heard within town, OF skirmishing without Sam
bo, in considerable force, was seen making rapid IN
gress.
The infantry campaign changed to that of artillery.
Several selldrected shots are thrown upon the town
upon such points it is supposed the enemy are post
ed they fall true to the mark they come III dangerous
proximity to quarters, and even closely moored gun
boats They do their work well. D." What news ?''-
The enemy have evacuated Sambo aud Jonathan
have departed together. Thus ended the third inya
track the burning of two churches and laying waste
number of squares of private residences In the beau
tiluI little city of Jacksonville
| TUE FOURTH AND LAST INVASION.
| They come again in February, 1864 And no" We
have the " grand army white and black troops-in
fantry, artillery and cavalry. They come to invade
it is child's play" no longer. They come to take
and to hold" Charleston is virtually abandoned
surplus troops arc on handthey have played the game
of taking Jacksonville full often-now they will stake
the State" Deserters and fugitives have told them
the pathway open that our whole local force is
not more than dozen companies scattered broadcast
over the State, with camp pretending to be on q
large scale about seven miles from Jacksonville known
as Camp Flnegan, etc. The enemy learn all this, and
they come to take advantage of it. They come 5 or
900 strorg and reinforcemens reported on the way
They rush upon Camp Finegan at once, in the night
| Our troops ct that point scatter into the woods
slipping adroty through the fingers OF the foe: The
enemy advance twenty miles on the railroad and take
the junction of the other railroad crossing it, the place
or village known as Baldwin. Our rail lines in thel'
hands, case seems desperate but Beauregard II
apprsed of the move, and his forces are on the way
l TIE ADVANCE TO LAKE CITY.
The eremy advance still westward toward Lake
CITY, witch has long been the headquarters OF th'
| Eastern Department. That is their present aim
Small bodies of troops arrive Tor US from the western
part of the State-some artillery, cavalry, SOM
infantry Many citizens flock from the interior armed
and equipped, to aid in repelling the invader. Hi
advance cavalry como within three miles of Lake Cit.
et-fourteen hundred in the body but few hundred o
them dismounted and thrown forward infantry skir
mishers. Our troops hand-a few hundred
and skrmishing fight of few hours duration occur
within hearing Of the town-the enemy are seeking t.
Strange to say this little resistance either from
telling effect the moral effect OF resistance at all