Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-06-07
AFFAIRS FLORIDA.
Correspondence of the Evening Sta

AFFAIRS IN FLORIDA.
Correspondence of the Evening Star.
p APALACHICoLA. FLORIDA, May 2lst, 1866
ED. STAR: On Monday, the 18th inst the
United States ensign was again hoisted at this
place, which has at length fallen in the wake
of most OF the cities on the coast and sue
cumbed TO the prowess of the National forces.
The sight OF the banner waving over the top OF
the Custom House was hailed with profound
and intense JOY by the poorer class Of the in.
habitants, and indeed every one Seems to ex-
perience feeling OF relief and satisfaction,
which, considering the position the State took
in the great conflict, was hardly to be looked
for. They see in this new aspect of affairs the
harbinger Of better times coming, and are in
no wise chary in their demonstrations of de.
Lightly The Inhabitants generally look upon
the evidences Of our occupancy and possess
sion with q sort of awe. They feel that new
era Of events has been opened to them, ant
await with anxiety the time when their CITY
now only q wreck of Its former beauty, shall
recover under the new influences from the
lethargic somnoleHcy which has so thoroughly
prostrated II, TO q renewed vigor, such as char
acterized 1t in the days when their large ware
houses, now so deserted, We're swarming with
life and business.
young ones, excepting paroled rebel prisoners
and deserters, who, to all appearances, are
perfectly Indifferent to the condition OF events
gather on the sidewalks In the cool of the even.
ing, clad in their old fashioned home spun
garments, and discuss the better nature of
things with evident feelings OF satisfaction.
So.
cesslon sentiment here, those who entertain it
are marveiously tranquil; but do not believe
there is much Of that, which one disposed to
use mild terms, might designate as hard feel
ing, within the precincts of this city The
men tell you, with reference to old times that
what made Florida SO intensely rabid was
their great belief in the old maxim of Cotton
being King. Those antiquated notions, with.
In the past three years, during which their &C.
quaintance with the outer world, and the
things pertaining thereto, has been dwindling
nYyTc -
very materially dissipated, and the inhabit.
ants Of this State are as heartily convinced at
this day that wheat and corn have the best
claim TO the title OF royalty, as they aoere un.
der the impression in '61 that cotton's prerog.
alive was paramount.
Apalach-as the deniZens seem glad tn abhra.
vlate the name OF their city-is about on par
with the majority Of small Southern owns one
sees on the coast, where there has ever been
any pretensicns to business whatever The
entire absence of anything in the shape Of
energy has reduced it to a degree of perfect
indolence-grass grows in all the streets: the
houses are unpainted and look old and weather
beaten. The warehouses along the wharves
are still standing, with their counting rooms,
desks and plies of old rubbish, whilst the win.
dows have been the means of affording unlim.
tied amusement to those casting stones about,
at present The stores excepting the doctors
shop, which has small array of liquids in
very dusty bottles, slowed away ON very dusty
and cobwebby shelves, to give the place an air
employment" The taverns display any
amount Of decanters, bottles, etc. ON their
shelvesi but in every instance without the
grape to dignity the establishments The
newspaper Office, though the sign ssCommercial
Advertiser" is still standing, is among the
is anything but edifying. There is absolutely
nothing to be bought in the place, if we except
eggs, for which the sellers demand one dollar
lin greenbacks, OF coulse) per dozen; chickens,
fyrO n n min foIIn
and honey a. ten cents per pound. These are
all the articles OF merchandise which met your
correspondents observation. 1t is refreshing,
however, to be informed that the inhabitants
contemplate opening business as soon as the
United States authorities will permit promis.
cnous trade and there are greenbacks enough
TO enable them to commence operations. =
Six hundred bales of cetton were brought
mere since the occupation OF the place by our
forces, and are now stored in one OF the ware
houses, where 1t remains guarded by picket
from one of the United States vessels of war
in the harbor. The owners sent it here fer
safety; ard as there is a large quantity of the
material up the river at various points, much
more Is expected. l notice at the wharf one Of
those old fashioned Mississippi river style
looking teamboats-one of the class that will
carry over five hundred bales OF cotton and
only draw i've feet of water. It has been In
reauisition lately, and am told that the cap
tain<and owner is man OF well-known Union
The paroled prisoners and deserters from
Apalnehicola, appear in the streets nearly all
clad in the grey uniform, and some OF the of
ffcers are neatly attired The females have
not that vinegar aspect which characterizes
them in various parts OF the South. Nor do
they indulge in any unpleasant demonstra-
tions whenever they meet officers or men be.
longing to the national forces. Perhaps it is
because there is a tacit understanding that
that role has "played OUT or 1t may be for
eign to the tastes Of Florida ladies to so con.
duct themselves.
It is difficult from q place so deserted and
lifeless as this to write a letter containing any
items of real interest. Perhaps ere long there
may be a broader field for correspondent to
range inf the promises which the inhabi.
tants have made to themselves concerning the
revival of business under new regime are
realized there certainly will be.
The o. s. steamer Stars and Stripes is laying
lust off the town. The Fort Henry, Somerset
and Tucca are stationed below the city. The
Mahaska left here for Key West q few days
ago.
here, contains several refugees who are en-
deavoring to get back to their homes in this
State and in the lower Georgian countiss,
Where they left within the past two years in
great numbers. $50 M. N. o.
PENNSYLVANIA GOAL REGION Everything
connected with the trade In this region Is az
q stand still. The miners in the face q tne
great fail in the prices OF coal st reiuss tbsv