Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-03-24
From Florida.


EDITOR CHRoNIcLE:-When at Sa-
vannah / promised to write YOU on our
arrival at st. Augustine. Well. here
we are and can truly say that we had
a delightful journey, with the excep-
tiOn of a disaster which 1 will here
after aIIude to. We took the inland
steamer as intended, and kept close to
| the shore, passing among almost in
/ Vulnerable islands, some fertile. others
| low and marshy. Some of the pas
sages between the Islands and shore
are called rivers, and each channel
has its name. One of these is called
Mud river and l think it rightly
named, for we had the satisfaction of
sticking in the mud for about three
hours on this famous stream and per-
haps would have been there yet if the
tide had not come up and lifted us off.
The first landing that our boat made
was at a place called Darien. This is
one of the most dilapidated places /
ever saw. The location and landing
is good at the mouth of the Altamaha
river, a stream navigable quite a dis
tanee. Darien previous to the war
was quite a beautiful place, but the
ravages here are worse than any
place / have yet seen.
The houses were pretty much all built
of composition composed of shells,
gravel and lime or cement, and called
Tabby. Many of them from appear
ance were large fine houses, but now,
alas, of all that stood then, nothing
remains but foundations and shatter-
oil 14-oIlg eToxr-Ixr or,,,,, bl;,,~. -, 4 loo,,-
ing back to mother earth. The his
tory of the place, as learned it from
a fellow passenger and one long ac-
quainted with the place, is this {:
Our gunbOats lay on the river q
short distance above the town, and fire.
quently the most daring of the crew
would go there and at one time got on
a spree, and a muss followed of course;
three of those at that time there, were
murdered. This called for vengeance,
and our boats swooped down on the
little town like an eagle on its prey
and left not habitation whole, and
killed many of its inhabitants. There
have been some frame buildings erec-
ted since, but there remains the ruins
as in other places; an awful lesson to
the misguided and rebellious South.
May we never again in this our land
Of the free and home of the brave have
to chronicle such disaster as the late
Southern rebellion.
The next place of interest is Jakyle
island, said to be quite productive.
This is where the principle part of the
Sea Island Cotton comes from, so
famous for its quality. On a point of
this island stands out in bold relief, an
old French Fort of quaint and singu-
lar construction, built of tabby as
above mentioned. Then comes
pleasant village on the
Georgia banks, Fernandina and
other small places not worthy of note.
Then we come to where once stood
the village of st Maries at the en-
trance of the st. Maries river. This
was said to be quite q commercial
point, and great many goods are
landed there yet, but not to the extent
that they were in days of yore. 1t is
stated, as / have since learn
ed, that the inhabitants were rebels of
the first water, and that all eligible
men were "off to the war" and left
he ladies to guard the homes and fire
'ides, which they did with vengence,
IS the sequel will show.
When Bonaparte was marching
through Russia, every city and town
ne came to had to sucumb to his
mighty power; when he evacuated |
ne would apply the torch and burn |
hem to ashes, and when approaching
Moscow, with the intention of ma
King this his quarters during the win
er with what CONSERVATION and dis |
pleasure did he witness this the place |
hat he expected to be sheltered from |
he severe winter and from which he |
to obtain food and clothing |
or his army, in flames that he was |
)owerless to stay-little did he dream |
hat such q defeat awaited him, but |
he citizens of Moscow, knew that |
their loved city would fall |
prey to this cruel man and if they
ould thus defeat him by the sacrifice
hey would not hesitate, so collecting
heir valuables they applied the torch,
deserted the city and at a distance
yept to see the flames consume the
lace which they esteemed somueh.
Like the inhabitants of Moscow, so
With the ladies of st. Maries, when
icy DCLCAO az q lllC
'Oats coming, with the stars and
tripes waving in the breeze and saw
he glittering bayonets flashing in the
unlight and heard the rolling drum
nd bugle's shrill blast, they, rather
han see their endeared homes and
acred firesides pillaged and tarnish-
d and fall into the hands of the
nemy, would with their own fair
ands apply the torch and watch the
issing and scathing flames devour
/. Nothing now remains to designate
he spot but chimnies which were
Iuilt broad at the base and narrow at
be top, and withstood the confiagra-
ion. A warehouse has been built on
be wharf and goods stored therein.
D that inland towns still have place
D land their merchandise.
After an hours sail we crossed the
ar and entered the st. Johns river.
his as far as Palatka, a distance of
80 miles, varies in width from one to
We miles. The journey over this
eautiful river is one long to be remem-
cred by us; everything united to
lake it agreeable; the soft balmy
ephyrs quietly fan your cheeks, the
arm sun sheds its genial rays on
making the green banks
nat border the stream, ones on which
Princess would fain recline. The
ense forest and shrubs, which are
lways green, made it sppear to US as
it were midsummer at home; the
-aters look warm, flow quietly, and
1 their rippling seem to invite you to !
athe yourself and refresh your weary
mbs. Here and there you can see
ne porpoise sporting in its blue wa
ers, ,.and, the ducks, which are innu-
and white seagulls love to
Oat over its placid bosom.
We landed at Jacksonville, place
{ much note in n. Z. Florida. We
My saw few white men here, the
Opulation being principally negroes,
nd l think very rude and saucy; the
oats crew had some difficulty with j
lem as they wished to board her, and '
ne company having to pay for a trunk !
nat was lost here sometime ago, had
iven express orders TO let no one but s
assengers and their friends on board. '
lad we not showed off as we did / I
ave no doubt but q riot would have [
cen the result. As a general thing {
lough find the negroes peaceable,
uiet and good citizens. i
After leaving Jacksonville we pass /
-reen Cove Spring and two or three q
ther landing points and arrive at G
icalota about five o'clock Saturday 8
where we take the stage for !
t. Augustine, a distance of Is miles
ON the above place. The coach we U
in was one of the old fash a