Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-15


was not proof against the fell disease that
carried off the bright and promising
youth shortly after the close of the war.
About three miles from the scene of this
engagement, where the river debouches
into the marshes, we discovered a force of
the enemy in ambush ; we opened fire at
close quarters and soon scattered them
About noon we reached St Mary's, much
to the relief of our comrades on the Isaac
Smith, who had heard the heavy firing
and were about getting under way and
coming to our assistance when we hove in
sight. In reporting the affair took occa-
sion to refer to the valuable services of
Midshipman Pearson, which in fire and
out of fire he was always prompt TO rem.
der. Subsequently in the East Indies,
while cooperating with the English in
those waters, he won great distinction,
and was made by the Queen G. b. He
attained the rank of commander in our
service, and recently resigned, greatly to
the regret of all who knew the officer and
the man.
The next day we returned to Fernando
ma and reported the results of the recon
noissance to the fla officer We received
orders that evening to proceed the next
day with the Seneca, Pembina, Isaac
Smith, Huron and Ellen off the St John 5
bar and report to the senior officer present.
Before receiving the order, and soon after
anchorng several of the gunboat captains
came on board the Ottawa to confer with
me i'll relation to my orders. They urged
me, as the ranking officer of the vessels
designated, to represent their earnest de
sire to the flag officer that in recognition
of the valuable services of the gunbOats,
which he had often acknowledged, he
should give the command of the eXpedi-
ton (Which had for its object an eXamina-
ton of the st. Johns river to me. After
Il thorough discussion of the subject, fully
"a hn nt "a tn hn tpn-
priety of the request, | went to the flag
officer and briefly stated the purpose of
my visit. Without entering into any dis
cuSSon, he acknowledged that as it was Il
purely gunboat expedition, and in consld-
GRAFTON of the claims presented, | should
have the command.
All the gunboat captains were highly
gratified with this success, and their feel
ings were shared by the subordinates des-
ignated for duty. On the morning of
March Sth we started for our destination
off the St. JOhu'S, where we anchored be
fore noon the next day. We discovered
guns in an earthwork about mile to the
southwark of Mayport, obviously to de-
fend the river entrance, but no men to
fight them were seen in the vicinity. After
waiting three days for the spring tides be-
fore making the attempt, we crossed the
difficult and dangerous St. Johns bar
about p. m, of the 18th with no water
"
son, in the Smith, crossing half an hour
later and without pilot. | found it was
too late to move further that evening, so
the vessels anchored for the night off May
port, Il settlement at the mouth of the
river. About 10 o'clock that night we dis
covered several large fires, bearing w. >.
w. from our anchorage. We afterwards
found that they We're burning mills and
houses of Northern men suspected of
Union sympathy. Early the next morn
ing we continued our way up the river
finding the fort at st. Johns Bluff aband-
oned, the Ellen was directed to anchor off
the point and take on board the guns and
munitions of war found there. After this
she was to rejoin us at jacksonville. We
reached that place without difficulty and
found signs of returning reason at most
of the houses along the river bank. As
we steamed towards the wharf to disem-
bark the soldiers, Il boat was reported
coming from shore with flag of truce.
On looking over the rail into the boat
recognized the familiar features of Judge
Burritt, an old friend from san Francisco.
The Ottawa slowed down, and as the boat
came alongside stepped forward to re
Ceive the Judge and his associates, who
had been appointed by the authorities to
surrender the town. only requesting that
the property and persons of inoffensive
citizens should he protected. After the
formalities had been gone through with,
the Judge was invited into the cabin His
first remark was where the devil did
you come from ?" Then followed hearty
greeting aud IL long conversation, during
which (and afterwards from other leading
citizens | learned that the inhabitants de
sired the protection of our flag aud We're
not afraid of us, but of their own people.
Since this was the general feeling. it be-
came my evident duty to report the re-
markable change of sentiment to the flag
officer and to ask for an additional land
force. | remained in Jacksonville day
arrange for the protection of the place and
then left with the Ottawa and Ellen to
penetrate, rs far as prudent, the upper
waters of the st. Johns. We proceeded
as far as Palatka, landing At every settle
ment, and found everywhere "A desire for
peace and restoration of the Union. The
services of Judge Burritt (who had ac-
companied me- were of the first import
ance on this occasion. He was man of
great attachments and popularity and Il
leader under all circumstances. On oul
way up we had stopped at Orange Mills
the beautiful residence of "A Dr. May, a
pronounced rebel against all authority
but his own. He had fled to escape the
contamination of our presence, leaving il
charge Il man named Da Costa, from
whom we purchased at a fair valuation
fruit, poultry, and vegetables. This man
Tor holding communication with the de
| spiSed NOrtherners, was, we found on B
subsequent visit, carried off, as we pre-
sumed, through the agency of the owner
A note was sent to the doctor stating oul
suspicious no reply was made, and as W,
had plainly intimated we should take re
| taliatory measures if his reply were no
! satisfactory, we at once carried them into
! effect. On our return down the river, ter
or fifteen miles below Paatkl, a boat wa,
observed crossing the river. Her move
ments were 50 suspicious that orders wer,
gwen to overhaul her. Only one man wa
found in her, he proving to be the mail
carrier of the district with the bags in hi
possession. On opening these, impOrtan
| letters We're found two among them dis
closing when and where the yacht Ameri
ca and the steamer St. Johns had beer
scuttled to prevent their falling into on
hands. Thus was obtained the informa
ton we had sought since crossing the 81
Johns bar. On returning to Jacksonvill
we found Gen. Wright, who was to return
next day to Fernandlna, and who promis
ed to inform the flag officer of the change,
condition of affairs. On the evening q
March II, 1862, left Jacksonville in tn
Ellen, with the two armed launches of tn
Wabash and the Darlington, to find tn
Yacht America and the steamer 81 Inbns