St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-10

l. i AOh JAIL L O1ODE- =
of box-pumps. improyised and made under
the supervision OF Midshipman Lansom,
THE VESSEL WAS FLoATED
and found 20 be in excellent condition, though
without sails, running rigging. or ground
tackle. As she slowly emerged from the
water all were struck by the beauty Of her
lines. and none wondered at her famous
display OF speed in England. 1t was after
wards discovered that she had been pur-
chased by the Confederate government Tor
the purpose OF carrying Mason and Slidell,
the Confederate commissioners. TO England
Our occupation Of the ST. Johns river effec-
tually frustrated the plan. On the morning
Of the 2sth we arrived at jacksonville,
creating great interest and excitement on
our passage. in the town and among the
4 feet. on account of our famous prize. the
T yacht America. The yacht was afterwards
/ purchased by the government and attached
/ TO the naval academy. For many years
4 she served as a dispatch vessel 70 the prac-
/ tiee squadron. a service for which she was
most suitable on account Of her speed and
/ history. With the appropriation Of the
vessel was content, and after forwarding
prize list Of the captOrs took no further
steps in the matter Of prize money. When,
! however. in 1873 she was condemned and sold
| 70 the Hon. b. +. Butler for s.. 600. my feel
! ings were very different and i shall always
regret that means were lot devised at the
/ proper time 10 make her connection with
the naval academy permanent, and the
Ameuca's future tame history Identified
with that of this great national establish
ment. Gems. Sherman and Wright had ar
/ rived in our absence. and both were graft
/ fed with the condition OF affairs. The lat
ter officer, having secured reinfOrcements,
was about
ERECTING A BATTERY
outside of the town with the guns taken
from St Johns bluff. Through Confeder-
ate sources we heard Of Grants operations
at Pittsburg Landing and the retreat Of
Beauregard to COrinth. Through the same
source we received information of the
attack of the Merrimac upon our feet in
! Hampton Roads, the destruction OF the
! Cumberland and Congress and the timely
/ advent Of the Monitor. Communications
| from the flag officer Enthusiastically Indicated
| his intention to keep floating force In the
river, and the significant Increase OF the
land forces induced me To believe that what
was originally intended merely as an armed
reconnaissance in force TO Jacksonville
would result in permanent occupation OF
| this section of territory. l therefore adj
| dressed him communication under date
Of April g, from which the following is an
extract:
You will have been Informed from my pre-
| vious communication, as well as from other
! sources, presume, that upon the River 81.
Johns from its mouth upwards, distance
/ OF some go miles, and on both sides, includ-
| ing the towns of Jacksonville and Palatka-
the inhabitants are for the most part quite
peaceable and apparently well disposed
toward their old flag. To this may be super
added the town OF st. Augustine and that
tract OF country which lies between u and
/ the River 81. Johns. The population OF all
this region which / have mentioned is TO be
sure but small portion of the whole state,
yet / venture TO suggest for your considera-
| ton whether IL would not be well 10 turnlsh
| them al an early day the benefits OF civil
administration of the Federal laws. This. II
/ Is hardly necessary TO state, can be done only
| by the appointment Of Federal officers. viz;
A judge, district attorney and marshal as
| also custom house officers and postmasters.
| Questions are now continually arising, and
which will naturally multiply as We extend
our occupation of the country, touching
4 seizures and the rights OF property generally
as between the United States government and
| individuals. They have already been found
| in many cases to be embarrassing, and in jus
| tice TO the parties should be dealt with judi
| cially. i suppose that the laws of the gen
/ eral government must be regarded as in force
i in the State of Florida as though no rupture
had occurred, and that the appointments Of
/ civil officers is only necessary TO secure their
execution so far as this portion OF the state Is
concerned. In regard TO the condition Of
/ public feeling / am glad TO assure you that
| the policy inaugurated and based upon the
/ spirit of your instructions is bringing forth
good fruits, and that the leading citizens
agree with me in the opinion that In a brief
while the whole state will be restored to the
authority OF the national government.
IMPORTANT SERVICE
up the river required an absence Of several
days from jacksonville after forwarding
this communication. But what a change
these few days had made! To my surprise
1 learned that Gen. Sherman had been re-
lieved and that his successor had directed
the immediate evacuation of Jacksonville
and the return of all the troops to Port
| Royal Transports were at the wharves to
take them, the property secured hastily
abandoned, the guns captured by the gun
boats thrown into the river, and ell the
manifestations of an unexpected and hasty
exodus visible. There was no course left
/ but TO direct the removal of The gunbOats to
/ the mouth Of the river, as our presence at
Jacksonville would have inevitably brought
on a conflict with the COnfederates, render
| ing the destruction of the town with large
amount of property belonging to Union
! sympathizers almost inevitable. This was
decided upon with great reluctance. The
most painful of all reflections grew out of
the implied violation of the promises which
had been given in good faith by a duly ac-
credited agent of the government, and in
the growing and great advantages lost to the
| Union cause. Burritt and most of those who
| had been compromised through utilization or
| otherwise with our cause left with the army
| in transports or on board of the naval YES
sells and Burritt subsequently went North
with me to lay the situation before the
| president. Shortly after reaching Mayport
the Seneca arrived with orders detaching
me from the Ottawa, and directing me to
report for the command of the Mauritania
one of the new dOuble-enders just launched
and designated for duty in connection with
McClellan's advance upon Richmond. The
services of the ninety-day gunboats were of
great value. Built with strength and ca
pacity to carry one heavy gun and with
sufficient speed 10 answer all requirements
they were easily handled. and if taking the
ground were soon liberated. Always ready
for service, they were constantly on the
move, here to-day and there tomorrow.
As Lord Nelson said of his cOrvettes.
''they were the eyes of the fleet" and
very often the arms also-commanded
and Differed by men influenced by the
loftiest spirit of patriotism. No dangers
alarmed and no obstacles stopped their way.
Rodgers and Collins. Ammen and Bank
head, Nicholson, Downes and Watmough,
with whom / was closely associated in
service under Dupond. are names familiar
to their countrymen and in history.
T. Ii. STEVENS.
Rear Admiral, u. S. ".