The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-03-28
DOIN6S IN DIXIE.
A ROMANCE AMID THE ORANGE
GROVES OF FLORIDA.

Black Point projects into the st
Johns River, Fla, like an index finger
1t was heavily wooded, swampy in the
interior, and sandy along shore. During
the civil war it was pest, with sting
of rifle bullets for the U. s. naval mer
who ventured within range. The little
gunboat in the channel occasionally
swept its thickets and splintered its
trees with hurting grape-shot and
bursting shell, but the Confederate
sharpshooters seemed to know when to
crawl into their holes or to be absent
at Gen. Finnegan's camp, five miles
away, and out of range of naval guns.
The black river was bright with gilt.
tering scales and flashing fins of fish
where the sluggish current ran near the
point, and the sailors of the man-of- wal
would at intervals become careless, ven
ture too near the rivers bank, and re-
ceive grievous wounds in punishment
of their temerity and piscatorial avarice.
An orange plantation lay along the
rivers bank above the point, and its
golden fruit and the hospitality of the
planters family were much appreciated
by the officers of the gunboat. An aged
and feeble grandmother asked treat
ment by the ships surgeon; the planter
discussed water power and Wind-mllls
with the chief engineer; the overSeer
dickered over exchange of fresh yege-
tables and fruit for ship supplies with
the paymaster, and two beautiful
daughters arranged excursions along
the river and parties on shipboard. To
the storm-tossed mariners all women
We're angels. and a ten-c cent calico dress
looked like a dollar silk. Neutral ma
tives and loyal Northerners contributed
to each others pleasure and whiled
away the sunny hours in that sandy
peninsula, which was too remote from
great armies and populous cities to feel
the vicissitudes and terrorS of war. Un-
important skirmiShes along the rivers
and the coast, and a few mimic con-
tests of arms tumbled Florida into the
Union, and permitted its forces almost
undisputed dominion.
The ships surgeon discovered one
day little boat-a dingy-drifting
down the river, and the deck officer let
him have cutter and crew to secure
it. Ever afterwards he claimed it as
his property, and used it to make his
professional visits to the home of the
sick grandmother and the beautiful
young women. Ship work and disci-
pline could not spare a boats crew
every time duty called him on shore,
and the chief engineer often accom-
panied him, to present to the planter
new ideas of aerial and aqueous ma
chimes. 1t happened one day that,
musing upon their freedom from ship
routine, the gracious hospitality of the
plantation, and the charms of Miss
Hattie and Miss Sallie, the two worthy
officers rowed incautiously too near
Black Point. They were suddenly
aroused from reverie by loud hail:
''Heyah, yo' Yanks! Come ashore
new, if yo' knows what's guide fur yu'."
The startled officers saw log on the
shore of the point, and looked into the
muzZles of half dozen muskets, and
accepted the invitation to land and sur
render to Lieut.. Bradley, leader of the
"BushWhackers," or FLORIDA Regula-
tors" as they were designated-an IT.
regular force akin to home guards,
holding only nominal relation to the
Confederate army. The transition
from roseate dreams to the rude reality
of being prisoners of war shocked the
tender sensibilities of the Naval men,
and they trembled in anticipation of
terrible tate. They were armed only
with paper plans and pill bottles, and
claimed to be on peaceful missions.
The chief said he intended to establish
a mandatory of Wind-mills at Jack
sOnyiIlt. The doctor asserted he had
exhausted the ships medicines in treat
ing the natives from Mayport to Lake
George, and he hoped to continue his
good work after the war. The Lieu
tenant ratified his saber-one he had
secured after the battle of Olustee-
cbewed his red moustache, and kicked
the pine cones; and his squad of men
gloNered threateningly beneath their
sloneh hats. The prisoners knew guer-
rllIas did not respect the laws of war,
or show much mercy to their captured
enemies. The outcome seemed threat
ening. Bradley was a good natured
fellow from a neighboring plantation,
but he was jealous of the attentions
the dapper Naval officers received from
southern girls, and might have NAL
treated his prisoners, but they were I'M
armed non-combatants of the staff,
going upon peaceful mission, and ell
joyed the friendship of the family
where he himself was welcome visit
or. Therefore he placed the frightened
men i'll the midst of his squad and be-
gan march through swamp and over
hummocb to FinneganS camp. 1t was
a dreadful tramp for the tender sea-
dogs.
Thru tangled juniper, beds of weeds,
Thru many fen where the serpent feeds,
And mannever trod before"
Gen. Finnegan received the prisoners
cordially, and put them under guard be-
meath pine tree. Their menu of pone,
pork and sweet potatoes contrasted
harshly with the luxurious table of the
ship, and their beds of pine boughs and
one blanket were not like luxurious
hunks in cosy state-rooms. They
watched the clouds and star wrinkles
through the pine branches above them,
and wondered if the morning would
bring firing party of soldiers to march
them out for execution. The sneers
and insults of the ragged Confederate
soldiers filed them with indignation,
although they quailed beneath the mill
tary buster of their eXultant guards.
The guard conducted them after
breakfast to log cabin, where Gen.
Finnegan received them kindly and ask
ed about mutual acquaintance; but the
prisoners were ill at ease and thought
his courtesy might be preliminary to a
death sentence.
The conference was interrupted by
picketS cry, and commotion on the
side OF the encampment, where sandy
road emerged from the forest and the