The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-11

You ask me to write you an account
of the raid on this place in 1864. as
you can know so little about it that is
definite. This is quite natural as II
took place several years before your
advent into this world. 1t is now A
years this month, and many Of &c
details have faded from my memory;
as you will remember, l am in my
seventy-ninth year, but the main facts
are still as fresh as if but twelve
months lay between now and then.
The morning of the 9th of Septem-
Der dawned fair and bright over our
quiet town, and but few of the citi-
zens of Mariana had the slightest in
timatiOn that such a fearful tragedy
would be enacted before the setting
of the sun. In order to make it clear
why the battle was so disastrous TO
us, it is necessary to make some state
ments as to the troops stationed in
this vicinity. Four or five companies
of cavalry were eneamped near here,
two companies at Moss Spring and
the others two miles from town on
the east side of Chipola river. 1t
coast from Pensacola to Apalachicola
was totally unprotected, and that
every bay. bayou and inlet was block
AIDED, and the Apalachicola river open
to gunboatS at any time. For that
reason, the cavalry was kept here to
protect the interior. There were
many large plantations and very
wealthy planters here who supplied
vast quantities Of provisions for the
armies, and it was of great importance
that thes be protected. These COM
panies were used as scouting parties,
leaving one company at each encamp-
no nt nITt fnp
two weeks trips, watching the coast
line. 1t was at this time Capt. w. n.
Millions company were sixty miles
away on the coast, and another COM
pany scanning the river, and even the
colonel commanding the post was alb
sent, that courierS brought the news
that a large body of Yankee cavalry
was moving in this direction. For
tunately, Governor Milton was at
home on a visit to his family, and
hearing the report the couriers mad
brought, ordered the adjutant to send
out couriers in every direction Or
dering all men able to bear arms to
report in Mariana as quickly as pos
sible without waiting to form into
companies. This was on the Goth,
and was kept a secret in town lest it
create q panic, and perhaps this
might not be the objective point OF
the enemy. All day and all night
those couriers rode. Early in the
morning of that fateful 9th, one came
in and announced it publicly that the
Yankees were within fifteen miles OF
town. At eight o'clock the citizens
were called to arms and formed into
a company ready for service. Women
heard the dreadful tidings with
blanched faces, and FASTENED with
trembling hands and with hearts that
almost ceased to beat with very heaVi-
ness, to gather up some things that
might be saved from the pillaging
band that would soon be upon us.
Can anyone realize the feeling or
mothers and wives, of fathers and
husbands as they gave the parting
kiss to dear ones sdat morning; know
ing not the fate that might be theirs.
Oh, it was a fearful time. At ten
O'Clock the men from the outlaying
districts, and the two regular COM
panieS, as well as two companies OF
the home guards, were assembled.
Those not OF the companies who had
been drilled, fell in with the town
citizens and formed an armbuseade
on each side OF the main street enter
ing the town on the west. A few reg
ular officers OF the army were at home
on leave and were put in charge. The
cavalry was drawn up in line of oattle
at the entrance of the town I can
not tell the time of waiting, for IL
seemed like an eternity to US. AT
length the colonel came at full speed