The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-17

The first street pushed through the
street, involving much labor in build
| ing causeway and covering 1t with
earth. It extended to the elevation
| then named Gage Hill in honor of Gen.
Gage, of Boston, who was the com
mander in chief of all royal British
forces in British North American col
ony, had much to do with Pensacola In
It's early days. Upon the highest point
of this hill was established a lookout
from which the approaches Of the town
l-landWard or seaward-could be OBJ
served.
The troops stationed at Pensacola
during Governor Johnson's time were
the 31st regiment of infantry and the
End battalion of royal artillery under
General Taylor. In 1855 these troops
suffered from scurvy, as a remedy for
which the governor undertook means
to provide them with fresh meat,
provision which it would seem
thoughtful and considerate ruler would
have employed as a preventive instead
of waiting until the disease required it
as q remedy.
The scurves, however, proved a
blessing in the end, as our ills often do.
by turning attention to the necessities
OF securing regular supplies of vege
table foods, the acids Of which Is
claimed that science has determined
to be preventive Of scorbutel affec-
ton. This led to the cleansing and
draining and cultivation of large bod
les of the TIT swamp, a process
which once begun was continued
throughout the period of English rule
until the town was surrounded by
smiling gardens extending westward
almost to Bayou Chico, Of which this
generation has evidence in the absence
Of forest from the district and it's
meadow like appearance, as well as its
intersection OF bitches and drains.
In October, 1856, there was an exhi-
bition in Pensacola of the cruelty with
which the British soldiers were treated
in the last century for absence without
leave. James Baker Mattress, of the
Royal Artillery. received 100 lashes un-
der sentence of a court martial.
In July. 1867. Mr.. Elliott was ap-
pointed to succeed Governor Johnson
but careful search failed to discover
any official act upon which to rest the
conclusion that he ever came to the
province.
In a note dated the 18th of October.
1868, at Pensacola, General Halderman
tells Governor Brown that assistance
will be given to land Governor Elliott's
baggage and put the garden in order. |
In answer to this request by Governor
Brown made in the expectation of the
new governors early arrival, but these
preparations We're manifestly made in
vain, for in a letter written in Pensa-
cola in January, 1863, by the general
to John Bradley, of New Orleans, he
says: Il hope that these matters will
be settled on the arrival Of Governor
Elliott, daily expected.
Numerous papers in the Canadian |
archives, as well as documents in the
American state papers show that from |
the 18th Of December, 1915, up to the |
appointment of Governor Peter Ches- |
ter in 1872, Brown was the acting gov
ernor of the province. The evidence is |
therefore conclusive that though Eli |
oft was appointed, he either died or |
resigned without ever having gotten to |
the province. The coming of officers |
and others from the military posts of |
the province to headquarters as well |
as the frequent court martials held |
there are especially numerous and ex-
citing.
In 1867 enlivened military life in
Pensacola or OF the social life of the
town during Johnston's administration |
we have little information, nor of the
former 37th regiment of infantry sta
toned at Fort Charlotte was by the
Johnston's party accused of embezzle- !
ment and fraud, but the court martial
of which sat at Pensacola honorably /
acquitted him and upon receiving of
the record the finding of the court was
approved by the king.
Another letter in 1870 gives the fol- |
lowing uninviting picture of the civil