USA > Florida > Duval County > Jacksonville > History of early Jacksonville, Florida; being an authentic record of events from the earliest times to and including the civil war by Thomas Frederick Davis > Part 10
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Lightly row, l-i-g-h-t-l-y r-o-w.
There was serenading by groups of young men, who would visit the home of some popular person and with music and songs entertain the house- hold for half an hour or so, those within in the mean time preparing refreshments for the
serenaders. Frequently the presence of some "love-sick" person would be evinced by the notes of his guitar, as he stood singing softly out- side the home of his "lady-love". More boister- ous was the custom of charivari, or "shiveree," a hideous clamor of tin pans, horns, whistles, and other disagreeable noises, indulged in outside the home of a newly married widow or widower. The hilarious amusement always provoked anger on the part of the groom, but it would not cease until the participants were refreshed with cake and wine.
This lightness, vivacity, love of pleasure, marks clearly the impress of the Spanish character upon the community.
The English occupation also left some of its staunch, staid customs, such as strict attendance upon the church services; financial provision for the future; propriety the requirement of society's
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inner circle ; and a rigid obedience to set customs, a disregard of them being considered an evidence of ill-breeding.
All forms of affliction met with the profoundest sympathy. Notice of funerals was written on a sheet of letter paper through which a wide black ribbon was inserted, and taken from house to house by a servant, attendance being considered a mark of respect for the living, as well as for the dead. There were no trained nurses and it devolved upon some member of the family, usually the mother or oldest daughter, to perform such duties in case of sickness. When members of a household were un- able to provide the necessary attention for its sick, neighbors volunteered. It was nothing out of the ordinary for those occupying the highest social position to nurse the lowly and humble night and day, or to shroud the dead. Sorrow and sickness obliterated the social boundary line and affliction became public property. No hearse and under- taker were in the town then, but Sam Reed, a vener- able colored man, and his mule, John, performed the duties of burying the dead, in addition to do- ing all the draying for Jacksonville.
Public out-of-door functions, barbecues, patri- otic celebrations, and the like were of frequent oc- currence. Every town improvement, or the inauguration of anything that had as its object the public weal, met with immediate popular favor, and the occasion was usually made one of public celebration, with speech-making and a grand, good
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time for all. Such a thing as a circus coming to town was sufficient to cause unbounded enthu- siasm, and the songs and jokes could be heard on the streets long after its departure. "I bet my money on the bob-tail nag, somebody bet on the bay", was a circus echo that lingered a long time.
Another phase of life in Jacksonville before the war was a modified form of its border-day exis- tence, for in connection with the liking for fun and frolic was also a liking for strong drink. The grog- shop center was at the northwest corner of Bay and Newnan Streets, then the business center of the town. Could the history of that locality in those days be written, the record would not be free from bar-room brawls, with now and then an altercation of a more serious character. These troubles were not confined to the turbulent element of the community, for often young men of the very best families would be implicated. Whether the wave of religious enthusiasm that swept over Jacksonville in the 50's was brought about by this state of wildness is not recorded, but it is a fact that protracted religious meetings were held day and night for weeks, when fervent prayers were offered for the salvation of the "sinful wine drinkers".
The reckless, romantic sort of life led by the young men was but a natural condition of those times; but they were gentlemen with it all. That species of ruffian that stands on the street corners and with impudent familiarity seeks to attract the
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attention of girls and ladies was unknown before the war, for these tactics would then have brought a coat of tar and feathers. Men seldom spoke dis- paragingly of ladies, as to do so meant serious consequences. Personal bravery was a dominant characteristic, and an insult was sure to result in trouble. Cursing had not become so popular, and profanity was seldom heard. When the old peo- ple talk about those times forever gone, they make it plain that many of the corroding influences of modern life had no counterpart in the "happy days before the war".
In general, the people were kind-hearted, gen- erous, and hospitable. They were happy and con- tented, with a profound fondness for recreation and pleasure; yet they were sympathetic and patient under affliction, and at all times were united in the interest of the town's improvement. The community was prosperous, and the citizens were possessed of a business judgment and sagacity that enabled them to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and to provide bounti- fully for the present, as well as to accumulate for the future.
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CHAPTER XIV.
THE CIVIL WAR.
Florida seceded from the Union January 10, 1861, whereupon the Jacksonville Light Infantry, Captain Holmes Steele, offered its services to the Governor of Florida, and was the first company accepted by the State1. It was ordered to the mouth of the St. Johns River, to erect fortifica- tions at that point. A detachment was sent to St. Augustine for four 32-pound guns at old Fort San Marco. These cannon were put on log carts and hauled to the beach below Mayport, to a high sand dune at the mouth of the "run", where they were placed in a fortification constructed by the com- pany under the direction of Captain John L'Engle, a retired United States army officer. This fort was named Fort Steele, in honor of Captain Steele. The Jacksonville Light Infantry was ordered to Fort Steele in detachments until April, when all were ordered there ?.
The "long roll" was sounded but once at Fort Steele. One night the sentinel observed an object coming in that he thought was a launch from a Federal gunboat. He gave the alarm, and the com- pany was hastily drawn up on the beach to repel the invader, but it proved to be a pile of brush floating in with the tide2.
When the Jacksonville Light Infantry was mus-
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tered into the Confederate service the following August, the post at the mouth of the river was abandoned.
The Second Florida Infantry was mustered into the Confederate service at Jacksonville, July 13, 1861. Among the companies comprising this regi- ment was the St. Johns Grays, of Duval County, commanded by Captain J. J. Daniel. This regi- ment with the First Florida Infantry filled the first call of the Confederate government from Florida. It left Jacksonville for Virginia by rail, July 15, 1861, and was accorded ovations at many places along the route, especially at Savannah and Petersburg. An authority says: "They were watched, as they departed, with a strange exalta- tion of soul, and the tears of affection were min- gled with the proud anticipation of martial honors. Flowers were showered upon them by fair hands at many places on the way; banners waved, and the cheers of ardent patriotism helped assuage the pain of the recent farewell to home and kin- dred'". The Second Florida participated in most of the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, fought bravely, and was frequently complimented by the generals of the army.
In response to a call for two additional regi- ments, the Third and the Fourth Florida Infantry were mustered in, the Third Florida, including the Jacksonville Light Infantry, Captain Holmes Steele, on August 10, 1861; ten companies com- prised the regiment'. The Third Florida served
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through the war, and fought with distinction, mostly with the Army of the Tennessee; it sur- rendered with General Joseph E. Johnston's army at the close of the war.
MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION.
Early in March, 1862, rumors reached Jackson- ville that a Federal expedition, with a large num- ber of troops, was about to embark for the occupa- tion of this town. The mayor then published this proclamation, for the information of the citizens3:
TO THE CITIZENS OF JACKSONVILLE.
Fellow Citizens :
In the present trying crisis, much thought and anxious inquiry have been devoted by the City Council, the citizens, and several of our friends from the country, including Gen. S. R. Pyles and Staff, to ascertain and determine what, under all the circum- stances, is best to be done, and will best promote the safety, comfort, and happiness of the people.
On yesterday evening, a portion of the City Council held an interview with Gen. Pyles and his Staff, and after full discussion and patient delibera- tion, it was unanimously determined that in- asmuch as all the Confederate troops, arms, and munitions of war upon the St. Johns river and in East and South Florida generally are to be aban- doned, it is useless to attempt a defense of the City of Jacksonville, and therefore upon the approach of the enemy it should be surrendered. This having been decided upon as the sound and proper course
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to be pursued, Col. M. Whit Smith suggested that the Mayor should make it known to the citizens by proclamation and this suggestion being fully con- curred in by all present,
I therefore, in conformity thereto, make known to you that all defenses will be immediately with- drawn from the city and the St. Johns river and no military force will be kept on duty, except for Police purposes, and such force will be supplied by details drawn from our citizens.
I advise and earnestly admonish our citizens to remain at their homes and pursue their usual avoca- tions, and I call upon all good citizens to give their aid and counsel for the preservation of good order throughout the entire community. It is the opinion of our most experienced and intelligent citizens (and I think a correct one) that if the enemy meet with no resistance, private property will be re- spected, and unarmed citizens will be allowed to pursue their usual occupations. I trust, therefore, that our whole population will act with becoming prudence, and that no unnecessary provocation may be given that may furnish a reason for violence from any quarter; and if after we have offered no resis- tance and given no just provocation, violence should be committed, the whole blame will rest on the aggressors. Every citizen able to perform police duty is hereby required to hold himself in readiness to go on duty, upon receiving notice from the Chief of Police.
H. H. HOEG, Mayor.
March 7, 1862.
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This proclamation not only did not produce the desired effect, but on the other hand greatly in- tensified the alarm. The residents were panic- stricken, and two or three days later, when news was received that Fernandina had been occupied by Federal troops, all the Southern sympathizers who could go away left Jacksonville. Business along all lines was entirely suspended. The one railroad out of the town was taxed to its utmost capacity, carrying refuges to Lake City and other points in the interior of Florida. Others left with their belongings in wagons, some of them, women and children, having no destination and guided and protected only by faithful servants. A recital of the hardships that many of these women and children suffered during the next few years would soften the most callous heart. Numbers of them found refuge with relatives or friends in the in- terior, but there were some who suffered terrible hardships and were subjected to all the horrors incident to war4.
When the city offices were closed the city and county records were secretly buried for safe-keep- ing. After the war, when these records were ex- humed, it was found that they were practically worthless because of illegibility due to decay".
FIRST FEDERAL OCCUPATION®.
Four Federal gunboats, Seneca, Pembina, Ottawa, and Isaac Smith, and two transports of Commodore DuPont's squadron, crossed St. Johns
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bar March 11, 1862, and anchored in the river. On the same day the Confederates came to Jackson- ville, and under orders from the commander of the district, General Trapier, burned all the mills, ex- cept one (Scott's), and 4,000,000 feet of lumber. Mr. Scott saved his mill by raising the British flag over it. They also burned the foundry, and a gun- boat on the ways. But this was not all. That night a mob of men composed of refugees from Fernan- dina and Jacksonville came in and from pure malignity fired the Judson House and two or three other buildings in the town".
The next day, March 12th, the Federal squadron came up the river and anchored off Jacksonville. The capitulation of the town is described by a resi- dent, Frederick Lueders, in the Immigration Edition of the Industrial Record (Jacksonville) of July, 1907, as follows :
"One day (March 12th), as I was standing on the river bank at the foot of Laura Street, I saw four gunboats come steaming up the river and drop anchor off the foot of Pine (Main) Street. I was getting pretty well scared, when the thought flashed through my head, 'If they bombard Jack- sonville, it will be nothing short of murder'. At that time I happened to have a stick in my hand, and noting the guns were turned toward Jack- sonville, I took out my handkerchief, tied it to the stick, and waved it vigorously over my head. The commander of the fleet saw the peace signal and with his aides came ashore. Upon landing,
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I told him the existing circumstances and begged him not to open fire upon the town. He said he would not, and for me to go on board. After I had explained that I was the only officer in the town (he was sheriff) he requested me to sign the surrender papers, which I did. He said his mis- sion here was one of peace and that he hoped Florida would not suffer the havoc of war. Upon my return I found to my surprise that troops had been landed and pickets were out".
It was six companies of the Fourth New Hamp- shire Regiment, under the command of Colonel T. J. Whipple, that Mr. Lueders found in possession of Jacksonville. The occupation was quietly per- formed on March 12th. The Confederate troops were encamped in the vicinity of Baldwin, but they were more or less disorganized and poorly equipped, and they made no attempt at contesting the landing of the Federal forces here.
The original plan of the Federal expedition was to occupy Jacksonville for only a few hours, for the purpose of reconnaissance ; but the representa- tions of the "loyal" residents of the town caused Colonel Whipple to abandon the idea of immediate evacuation. Pickets were stationed and the troops went into camp or were quartered in the vacant buildings. On March 19th, General T. W. Sher- man* (U. S. A.), commander of the department, arrived. He came for the purpose of personally
*Do not confound with W. T. Sherman.
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acquainting himself with the situation here, and in his report he stated that the act of Colonel Whipple in regularly occupying Jacksonville was a wise one.
In the mean time, the Confederate troops in the vicinity of Baldwin, under the command of Colonel W. S. Dilworth, were recruiting and otherwise preparing to resist any attempt of the Federals to march into the interior of the State.
PROCLAMATION OF THE LOYAL CITIZENS.
As soon as Jacksonville was thoroughly in the hands of the Union army, a meeting of the "Loyal Citizens of the United States", was held, at 10:30 a. m., March 20, 1862, C. L. Robinson, chairman; O. L. Keene, secretary; John S. Sammis, S. F. Halliday, John W. Price, Philip Frazer, and Paran Moody, being the committee appointed to draft resolutions to lay before said meeting. The following is a true copy of these resolutions* :
We, the people of the city of Jacksonville and its vicinity, in the county of Duval, and the State of Florida, embraced within the territory and jurisdic- tion of the United States of America, do hereby set forth our declaration of rights and our solemn pro- test against the abrogation of the same by any pre- tended State or other authority.
First. We hold that government is a contract, in which protection is the price of allegiance; that when
*War of the Rebellion-Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. VI, Page 251-252.
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protection is denied, through weakness or design, allegiance is no longer due.
Second. We hold that an established form of gov- ernment cannot be changed or abrogated except by the will of the people, intelligently and willingly expressed and fairly ratified.
Third. We hold that no State of the United States has any legal or constitutional right to sepa- rate itself from the government and jurisdiction of the United States.
Fourth. We hold that the act of the Convention of the State of Florida commonly known as the ordi- nance of secession, is void, being in direct conflict with the Constitution of the United States, in never having been submitted to the people for ratification.
Fifth. We hold that the State of Florida is an integral part of the United States, subject to the constitutional jurisdiction of the same, and we have reason to believe that thousands of her citizens would hail with joy the restoration of the Govern- ment, bringing deliverance from the terrors of un- restrained popular and military despotism. We solemnly protest against all the acts and ordinances of the Convention of the State of Florida, which were designed to deprive us of our rights as citizens of the United States. We protest against the despotism fostered by the State and other authori- ties claiming jurisdiction over us, which has denied us the rights most dear to freemen-freedom of speech and a free press. We protest against the exactions which have been imposed upon us-forced contributions of money, property, and labor; enlist- ments for military service procured by threats and
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misrepresentations. We protest against the tyranny which demands of us as a measure of revolutionary policy abandonment of our homes and property and exposure of our wives and children to sickness, destitution, gaunt famine, innumerable and untold miseries and sorrows. We protest against that mad and barbarous policy which has punished us for re- maining in our own homes by sending a brutal and unrestrained soldiery to pillage and burn our prop- erty, threaten and destroy our lives. We protest against the denunciation of the governor, who threatens to hang us because we do not tamely sub- mit to such indignities and "lick the hand just raised to shed our blood." From such a despotism and from such dangers and indignities we have been re- leased by the restoration of the Government of the United States, with the benign principles of the Constitution. The reign of terror is past. Law and order prevail in our midst.
It belongs now to the citizens of the State who hold to their allegiance to the United States to raise up a State government according to those provisions of the State which are not in conflict with or repug- nant to the provisions of the United States :
Be it therefore resolved, That we adopt the fore- going protest and declaration of rights, and recom- mend that a convention of all loyal citizens be called forthwith, for the purpose of organizing a State government of the State of Florida.
Be it further resolved, That the chief of the military department of the United States be re- quested to retain at this place a sufficient force to
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maintain order and protect the people in their per- sons and property.
PHILIP FRAZER, Chairman.
A true copy of the resolutions as passed at said meeting and adopted as their own act.
C. L. ROBINSON, Chairman, O. L. KEENE, Secretary.
On the same day, General Sherman issued a proclamation to the "Loyal People of East Florida", confirming and commending the fore- going resolutions and stating that the troops of the United States "had come amongst you to protect loyal citizens and their property from further molestation by the creatures of a rebel and usurped authority, and to enable you to resuscitate a Government which they have ruth- lessly endeavored to destroy", etc. Another meet- ing of the loyal citizens was held on the 24th of March and a committee of five was appointed to take steps toward obtaining the co-operation of other counties in the State in the effort to orga- nize a state government under the jurisdiction of the United States. To this end a convention was called to meet at Jacksonville on April 10, 1862.
In the afternoon of March 24th, General H. G. Wright and the 97th Pennsylvania regiment ar- rived, General Wright assuming command of the troops in Jacksonville. The Confederates had by this time moved nearer the town and occupied
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a position at McGirt's Creek, about 10 miles west in the direction of Baldwin. On the night of March 24th, a Federal picket of two men that had gone beyond the lines was captured, and at 3 a. m. March 25th, the Confederates attacked a picket at the old brick yard in West LaVilla, kill- ing four and capturing three of them. Lieutenant Strange (C. S. A.) was mortally wounded here. This evidently was the first blood of the war spilled in this vicinity.
On the night of March 27th, a Federal picket fired upon a party approaching them in what they conceived a suspicious manner, and of the two in advance, one was killed and the other wounded. They proved to be a party of negroes that had escaped from their masters at Lake City. The next day, General Wright, hearing that the Con- federates were contemplating an attack upon Jacksonville, sent to Fernandina for two sections of Hamilton's battery. Its arrival brought the Federal force in Jacksonville up to 1,400 men. No attack was made, however, and a few days later the evacuation of the town was ordered.
THE EVACUATION.
General Wright, in his official report, describes the evacuation as follows :
On the 7th (April, 1862) preparations for with- drawing were begun by embarking the public stores, and on the 8th, at 12 noon, the troops were marched
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on board and the embarkation was completed by 2 p. m. the same day. Owing to the heavy wind which had sprung up during the morning, it was impos- sible to get all the transports clear of the wharf until near sunset-too late to move safely very far down the intricate channel of the river that night-and it was therefore determined to lay off the town until morning. This I was more willing to do, as it took from our movement all appearance of a hasty re- treat. At 6 a. m. of the 9th, the transports, con- voyed by the gunboats, proceeded down the river.
It is said that General Wright notified the Con- federates of the intended evacuation and re- quested them to resume their occupation of the town, whereupon a detachment of the First Florida calvary rode in and stood on the wharf watching the gunboats sail away.
The evacuation of Jacksonville by the Federal forces was unfortunate for "loyal" citizens, the bona-fide ones as well as for those who, supposing the occupation would be permanent, sought to further their personal interests by disclaiming all connection with the Southern cause and remained within the Union lines. When it became known that the town was to be evacuated, the greatest excitement prevailed among the people; their principal desire now was to get out of Jackson- ville, for fear of vengeance. The morning of April 8th was very hot. There was the greatest confusion, as the people hurriedly tried to get their goods, furniture, and valuables on board of
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the transports8. They embarked with the Federal fleet and were carried to Fernandina and quar- tered in the vacant buildings there. Most of them had to rely on rations issued from the United States stores.
Just before the evacuation, General Wright was directed by the general commanding the depart- ment, T. W. Sherman, to issue the following notice :
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE.
Jacksonville, Fla., April 7, 1862.
(NOTICE). In accordance with an order issued by the general commanding the Department of the South the troops will be withdrawn from this place, and I am directed by him to notify the people of Jacksonville that it is his intention to have all the aid and protection afforded the loyal inhabitants of the interior of Florida that is practicable for the security of their persons and property, and for the punishment of outrages, and that he holds all per- sons in that vicinity responsible for the preservation of order and quiet, being fully determined that any outrages upon persons or property contrary to the laws and usages of war shall be visited fourfold upon the inhabitants of disloyal or doubtful character nearest the scenes of any such wrongs, when the actual or known perpetrators cannot be discovered.
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