Horatio G. Wright to A. B. Ely, April 13, 1862

Port Royal Harbor, 8. O., April 13, 1862.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report, for the information of the general commanding the Northern District, that, in obedience to the instructions contained in his letter of the 2d instant [following], I have withdrawn the troops from Jacksonville, taking with me all the stores and other public property, and likewise removing property belonging to the enemy, consisting in part of two 8-inch columbiads, with chassis and carriages, and three field pieces, with their carriages. Some few captured articles, for which we had not room on the transports, were destroyed.

General Benham’s letter was received by me on the 6th instant. On the 7th, preparations for withdrawing were begun by embarking the public stores, and ón the 8th, at 12 m., the troops were marched on board, and the embarkation was completed by about 2 p. m. the same day. Owing to the heavy wind which had sprung up during the morning, it was impossible 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 by the senior naval officer and myself 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 retreat.

At 6 a. m. on the 9th the transports, convoyed by the gunboats Ottawa, Capt. Thomas H. Stevens, senior naval officer ; Pembina, Capt. J. P. Bankhead, and the Ellen, Captain Budd, proceeded down the river, reaching Mayport, near the mouth, at about 2 p. m., but too late for passing over the bar, on account of the state of the tide. Here I took on board one company of the Fourth New Hampshire Regiment, which had been stationed at the batteries abandoned by the enemy, and as our means of transportation did not permit of our carrying off the guns, they were destroyed and their carriages and platforms burned, as were also the small buildings thereat.

At3p.m. on the 10th, the tide serving, the transports passed the bar, the steamer Belvidere proceeding to Saint Augustine and the Cosmopolitan to Fernandina. Stormy weather detained the steamers at Fernandina until this morning, which place we left at about 7.30 o’clock.

The troops in garrison at Jacksonville were the Ninety-seventh Penusylvania Regiment, six companies of the Fourth New Hampshire Regiment, and two sections of Hamilton’s battery, under the command of Captain Ransom. Under the general instructions of General Benham, I have disposed the force as follows: The Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment and Ransom’s battery to Hilton Head, four companies of the Fourth New Hampshire Regiment, including the one at Saint John’s

Bar, to Saint Augustine, and the remaining three companies of the regiment to Fernandina. The garrison at Saint Augustine now consists of seven companies of the Fourth New Hampshire Regiment, and that at Fernandina of the Ninth Maine Regiment, three companies of the Fourth New Hampshire Regiment, and one company of the volunteer engineers. The necessity for the withdrawal of the troops from Jacksonville is to be regretted. A considerable number of the inhabitants had avowed themselves publicly in favor of our cause, and, encouraged by the proclamation issued by General Sherman to the people of East Florida, had been active in their efforts to organize a State and city government. These persons could not remain behind with their families with any safety, the enemy having threatened the lives of all who should show us the least favor or even remain in town after our occupation, and I accordingly brought off all such as desired to go, taking also such of their property as the limited transportation at my command permitted. Many of these people have abandoned all, and are without other means than the worthless paper currency in circulation before our arrival. Their condition not only appeals strongly to our sympathies, but they have a claim to present assistance from the Government to which they profess to be attached, and which owes them aid and protection. I could see no way in which these people could be subsisted at Fernandina, where most of them were landed, except by issues trom Government supplies, for the purchase of which many of them, as before remarked, have no money. I have accordingly instructed the commander of the post to cause provisions to be issued to such as need them, not exceeding one ration per day to each person of twelve years old and over, and a half ration to those under that age, the provisions thus issued to be paid for by those having money. This arrangement will, I hope, be continued so long as the necessity for it exists.

To Capt. Thomas H. Stevens, senior naval officer in the Saint John’s River, I desire to express my obligations for his efficient aid in the embarkation of the troops and in convoying them down the Saint John’s River, and to Capt. J. P. Bankhead, U. S. Navy, commanding gunboat Pembina, for his valuable assistance in hauling the transports off the wharf at Jacksonville after the troops were on board, which, in consequence of the wind, could not have been accomplished without assistance. I would also acknowledge the obligations I am under to Captain Stevens for his cordial co-operation during the time the troops were in occupation of Jacksonville.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,