Horatio G. Wright to L. H. Pelouze, March 15, 1862

CAPTAIN:

I have the honor to report that I have just learned from my aide-de camp, Lieutenant Hubbell, who aecompanied the expedition to the Saint John’s River, that the batteries at the month of the river and at Saint John’s Bluff were abandoned on the approach of the gunboats, and that Jacksonville was evacuated by the rebels before our forces reached the town. Jacksonville was occupied by six companies of the Fourth New Hampshire on the 12th instant. Seven saw-mills. 4,000,000 feet of lumber, a large hotel, four or five private dwellings, the railroad depot, and the gunboat in process of construction and nearly ready for launching were burned by the rebels on their evaeuation of the place.

A portion of the gunboats, having with them one company of the Fourth New Hampshire Regiment, went to Saint Augustine, which the rebel forces had deserted on the first appearance of the expedition on the Florida coast. The inhabitants of the town are represented to have hailed with joy the arrival of our forces and their relief from the oppressive rule of the rebel authorities. At Jacksonville many of the inhabitants are still remaining, though considerable numbers had gone when our troops landed.

I shall endeavor to visit Jacksonville, and perhaps Saint Augustine, to-morrow, after which I will report more in detail.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,