19th Century Steinbeck Family Papers

March 26

19

there are about 2000 of them there, that a 140 lb gun is mounted on the R.R. & also on each street that a great many troops (Confederate) are within 20 miles at Baldwin. The saw mils there at J. are all burned also the [Judson?] homes & Robinson store & wharf there were some Citizen killed who were known to [with?] the north. but he says it was a secret who they were. Mr. Robinson was fired at a good many times while attempting to cross the river but all the balls missed him & he got away. Our companie also received

March 28

23

are afloat. Some say that not more than 15 killed that the men in the boats dropped themselves overboard headforemost & swam away instead of being killed & falling overboard as is [surprised?]. They also had an 12 lb brass gun aboard which they threw in water.

Saturday 29. Today two steamer loads arived from Enterprize. The steamer "Hattie" had aboard about 800 kegs of powder, blankets, &c. & the "Gov. Milton" had also guns & ammunition. The officers killed at S. were as far as I could learn Kaptain Mather & Liutent

28

March 31

the report of a canon in the direction of Volusia immediatly the long roll on alarm was beaten & the roll called & the men called [back?] ready with their long sacks on their back at once the fires were all extinguished & every thing was quiet & so waited the aproach of the enemy. But no enemy came & so found us the morning. I was on guard about half a mile from the camp & was walked up by the sergent & went to the camp got my knapsack and went

April 5

37

a good deal among other expressions he said that there were more than an hundred men round about that thought just like him. In the afternoon we got orders to move our camp about 6 miles further were we are at present. A large amount of goods - guns & amunition are here & it will take a long time to transport them to Gainesville probable until our time is out. This morning also the man who had been at our camp some time ago & who offered to catch the runaway negros came back with two of them whom he &

44

April 9-16

a terriffic battle at Tenessee. 114,000 Federals killed wounded & taken prisoners & 47,000 Confederates killed. That the battle was not over yet but that the Federals had send a flag of truce & asked for hostilities to be suspended until they could bury their dead. But as with all other reports the second veried & reported 60,000 men captured or nearly the whole of Gen. Buell's command. The weather is fine not very hot. We have very good water here from a small lake which is very clear & soft but not very cool. We are all well & most of the men are gaining very rapidly.

April 14

47

Of course he was greated enthusiasticly & the questions put to him were innumerable he was completely surounded wherever he went until late at night. He represented the Federal soldiers as the worst looking set ever seen very awkward in drilling & very much scared. That to get into the town is very easy but to get out is the trouble. Some of the citizens acted very tracherously to wards us. A secret vessel with a cargo of provisions ran into Mantanzas & was there some time but Mr. Bileoval[?] went there & saw her & reported her & they took possesion (sic) of her & sold her cargo

48 April 14

they took the crew loose & kept the Captain a few days when they also turned him loose, but he cured them[crossed out] & abused so much that they took him again & put him irons. They have still Mr. M. Solano & Cal Buffington in confinment for the reason that Mr. Solano was reported to have said that he came to take his negroes out & that if they would not let them go he would bring force enougs to take them, which they both denied, but the evidence or the source must seem good to them & so they keep them close confined. All of Mr. Solanos

56

April 14

They hold still St. Johns bar at Mayport they have 7 pivot guns mounted but Mr. P. says it will surly be taken within a short time. But Oh! not one word could I learn from my dear Once/not one single word. My mind is much occupied with them. If the attack on the City should be made within a short time & the town burnt as the Federals threaten, I shall hardly see my loved once as it will be within a period when it will be impossible for my dearest wife to get

April 19     69

returned this morning as the boat would not start until fur ther orders.

Fort Pulaski near Savannah was also attacked las week, so is reported, but little of the result is known, it is said the Federals fired about 600 balls & shell into the fort & then quitted. Mr. Buritt who went on board the gunboat at Jacksonville for protection & also with family men returned by flag of truce, so is the report. The federals are reported as having said that they were sent to fortify themselves on any par ticular point on the river

April 19 71

for according the his parole his life is at once forfeited without further trial. Mr. Bravo aboard[?] quick[?] took a boat which was tied at Mrs. Jenkes steps & rowed straight across the river, he has to pass the boats in the river but fortunate ly for him, he was not seen. He got safly across the river from there he started for the St. Sebastian River landed at Mr. Lopes landing at Rings farry set the boat adrift & then according to agreement met Mr. Masters at Fort Pator. Then they started together & got safly to our camp. The next day Mr. Bravo would also have been obliged to take the oath,