FROM THE SOUTHERN COAST: More Important Captures in Florida; Surrender of Fort Marion, St. Augustine and Jacksonville (3/20/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 3/20/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, March 19.

Dispatches received at the Navy Department from Flag-officer DUPONT announce that the flag of the United States floats over Fort Marion, at St. Augustine, Fla. The town was surrendered without fighting.

The town authorities received Commander ROGERS in the Town Hall, and after being assured that he would protect the loyal citizens, they raised the flag with their own hands.

The rebel troops evacuated the place the night before the appearance of the gunboats. This is the second of the old forts taken.

Jacksonville, Fla., was also surrendered in like manner.

The Governor of Florida has recommended the entire evacuation of East Florida.

THE REPORT OF COMMODORE DUPONT. FLAG-SHIP WABASH, OFF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.

THURSDAY, March 13, 1862.

SIR: Having on the 7th dispatched a Division of any force to hold Brunswick, consisting of the Mohican, Pocahontas and Potomska, under Commander GORDON, I shifted my flag from the first-named vessel to the Pawnee, and organized another squadron of light vessels, embracing the four regular gunboats, Ottawa, Seneca, Pembina and Huron, with the Isaac Smith and Ellen, under Lieutenant-Commanding STEVEN, to proceed without delay to the mouth of the St. John's River; cross, if possible, its difficult and shallow bar, feel the forts if still held, and push on to Jacksonville; indeed to go as far as Pilatki, eighty miles beyond, to reconnoitre and capture river steamers. This expedition was to be accompanied by the armed launches and cutters of the Wabash, under Lieuts. IRWIN and BARNES, and by a light draft transport with the Seventh New-Hampshire Regiment. After arranging with Brig.-Gen. WRIGHT our joint occupation of the Florida and Georgia coasts, including protection from injury the mansion and grounds of Dungenas, on Cumberland Island,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4048058/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

[Homer_J_Simpson]

From the Southern Coast: More Important Captures in Florida – 2-4
Operations in the West: Latest from Island No. 10 – 4
Occupation of Strasburgh: The Column of Gen. Shield’s in the Advance – 4
News from Washington: General Banks’ Headquarters Removed to Fairfax Court-House – 4-5
The Battle of Newbern: Gen. Burnside’s Official Report to the War Department – 5-8
Editorial: Burnside and McClellan – 8
Editorial: The Conquest of Florida – 8
The Donelson Fight Estimated Abroad – 8

[chajin]

The Governor of Florida has recommended the entire evacuation of East Florida.

Stick 'em all in Polk County alongside the Seminoles; water down the DNA so much the natives become Quarternoles.

[livius]

Love it! I live in St.Augustine and am involved with a historical group here. I was telling some visitors the other day about our Civil War past, and I would love to be able to get a copy of this.

Do you know how I could do that? I don’t mind paying…even a newspaper morgue has to make a living, so to speak.

Thank you for posting and for your project!

[Homer_J_Simpson]

What part do you want a copy of? I have all the old NYT I post saved as jpgs and I could email a batch to you. If you know anyone who subscribes to the NYT you could have them get the articles from the Times Machine. That’s what I do. I make screen shots of the pages I want from the Times Machine and then print, cut, and reassemble.

[livius]

I would love to have pages 1-4, which deal with Florida, St Augustine and Fernandina.

After the Union Army arrived in a place, they would go to the local officials and demand the keys to the city, as well as requiring that the officials take the oath of allegiance.

In the case of St Augustine, the Marines landed and a couple of days later the commander went to see the mayor. The Mayor was a supporter of the Confederacy and refused to cooperate, and designated another man as mayor. That man also refused to cooperate and turned the job over to the vice-mayor, who finally did hand over the keys.

The first mayor ended up on a prison ship - probably because by then the Union authorities had found out that he had been involved in removing and burying the lens of the St Augustine Light so that Union ships could not find their way into the harbor.

The second mayor fled to Cuba and returned when things had died down, and the vice mayor seems to have lived quietly after that.