ENPages That Mention Jacksonville, Florida
John A. Steinbeck's diary, primarily during the Civil War, handwritten mainly in pencil, leather-bound, over 200pp, [195] 1859-1862
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Left St. St. Augustine on 21 of December 1861. Arrived at Tocoi at 2pm – started for Jacksonville at 5p m – arrived at Jacksonville at 9pm – slept on board the steamer & on the next day Sunday left there for Fernandina at 9pm – at Baldwin where we had to change cars we were delayed till 10 o clock pm. When we arrived at Fernandina at 1 o clock a m – slept on cars & in morning wher quartered in a merchant’s store. The town of Fernandina is almost
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March 26
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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
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26 March 29, 30
is not far from Palatka recieved also a letter from his friends to day that the Federals are sailing up down the River shooting alligators & that the Stars & Stripes looked quite natural again. The reports about Augustine were pretty much the same. The letter says that Tenessee & Kentucky were gone back into the Union again & that N. Carolina would probably soon follow.
Sunday 30. Another man came to day into the camp who said that he was from Jackson
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March 31
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ville & who reported much the same as the rest. Yesterday evening an Express arived bringing the news of a picket fight at Jacksonville. Liut. Strange is reported killed, also Captain Hardee & some others wounded. Who had the better of it nobody seems to know which seems very strange to me.
Kaptain Bird's Comp. left today for Gainesville.
Monday 30. Still at Hawkinsville
Monday 31. Last night we had quite an exciting time about 12 oclock pm. several men reported that they had
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April 7
soaking as our camps were not pitched good. However after the rain great lihtwood fires soon made us comfortable again.
Monday 7. On guard to day for our cook, which duty I have taken upon me which excludes me from all other Comp. duties, as bringing wood & water &c. A good many reports are being afloat about the strength of the Federals at Jacksonville. Some say that 1500 Dragoons & a long[crossed out] great many artillirie & infanterie are there others say that only 500 horsemen are there with nothing else.