kly took upon themselves the whole responsibility,--and as
all the fires were made in the wooden part of the city, which was
occupied by them, while none were made in the brick part, where the
colored soldiers were quartered. It was fortunate for our reputation
that the newspaper accounts generally agreed in exculpating us from all
share in the matter;[E] and the single exception, which one
correspondent asserted, I could never verify, and do not believe to have
existed. It was stated by Colonel Rust in his official report, that some
twenty-five buildings in all were burned, and I doubt if the actual
number was greater; but this was probably owing in part to a change of
wind, and did not diminish the discredit of the transaction. It made our
sorrow at departure no less, though it infinitely enhanced the
impressiveness of the scene.

The excitement of the departure was intense. The embarkation was so
laborious that it seemed as if the flames must be upon us before we
could get on board, and it was also generally expected that the Rebel
skirmishers would be down among the houses, wherever practicable, to
annoy us to the utmost, as had been the case at the previous evacuation.
They were, indeed, there, as we afterwards heard, but did not venture to
molest us. The sight and roar of the flames, and the rolling clouds of
smoke, brought home to the impressible minds of the black soldiers all
their favorite imagery of the Judgment Day; and those who were not too
much depressed by disappointment were excited by the spectacle, and sang
and exhorted without ceasing.

With heavy hearts their officers floated down the lovely river, which we
had ascended with hopes so buoyant; and from that day to this, the
reasons for our recall have never been made public. It was commonly
attributed to pro-slavery advisers, acting on the rather impulsive
nature of Major-General Hunter, with a view to cut short the career of
the colored troops, and stop their recruiting. But it may have been
simply the scarcity of troops in the Department, and the renewed
conviction at head-quarters that we were too few to hold the post alone.
The latter theory was strengthened by the fact, that, when General
Seymour reoccupied Jacksonville, the following year, he took with him
twenty thousand men instead of one thousand,--and the sanguinary battle
of Olustee found him with too few.

FOOTNOTES:

[B]

HEAD-QUARTERS, BEAUFORT,