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UNION SOLDIER IN A SOUTHERN TOWN By Ariel Patterson
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UNION SOLDIER IN A SOUTHERN TOWN By Ariel Patterson
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| In early 1862, Amelia Island was the site of a cultural, political,
and military collision. Union troops invaded the island on the heels of evacuating
Confederates, creating an intriguing convergence of young northern men and a disheveled
southern community. On board one of the invading Union ships was Daniel Barrows – a
soldier whose letters home have provided future generations with an insight into this
unique phase of Fernandina history. Daniel Barrows was born in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in 1828, the oldest child of David and Abigail Barrows. He had three brothers, all of whom also fought for the Union, and two sisters. He worked as a moulder before joining the military in September, 1861, when he became a member of the 9th Maine Regiment Volunteers, Company E. In 1864 he extended his military service by re-enlisting in the Signal Corps in 1864. Once he became a soldier, Barrows' journey south via Union boats began. As he traveled toward Fernandina, his sense of patriotic duty and desire for battle grew. Armed with confidence rather than experience, on February 28, 1862, Barrows' hope for combat seemed on the verge of fruition. Aboard the schooner Robert J. Mercer, he wrote to his father: "Our destination will probably be Fernandina on the coast of Florida, a place of about four thousand inhabitants well fortified with a Rail Road leading to it. There is no doubt but they will defend it to the last and that we shall see some pretty smart work." Barrows' expectations were well-founded. The Confederate leadership had initially invested significantly in fortifying Fort Clinch, but, once aware of the impending Union attack, had decided hastily to abandon the Fort.
The 9th Maine Regiment is pictured at Fort Clinch in this drawing from Harper's
Weekly. Fears of a Yankee takeover erupted with the announcement of the
Confederate evacuation. Just as Barrows had anticipated a quick victory over an inferior
opponent, the islanders expected horrible treatment at the hands of Union soldiers.
Stories of Yankee atrocities had been exaggerated, creating firmly entrenched visions of
barbaric Union soldiers. Unsure of what life under Union control would entail and
unwilling to find out, many Fernandinians opted to flee before the arrival of Federal
forces. Colonel Edward Hopkins, who facilitated the Confederate withdrawal from
Fernandina, ensured that those Fernandina citizens who wished to leave the island would be
able to do so on a special train.
Daniel Barrows and other Union soldiers camped out on the grounds in
front of the The soldiers' feelings of surprise were accompanied by their
uncertainty about what to expect from those islanders who had decided to stay, believing
that life as a refugee would be worse than life under Union control. The Yankee soldiers
were unsure of the residents' loyalties. Many local people claimed to be loyal to the
Union, spurring Barrows to report home that "they say they wished we had come sooner,
as their own troops had used them scandalously, robbing them indiscriminately of
everything they could get hold on." Despite the locals' claims of loyalty, Barrows
and other troops on the island maintained a slight skepticism. As he told his sister, the
locals "appear to be loyal, although they are watched!"
General Wright established his headquarters in the As they toured the town, the soldiers often helped themselves to items left behind from the hasty evacuation. After visiting the local residences, Barrows wrote to his father:
The abandoned homes provided more than souvenirs. The troops were
stationed at various places around the island (many of which remain prominent attractions
in the community) including Fort Clinch, Colonel Finegan's lawn, and other community
buildings. Barrows spent time in several locations, praising all except Fort Clinch.
Originally, Barrows reported "we pitch our tents on a beautiful grass plot!" But
as time passed, his quarters changed, and he was instead stationed at Fort Clinch. He
explained to his father, "we were beautifully situated at Fernandina, but they
thought we were taking too much comfort!" Although he was initially disappointed with
the move to the Fort, he soon grew accustomed to it and was sad to leave when he was
re-stationed at Fernandina's Central Park. Later, Barrows was moved yet again. "We
moved from our old encampment yesterday and are quartered in the city using the building
for barracks," he wrote to his mother. Describing his housing to his father, Barrows
wrote:
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