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Doc. 90.-destruction of rebel salt-works.

Report of Admiral Bailey.

United States flag-ship Dale, Key West, Fla., March 6, 1864.
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy:
sir: I have the honor to report that two expeditions have recently been fitted out from the United States steamer Tahoma, for the destruction of extensive salt-works, the property of the rebel government, in the neighborhood of St. Mark's, Florida.

The first expedition left the ship on the morning of the seventeenth of February, in two detachments, one under command of Acting Master E. C. Weeks, and the other in charge of Acting Ensign J. G. Koehler. The salt-works being some seven miles in extent, the first detachment commenced at one end of the line, the other at the other. A day and a night of unremitting labor was spent in the work of destruction, when the expedition returned safely to the vessel, having marched through swamps and dense woods a distance of forty miles, and successfully accomplished the object of the undertaking. [420]

On the twenty-seventh, a week later, a second expedition was planned, and carried through with equal success, the object being to destroy some government works at Goose Creek, some ten miles distant. The party was, in this case also, in charge of Acting Master Weeks, and the works to be destroyed were under the protection of a rebel cavalry company, whose pickets the expedition succeeded in eluding. Twelve prisoners were brought off, one the captain of an infantry company raised for coast service.

The works destroyed by these two expeditions produced for the confederates two thousand four hundred bushels of salt per diem. I inclose herewith Lieutenant Commander Harmony's list, forwarded to me, of the articles captured and destroyed.

Very respectfully,

Theodorus Bailey, Acting Rear-Admiral Commanding E. G. B. Squadron.

List of government property destroyed and captured, belonging to the rebel government, by boats' crews and refugees, on the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth February, 1864:

Three hundred and ninety salt-kettles, average capacity, 100 gallons; 52 sheet-iron boilers, average capacity, 900 gallons; 170 furnaces, made of brick and stone; 150 pumps, wells, and aqueducts; 55 storehouses, used for storage, salt, etc.; 165 houses and shanties; 60 sheds and stables; 6000 bushels of salt, in barrels; a large number of axes, shovels, and hoes; one carpenter-shop, with tools, etc.; one fishing-house; 600 bushels of corn; 350 cords of wood.

Captured--Five large wagons; eighteen mules and sets of harness; 2500 pounds of bacon; two fine horses, saddles, and bridles; about 1000 head of cattle, and one prisoner, G. R. Paul, government agent.

All the articles captured I gave to the refugees, as they were of no use to us. The estimate value of the above property to the rebels cannot be less than $3,000,000. That is the value put upon it by the most intelligent refugees.

List of articles and property destroyed on Goose Creek by the boats' crew from the United States steamer Tahoma, February twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh, 1864:

Two thousand bushels of salt in barrels and bins; three corn-cribs, containing about 1000 bushels; large quantity of hay and fodder; blacksmith's shop and tools; carpenter's shop and tools; about 100 store and other houses, stables, etc.; 165 kettles and pans, average capacity, 100 gallons; 53 large boilers, of about 800 gallons capacity each; 98 well-constructed brick furnaces; nine wagons and carts, 20 sets mule harness.

Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1862.

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