The Church burning in Florida.
--
A Scene. A letter from
Jacksonville, Fla., gives an account of the scene which followed the barbarous burning of the Catholic Church there by the 8th Maine regiment, fresh from the land of convent-burning mobs and "Rise" inquisition committees.
It says:
‘
The two Irish companies having been sent out of the way on purpose the
Maine regiment marched up to the
Church and after glutting their beastly minds by desecrating the house of God, cutting and declaring the sacred symbols of religion, set fire to the building, destroying everything.
The clergyman's dwelling shared the same fate.
Naught was respected, nothing saved.
’
The news of these outrages having reached the Irish companies, they rushed to the scene of wanton destruction, but too late to save.
Many actually went because of their inability to do any good.
Then, filled with hate at the doors of this mischief, and unmindful of the disparity of numbers, they issued upon the
Down Masters, when a fierce street fight
Easters, which could only be quelled by the ordering out of the entire Yankee force, whose united efforts were necessary to disarm the two companies.
The
Irishman were carried on board the gunboats in irons, still defiant, and swearing yet to wreak an ample vengeance upon the slat-sided sons of
Maine.
An Irish officer assured me he and his men were amply punished for fraternizing and fighting with such custards as these Yankees, and although now in a minority, they would yet land where other Irish troops would hear their story, and the fight would be renewed until satisfaction was had.
