“Landing at the wharf and inquiring for the chief authorities I was soon joined by the mayor, and conducted to the City Hall, where the municipal authorities were assembled. “I informed them that having come to restore the authority of the United States, you had deemed it more kind to send an unarmed boat to inform the citizens of your determination than to occupy the town at once by force of arms; that you were desirous to calm any apprehension of harsh treatment that might exist in their minds, and that you should carefully respect the persons and property of all citizens who submitted to the authority of the United States; that you had a single purpose--to restore the state of affairs which existed before the Rebellion. I informed the municipal authorities that so long as they respected the authority of the government we serve, and acted in good faith, municipal affairs would be left in their own hands, so far as might be consistent with the exigencies of the times. “The mayor and council then informed me that the place had been evacuated the preceding night by two companies of Florida troops, and that they gladly received the assurance I gave them, and placed the city in my hands. I recommended them to hoist the flag of the Union at once, and in prompt accordance with the advice, by order of the mayor the national ensign was displayed from the flagstaff of the fort. * * * * “I called upon the clergymen of the city requesting them to reassure the people, and to confide in our kind intentions toward them. “About fifteen hundred people remain in St. Augustine, about one-fifth of the inhabitants having fled. I believe that there are many citizens who are earnestly attached to the Union, a large number who are silently opposed to it, and a still larger number who care very little about the matter. “I think that nearly all of the men acquiesce in the condition of affairs we are now establishing.