103. Gill, Dr. John
Civil War Letter: In Florida

Pensacola, Florida: March 19, 1865
Gill's regiment has been relocated to Pensacola. He writes to his mother: "Were you to look upon us in camp tonight you would not suppose that it was the Sabbath. The men are busily engaged in cooking their rations prepatory to a march." They are getting ready for battle. "Whatever direction we take I think our force strong enough to make its way through. We have twelve thousand men and two batteries of artillery besides cavalry." Gill writes movingly about the plight of the Pensacola inhabitants. "Pensacola presents a very sorry and forlorn appearance. There are only some dozen families in the place. Most of the houses are torn down to build quarters for the soldiers. The few that are left are destroyed so that they can never be repaired. The streets are filled with ruins, weeds and rubbish of all kinds." "Many of the property owners are at work for the government at the Pensacola Navy Yard. And they are as a general thing quite poor. Every day some of them can be seen looking upon the ruins of their once happy homes. I do not think that this destruction of property has been attended with justice, as the poor are generally the greatest sufferers. And the larger portion of them are engaged in government employ at the Navy Yard or Bassancas(?) While the most wealthy who have fine residences (and who are now in the rebel army) their houses are used for headquarters for our commanding officers. Consequently, are not interfered with."

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