June 16, 1863, Weekly Columbus Enquirer (Georgia)
A friend who left Florence on Tuesday evening, brings the latest news from Roddy’s command. It had returned from the pursuit of the Yankees, under the brutal Cornyn, having followed them to Hamburg, where, under the protection of gunboats, they got aboard transports and crossed the Tennessee. Hannon’s regiment was in advance and had a skirmish near Hamburg, without loss. It was impossible to charge the enemy at the river, when embarking, on account of the nature of the ground, the thick woods and bushes preventing it, except by a road which, for a considerable distance, exposed them to a direct fire from the gunboats. Cornyn’s force is variously estimated at 800 to 2000. Roddy’s command, consisting of his own, Hannon’s and Biffle’s regiments, were much too scattered in squads, foraging, on detail service, &c., to be concentrated in time, for successful fighting pursuit.
The Vandals burnt the Masonic Hall, and every machine, blacksmith and carpenter shop in Florence, and set fire to a drug store, which, if consumed, would have communicated fire to and destroyed nearly all the business part of the town. A Federal soldier demanded of the incendiary, who applied the torch, what he meant by it, which caused a quarrel between them, that was terminated by a Federal Lieutenant stepping up and shooting dead the soldier who interfered to prevent the Vandal act. Martin, Weakley & Co.’s three factories were burnt likewise.
Almost every private vehicle was carried off or destroyed, under the pretext that they were sometimes used for ambulances. Horses and mules were taken, and negroes who flocked to the Yankees were mounted on them and taken off. Individuals were robbed of money, jewelry, &c., &c., and all the usual savage depredations were committed. Cornyn promised to return again when the wheat fields were ripe for harvest.–Huntsville Confederate, 5th.