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JOSE «ARIO BERNARDEZ -XO-
Lieutenant UoNeil who had. received constant attention after the reoeption
of his wound, lingered until ten o'elook at night when his country was deprived
of a brave and efficient officer,
*0 the Bucoess of the expedition was attended with more beneficial ad¬
vantages to the oouutry than any preoeeding if and as the capture of suoh
spirits as &ing Philip and bohee ^ixly gave promise of a muro speedy peace
than all the military achievements of the previous two yearc, the entry of
the troops into ut. Augustine whioh took place in che afternoon was attended
with all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war. The air resounded with
acclamations from the male portion of the innaoitants who rushed in crowds to
the publio square as the soldiers passed along to the Port with their prison¬
ers, and every window and baloony was thronged with bright eyes smiling at
the oonquerors and fair hands wafted welcome with their white kerchiefs stream¬
ing through the air.
The only oloud that rested on the viotory rose from the reflection that
one who had gone forth in the flush of youth, buoyant with hopo and expectations,
was now brought back a oold and lifeless figure to be interred beneath the soil
of florida. His oaresr had been brief. Lieutenant *“oNeil was not mure than
19 year¿> old, was the son of Den. John woHeil, late of the U. L. Army,and grand¬
son of Gen, benjamin fierce of Hew Hampshire, a hero of the Revolution.
Having incarcerated the Indians in Port karion, ti» soldiers turned their
attention to performing the last sad rites for their departed oomrade. His
body was esoorted to the grave from General ^emande*' home by the batallón in
whose presence he had reoeived his death wound and was followed by all the
offioers at the Post and the most respeotable of the oitisens. The tired sol¬
diers remained In bt. Augustine for a few days and then returned to Fort Peyton.