U.S. Steamer "E.B. Hale,"
	     St Johns River, Fla. 18th Oct, 1862.

D.M. Bagley Esq;
	My Dear Sir.
		I have a mania just now for
writing letters to old political associates. You know
we were engaged together in the "NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4", for
four and a half years __ we have edited, jointly, the
Republican __ we have planned and aided to execute
political campaigns, and, in many a good joke or 
in serious converse, each has owned an "undivided
half."
	And now that I am so far away, the recollec-
tions of our associations crowd upon me, and I want
to write you, and I want you to answer. First I will
say something of this locality. St Johns river, (the
mouth of it), is 160 miles south of Port Royal. It
is navigable for about 175 miles, at least below St Augus-
tine a long distance, the course being South, half west.
The banks, in places are bold and heavily timbered - the
low land being good for rice, but corn and potatoes
are the cheif productions. The river passes through
the richest lumber region for the State; Jacksonville,
twenty five miles up, once had a flourishing trade, but
now the town is almost deserted. The whole country
is desolate. After the destructon of the battery on St

Johns bluff, we passed up the river on a tour of in-
spection. The result was that the rebels were minus
nearly three hundred negroes. We don't return fugitives
down here - as the boys say, "we don't see it." Our boat
has done a great deal of "nigger stealing" as the rebels call
it, & of course they love us dearly. A deserter came down
only this morning, from the interior, and brought a procla-
mation from Gen Finnegan offering a reward of $500.""
for the capture of either of the Officers of the "Gun Boat Hale."
		To day I wrote the General, on behalf
of my associates, assuring him that we were happy
to learn that our valuation was so high, almost equal
to a third rate darkey. I asked him if he knew how
to make rabbit soup, and impressed upon him that
it was necessary to first catch the rabbit. And I [illegible in original]
him also, that if we should capture him, he would go
North, unless secesh had some of our mules in their
possession, so that a fair exchange could be made. With
the consent of the Senior Officer, I shall forward the
letter, with the compliments of the season.
		     Fifty of the contrabands that
we brought from Pulatki, were in the possession of
ex Gov Mosely. There was but one black in the lot,
and some were almost white. Talk about "amalga-
mation," if southern planters don't devote their time
to the admixture of blood, then I am no judge of
colors. The other day two negroes tried to escape but
were caught & hung __ then thrown in a ditch, with the
halter around their necks, and their bodies stamped


on by the rebels - the chivalry. Oh! how I would like
to releive my mind, publicly. So help me God, never
will I cease preaching the Abolition of Slavery.
			And that declaration leads
me to ask how you are prospering in State politics.
I do hope our folks will stand firm. All can be
accomplished, in time, by a steadfast adherence to the
doctrines of 1860. Stand by the President and the Chicago
Platform. "He that beleiveth not shall be damned." The
Universalist doctrine is of no avail, applied politicaly.
Pro-Slaveryism, direct or otherwise, if expressed by vote,
act or word, is "the sin against the Holy Ghost that shall
not be forgiven." I say it reverently - the man who re-
fuses to strike for Liberty, is a rebel and in arms against
the Almighty; for, He speaks in this war. I would like to
be with you in this campaign and do my share of the
work. Tell all those who speak or write, that Winter
prays they may be plain hearted and earnest in the good
cause. Please give my kind regards to all, and do write
me. Tell me who has been nominated for County,
Legislative, Congressional & State officers. If any thing
occurs worthy of note, you shall hear from me
again.
	Faithfully Yours,
			    Asa C. Winter.

Asa C. Winter
Paymaster of Gun Boat
"E.B. Hale."
St. Johns River Florida
     Oct. 18, 1862
ans