Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-22
Hampton Again y! /!
To THE EDrron OF THE Eyoo,nn,

A 'SOiA IA Gill
To THE EDrroR OF THE EwcurRpn,
SIR,
Having just returned from Hampton.
where made myself acquainted with al, the
particulars OF British outrage, whilst that
place was IN their possession. ] am re
quested by many persons to communicate
thro' you, to the public, the information |
have given them. do this with no hone or
expectation of satisfying those who reouir
ed other testimony than Major Crutchfield's
or Capt. Cooper's.-I too well know there
are those among us, who will still doubt or
Pretend TO dcubt.--But as / believe this
class to be few in number, ana insignificant
public estimation as / firmly believe that
large majority of all political persuasions,
are open 10 conviction and feelingly alive to
their Country's wrongs; Icannot withhold,
from them the facts, whose simple recital
Will, according to their different tempera-
ment, infame them with rage or fill them
with horror.
My name you are at liberty to give to the
pubic, or only to those who cnouire for il.
as you think proper. I have reason to he,
lieve that those who know me, whether Fe.
deral or Republican, will know ana ac.
knowledge that am incapable of publish
ing faisehood-and ] aver, that every
statement incon -isient with the following. no
matter on whose authority it is made-is nm
true--in proof OF which / solemnly under
take before the world to establish eyerv
tact contained in it, provided any Gentle.
man VIII sign his name to denial of either
of them.
went to Hampton with a determination
OF enquiring minutcly into the ruth of Re
ports, which hohe9, for the honor of a sci
dier's profession and Of human nature. 10
have found exaggerated. In the irvestiea.
ton i resolved to depend on the second hand
felauon OF no one, where ! could mount To
the original source of evidence--but since
IN some cases this was impracticable, feel
It duty carefully to distinguish the one
class from the other.
That the Town & Country adjaceot was
gwen up to the indiscrimiDate plumber of a
hCehtious soidiery, except perhaps the-house
where the mead quarters were liked, is an
unGeniaole Truth. Every article Of valua.
bic property was taken from IL. In manv
houSes not even 4 knife. fork or a plate
was lett. British o6Gcers were seen by DR..
Cotton in the act of plundering Mr.. Iones's
store. His house, although he remained in
Town, was rined and his medicine thrown
into The public street just opposite where
many ofhcers took up their quarters, who
must nave been eye witnesses OF the scene.
ne church was pillaged and the plate
oelonging TO 1t taken away, altho' inscr bsd
with the Donors name. The windmills in
inc nelghoorhOod were stript Of their sails.
Inc Closets, private drawers and trunks
Oh the INHABITANTS we're broken open and
scarcely any thing seemed to be too tri
hing an object to excite the cupidity of these
roDbers' Several gentlemen informed me.
that much of their plumber was brought into
the back Yard cf Mrs. Westwood's house
where Sir sydney Beckwith and Admiral
Cockburn resided. But had no ouportu-
nifty OF seeing this lady, who il rus sati
zp>uM testify to the facts. In short, Hamp
ton exhibits dreary and desolate appear
anoe which no 14ReJicau can witness unmo>
we'd. Doctor Wardla and MIR. John {;
Smith, OF this city, visited it in con pany with
me and their indjgna' ion was equal I hey
ana every one, who saw and heard what
nave stated, united IN eXecrating TIE mon,
Sters VINO perpetrated these enornt,es and
ealdlstinctions, ifany existed, were lost
in the nobler feelings Of pity for the suffer-
ers, and generoGs ardor to avcnge their
wrongs
Here it may be necessary tn notice aIpub.
LEGATION i have this moment read IN the
Alexandria Gazette of the 18th, where a.
mong other things it is said on the authority
OF a CIentleman who was in Hampton the
day after its evacuation by the enemy that
1t was believed there "that nearly all the
plundering was committed by the negroes %
and tnat be saw many PARTICLES brought 70
the Magistrates, which had been secreted in
Negro houses. some plundc ring NAV
have been committed by the negroes who
(as was told} were embodied and paraded
througlythe streets, was probable enough
that the expression Of 8uch an opinion NAV
fave been heard in Hampton, is lfkewi,e
proba5le--but do utterly deny, that Il Is
believed there, by any person worthy of ere
dit, that "Dearly all the plundering was
committed by them." Let the gentleman
tnen' VINO gives this account, state from
whom he derived his Information, Letbim
s.vs the names Of the Magistrates who re-
ceived the plumber thus found, aud his oSun
AID let him declare, what where the main