New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-31

sail him; and at any rate was opposed TO relnqushpg
position 30 important and strongly fortified, without
struggle.
II is understood that flank attack in the direction OF
Fox Hill was apprehended, and it was one of the
rumors that that interesting locality swaImed with I'M
told thousands of rebels.
The removal Of Government stores from the village
commenced early in the evening. 1t was the occasion
for fresh rumors, among which one that the vii
age was to be shelled by the Fortress, and probably
burned which rumor suspect had rathermore founda-
ton than some Of the earlier ones. An indescribable
panic ensued among the coored population, which all
at once appeared swell beyond all previous casula-
ton. The streets swarmed with the terrified people.
In leas than half an hour the exodus commenced. The
tide that for hours after poured over Hampton Bridge
toward the Fortress the scenes that marked the fight
of the remnants of the population of the once great and
arstovac village, will not undertake to describe.
The moon made the night almost as light as day. Be-
tween and O'Clock the long wagon train Of the Al
bany regimen. turned into the main road leading from
the Fortress to Hampton which already swarmed with
fGgitives. They principally on foot the men and
women, the latter greatly preponderating; carrying
bundles big hogsheads containing the entire house.
hold effects Of a family. Some were wheeling
barrows containing n wagon-load. Children
were struggling; those that were capable
of carrying anything had some article or other
OF economic housekeeping; all fleeing as from instant
peril. Women were shouting TO men heavily laden to
hurry up, and men urged women similarly encum-
bered not to lag behind the grotesque csvlcade that
stretched the entire distance from Hampton TO the
fortress their place of refuge. The scene was one sell
dom beheld anywhere. II was at once ludicrous and
melancholy. But when to it was joined the camp
train of kicking baulky mules and fractions horses,
with shoutng cursng, rollicking drivcrs-here large
wagon in the gutter, and there another stalled and half
upset-t was quite past description. 1t was well to-
ward night when the fugitive train began to dwinde.
Some lingering, lame, ancient Uncle Ned or Old Joe,
who, though us deeply impressed with the sense of
danger was yet late in setting ont, unable to keep
pace in the flight, formed the Of this remarkable
exodus. II was beyond midnight when | strolled
through the streets Of the village. The guards had
generally been withdrawn, and ave the main one, the
streets were all quiet and desoate Here and there in
the neighborhood of the batteries aud the bridge
squads of soldiers, who knew the rebels were little
likely TO make their appearance or if they did were
ready for them, fingered in door-yArds, sprawled
on the green grass, and were singing ex-
ceently well, and as general thing in the German
tongue, songs which the scene well calculated
10 inspire while here aud there others sang gees Of
the sea- that gave you 10 understand that the Naval
Brigade had not yet retreated With friend visited
the houses Of two Union families absent, where the
negro servants great and small old and young, re-
manned. Approaching, certain sounds gave MS to I'M
derstand that an extemporized prayer-meeting was
going on. We were not intruders for they were in
"heops of trouble aud pressed for that assurance
which, with indiHnet and noisy faith they pray
ing for. We told them TO go TO bed keep quiet, and
that it would be all right We had the satisfaction "
being believed with thankfulness that for once il was
a luxury 10 give advice. We went to another house,
where there were two female servants alone. They,
too, had been in heaps of trouble" but more pbo.
sophical If not trusting, had the conclu
son dat ef de Secesh ded come dey couldn't help and
dar war no use crying" Thus convinced, they had
placed chair against the door as barricade and gone
to bed and were sound asleep when we knocked. DO
We tnk, Sa ,da, dem Seces will come for surs r. We
told them not 10 be alarmed which appeared to beper
ecy satisfactory We arolled through shaded streets
from which the moonlight almost barricadcd blythe
meeting branches. Large fine mansions, with doors
aud windows open, and which three months ago were
tenanted by Virginia arisoGacy evidenced the unusual
light carried by maraudng soldier exploring garret
and cellar for something that had escaped previous
search. Passing out Of the village and oyerhe bridge
we took way TO the fortress foot Tie road wss
ct travelled by fugves doubling belared and oc-
easionally by regimen,a suffers cart, who with AN
eye business had fingered for the last cents worth Of
trade In the neghborbood of the fortress the Babel
scene which reigned when we left had relapsed into
something like quiet. The fugitiyes who had found
refuge under the guns of the fortress lay spraw led and
scattered wide space in the shadow Of ts frown
ing WALTZ Soldiers, weary with the excessive labors
OF the day, lay groups in the open air. The wagon
ways and every foot Of space not otherwise aIpropri
atcd were crowded and jammed with wagons with
mules tied to them. Beside particular friend, the
burly and Woodworking Quarermaster, and his
faithful wagon-master, few stirring. The sen.
tnes slept at their posts and cared little whether we
knew that tho countersign was erich Mountain" or
"Bull Rup," > ..k.A.
They who went to bed expecting in the morning TO
hear of bloody work at Hampton were disappont-
ed. The struggling rebels seen at New Market
Bridge the afternoon previous had left and there had
been no more occasion for the fuss and foy-the mid
night eyacuaton-tan had existed every other day
Tor a Inonth past lmb "oihmB cNo'ysouy "oio
broad grin "What does all this thing mean :" was
on everybody's lips. what next :" everybody
wanted to know. Some creduous ones believed the
canard that everything made ready IN the fortress
60 that in case Hampton was attacked during the
night and the rebels came too near TO escape through
the back gate to the blockadiug feet in the Roads
Col. Weber, with the force under his command, re-
NAMED in the village all night, and came In at about
six O'Clock this morning They don't doubt that they