New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-10
sfom Oar STcc!al Correspondent.
FoRTREss MONRoE, Old Point Comfort, I


drama OF Rebellion Last night the village Of Hampton
laid in ashes by tbe rebels. Mr.. Mabew, formerly
of Bath. Name WHO went 20 Georgia to live and was
tbere pressed into the rebel service came INTO our lnes
Yesterday afternoon as deeerer and gave much val
uabie information concerning the movements OF Gen.
Nagru6er. On Monday morning last Gen. NJ lett
Yorktown with two Tennessee, one Georgia, one Ala
bsma regiment and two bataions, aud some cavalry,
in all, five regiments, between 5000 and 5000 men,
with eight gns, one of which was rifed. The force
reached Great Bethel about noon OF The same day. ana
encamped till Tuesday bt, when they proceeded TO
Newmarket Bridge, two and half miles beyond
Hampton, arriving there about II O'Clock 3. IN.
Wednesday. Gen. Naeruder immediately formed his
men in line of battle expecting Gen. Butler would at
tack MIN, and waited some time. The impression
among the was that they 20 be led to the at
tack of Newport News that afternoon. While await
ing the appearance of All opposing force, and while
Gen. Magruder was engaged in taking observations
from the top OF house, Mr.. Mahew escaped into the
woods made his way to Hampton, SWAN the creek,
and gave himself up 10 our pckets by whom be was
| conducted to Gen. Buffers headquarters.
Information of the movements of the enemy was i'm
meda,ey teleqaphed to Gen. Phelps at Newport
! News who had obtained corresponding intelligence
from other sources. heaSllrcs were
ton with the feet to defend our position here and
Newport News from the combined attack which was
evident the enemy intended. This about o'clock
p. m. The Rebels had already reached the outskirts
of Hampton and an advance guard occupied the village
| abou, A. O'Clock, the force having left Newmarket
Bridge about the time Mr.. Mahew deserted. During
the evening proper ordere issued to the force at
Camp Hamilton, commanded by Col Max Weber, and
q scouting party was sent 10 Fox Hill, to watch the
movements OF the enemy in that neighborhood AT 10
O'Clock Gen. Butler, after visiting Camp Hamilton
went to Hampton Bridge and instructed the force
posted there TO hold The position and resist any attempt
either TO destroy or pass the bridge About - feet of
the panks had been taken up and the timbes cutaway
On the Hampton sde AT that point our force, consist
ing Of a detachment Of Max Webers rifemen, erected
a baricade When Gen. Butler left, everything
quiet in The village and there was no appearance of
anything unusual Shortly, Rebel force came TO the
bridge and commenced vigorous attack on our force
there sharp contest ensued, which resulted in lors
10 the enemy and their retreat. The Rebels then com
rneDsed TO ire the town. Fire was first set TO the
buildings nearest to the bridge. They who committed
this &c, OF vandalism a considerable extent for
mer leading citizens Of Hampton and owners Of prop
erty, and consequently among the greatest suferers
They distributed themselves through the village went
to the residences Of the few remaining white inhab-
ants and warned them prepare for the event that
was at hand. No other reason was given than thai
they had orders to burn the village, and that would
he done. No time was given 10 remove furniture or
other effects and scarcely enough N allow to terrified
people TO dress and ocOaPS to the street.
At the house OF Mr.. Joseph Segar, who was absent,
faithful colored servant undertook to remove some
yaluables when he was warned by the rebel charged
with the duty of setting fire 70 the dwelling to desst
The negro, instead OF obeying, kept only remark
ing that the things be got out. The rebel then
told him if he did not stop he would shoot hun.
Can't help dat massys things must be got out"
the reply. The chyGlrons rebel fired but missed his
ann The negro fled, and is safe having done all that
could be asked of any Ii ls known thai in not
few instances men fired their own property, and tnus
destroyed dwellings in which they had spent good
share Of their lives.
After the first fire had been kindled, the attacking
force returned TO the bridge where another sharp con-
test of about twenty minutes en:Iee, and which re-
suited as before in the repuse of the rebels. IL is
known that they Lost quite number, as they were
seer carried away, picked of by the German riemen,
who took good aim in the light Of the burning build
ngs No one was hurt our side, though the planks
and barrels Of which the barTcade was constructed
were freely pierced by bullets.
Failing in the attempt 10 carry the bridge, the town
was fired in every part, and by little past midnight
the village was mass of flame lighting up the
heavens, 80 that as far off Newport News it was
light enough 10 read newspaper. 1t required no very
vivid imagination TO discern in the glare smoke and
fame the hond features Of civil Never before
has our country furnished calculated to suggest
thoughts like this. XIII, burn, destroy - was the
Injunction Of Tie Charleston Mereuy and here il was
literally obeyed. II was the first instance Of the kind
in the course of The war. How many more, and per-
haps far more terrible will there be before is over
There were probably from 20 to 30 white persons in
the village and from 100 TO 200 negroes. Terror |
stricken, as well they might be, at such midnight
visitation, they fled in all directions, not knowing |
what fate might overake them at any turn. One old,
hafdying, speccbless, and utterly helpless man, Mr..
George L.. Massenberg OF the Oldest inhabitants
Of The place. surrounded by few devoted servants, |
was taken by them from bis house, near the bridge,
and while the fight going on the flames raging, |
the sitting smoke surging, and bullets whizzDg all |
around and removed on a wheelbarrOw to point |
on the creek, where email boat was found, in which
be was taken in safety to sde. To-day he found
security and attention in the fortress hospital lie is
undegDised Secessi0nist and though the fact was
as well known any other, he received neither mercy
nor the manifestation Of human feelings from the
rebels. But for the devotion his servants he, no
doubt would have perisled in the flames that were
the legitimate consequence Of bis own doctrines.
Mr. and Mrs. WsOn Jones, two old and highly re-
spectacle people, known to sympatbize witq the rebel
lion, and about the only couple who could but did not
lice when Hampton deserted three months since
and who notwithstanding the well understood views