Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-12-06
Camp Correspondence
HEADQUARTERS 55rH REG CAMP HAMIL-
TON, Fortress MONROE, Nov. 26.
This i. a most delightful dA,
DEAR


This is most delightful day
and having improved it by making visit Il
the ruined town cf Hampton, (which you re-
nember to have been burnt by Col. Magrudei
last summer.) concluded to set down and
write you about IT, Our lines extend to just
this side of Ihe village, but there is a compan NJ
of New York soldiers stationed within tLt
town, quartered as best they may behind i'll
ruined brick walls, and | had permission tC
inter it, accompanied by our old acquaintance
Blair Moore, who has attached himself to th,
regiment as guide, counselor and friend.
John Tylel's house and many other hand
some private residences ou our side of tb
stream (Hampton Creek are occupied by fam
lilies of s'eoutrabands" who took refuge With
our lines when the town was burnt. The I'D
p4rlors aud halls are crowded with them, fS
and six families often ia one house. They ar
b. ippy aud indolent, and most of them liz
we'll, supplying the camp with oysters, fsh
game AID vegetables. The government fur
nisb es provision for all who cannot take car
of themselves. Many of them are employed
10 the eamE serVsnts.
The town of Hampton ia q complete wreck
aud presents the first picture | ever had ol
The horrors Of war: OF the sack and devSssa-
tion thar accompany vast armies. It was
be lutiful town of about four thousand inhabl-
,aBts, aud amid the ruin AID deselAiion
still affords many evidence of its for mei
beauty Although much larger than Bedford
it struck me as having some points of resem-
bance, in the situation aud in the taste and
elegance of many OF it's gardens. There II
how not token of life within the town.
saw bat one business sigh IN Its once ivel
streets, that of "Hassenbnry aud Cary, Drug
gis's," pain ed on the bricks. One house
left standing, aud that is a neat wooden one
! occupied by Oh eccentric Old negress Ho
it escaped the ruin IF ell around is Q mir
Gle. II is said that Sue renamed in the houe
throughout the conf grafton not once goE
out of the door. The ruin was so complies
that could form no more idea of the pursuis
and taste of its former inhabitants than If
were amid the rnins of Neueveh or Hercul-
neum Not a sound disturbs the silence ,f
| the streets, but that occasionally made BY q
| few soldiers getting out bricks to build up O
! improve their winter quarters There is nj
stick Of timber 10 the toWn-not enough D
make match
The Methodist Church, very handsome
l~oN
most melancholy scene WIS The ruin Of the
fue old episcopal Church, aud the many ele-
CANT residences in The neighborhoud l. i
one Of the Oldest churches 10 America having
| been built in tne reign OF Charles H. Ii Is
quaint structure, built of variegated brick
and looks altogether unlike our modern
churches. Ths graveyard surrounds the
ehuToh. The oldest -toult9st I'd 4.ts.io /
/ good qusen Anne. when Vmginis was one cl
Engll DDS most fourishing colonies. There
are doubtless older tombs, bus could not
deolpher he time efaced in criptions They
are backened and broken down, many by
time aud neglect, aud Others iu the recent
COZ aagration | read on many of the mnnu.
ments the brief ana simple record Of the gal
| LIANT dSeds of worthless of the old colonial and
| revolutionary periods of our history 1t was
sad Indeed 10 witness this ruthless and impl'
Gus desolation of this quiet spot consecrated
| by plous hands 20 the dead. But let it be
Fruit DIoeted that 1t was the rebels who sp-
piled the match 10 rhe church of their farh-
ers aud desecratsd their graves. 1t is to be
| hoped tha' We are not destined TO witness more
euoh scenes.
! Blair Moore, who has been looking about
among the runs of the town. has raked up 10
! the foundation of the "Hygeia House" one
OF the hotel books containing bills footed uI
| against distinguished vi-iters in the year
1913. Among the rest is that of the rebei
Mason DOW IN Fort Lafayette. II was delight,
| fui II witness the interest aud curiosity with
which Blair scanned the accounts for chain
paigue, claret, brandy, etc. forebly calling to
recollection some If bis ewn in that particu
lar. Blair also bore off as trophies an old
t'ut lock, aud steel rat trap, one of the old
kind, suappers TO it, He considers them RAJ
aud valuable relics.
| After spending morning among the ruins
OF Hampton, we returned to our side, and re-
gsled ourselves, with heighteEed appe tltes
upen oysters just out of the bay. Snch oys-
ters! Fine, fat, bearded fellows. We had
them fried, roasted, stewed, raw, as many al
We could eat tor l8 cents. The ."contrabands' p
| hsVo glorious time raking oysters. The
proceeds of all they sell is uow their own
Massa having vacated, and.retlred from the
oyster business, who has better right to the
profits of oyster drudgiug than Sambof Our
soldiers have plenty of oysters for the gath.
ing. We within stones throw of the
Chesapeake, and they get hem along the shore
| when the tide is out. Those who are not out
early enough Tor the oysters aloug shore,
''Charter" boat aud r ke for themselves. -
You must know we are upon Gov. Wlses' tun-
dun of the ocean, and can oysters without
paying tribute 81 hun.
The mail is just closing and i have not
time TO write more. Ii do no, hurry up
cannot get my letter la this mail | viii
write soon again.
Very truly yours,
JOHN III. BILLER.