Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-20
LETTER. FROM FORTRESS MONROE
Correspondence Of the journal aud Statesman.
LETTER No. lG.
CAMP HAMILTON, Fortress Monroe, Va, |
Wednesday night, Dec. is, 1861. !

LETTER No. l6.
CAMP HAMILTON, Fortress Monroe, Va,
Wednesday night, Dec. is, 1861. i
Friend ECKEL
The vision of thy humble ser
rant and correspondent, which he saw concern
ing the wicked works of secesh in that would-be
part of the dominion of confederation which is
called Old Point, in the twelfth month of the
first year of the reign of our good King Abraham
the just and the fearless,
And looked and beheld On the battements Of
the Fortress, white haired patriarch and ruler
whose sway is over the hosts that are encamped
round about
And in his hands lie held n scroll, which he
opened, and the worls inscribed on ii were like
unto theses
Oh, ye dweers on the sacred soil ye miser-
able seceshers ye have sinned grievously
against the Constitution, and walked not accord
ing to the laws which have governed our people
Ye have vainly tried to destroy our rulers, and
establish cotton kingdom of thine own, setting
over it a King.
We have been on monstrous rampage, and
have walked after the blind imaginntions of
your own hearts conspiracy was formed
among the wicked ones of your tribe they
turned their backs upon the law givers, and
refused to heed the counsels of the wise ones
They have become as idOlaters; they have
wOrshpped the works of their own hands, bow
ing down TO ebony images, and sable idols,
which they had set up in the corn.felds, in the
oyster boats, and in their Kitchens
llampton-the beautiful ani aristOcraiic, thou
hast offered up as burnt offering to the god of
rebellion to no purpose were thy sacrifices.
Thou hast provoked Samuel, thy indulgen,
uncle, to anger, and the vials of his wrath shall
be poured out upon you from Eu6eld rifles and
Union guns.
And now behold these things which we have
brought upon you, for your sins, saith the Com
mander; for have spoken it.
The words of the military ruler who was in
the Fortress-the rock, the stronghold, in the
land of Dixie-who was placed over this people,
to do with them as seemeth best.
Oh ye misguided people of the South be-
from thy houses, aud become pilgrimg in the land
beyond Yorktown; thou shalt no longer come ia
and 60 out, for our vigiant pickets shall moi
suffer it, Thou art scattered like chat in the
wind.
An evil has broke forth upon you, for YOU
idols have fallen; your slaves whom tue Lincoln
ties from the north country, call contrabands
have turned their backs upon you behold, the,
too are scattered and ye no longer receive th
fruits of their hire; they have escaped, and NJ
fugitive slave bill awaits Thy coming to recon
pense thee for thy loss.
Did not the Tribune prophecy and say unit
you that the peculiar institution would be affect
ed, and the price Of negroes descend, until tn
trade in chattele wouldn't be worth a farthing
Many of your houses have become desolate
some of them have been converted into hospitals
for the sick thy walls arc scribbled over will
soldiers names and devices, and thy linte
marred by sharp-cutting instruments.
In thy parlors where once the harm and piano.
made music, are now heari the shrill voices
sick negro babies, aud the peculiar lingo of tan
oolored mothers,
In thy fine places of abode, these products o
the south country bake pies and horse cakes fo
the soldiers, and wash his blue woollen shirts
the male members get on the sunny side of thei
quarters, and with the thumb to the nose. know
iugly and impudently gyrate iheiy fingers TO
they are now out of bondage. Tney have bull
log huls and stick chimneys, Preparatory to tn
coming cold.
Thy houses with beautiful porticos about thei
and obaervatories upon top, on which thou wei
wont to stand and view thy gOOdly possession
are now possessed by thy idols who took
themselves legs and ran away.
Thy fields have been laid waste, and thy COL
gathered by struggling COWS thy bins are emf
ty, and thy sweet potatoes were left to rot, or
be deyOured by the enegiy with roast beef.
Hampton is burned without an iuhabitan
it's beautiful places Of cunning wood work, la
waste. Its streets ar ID by places are filled wi
mortar and bricks, f.or it is heap, and its 70
mer dwellers weepg .s they pass it by. 1t is
den of lizards, and home for the bat and h
owl, aud thy foes the hosts of Abraham-wai
der through her desOlate places, seeking wher
with, from the s. sneral ruins, to make themselv
comfortable dW ing the winter.
Thy old sane tuary of good Queen Bess' tim
in which was worshipFed the Most High, III
the Temple o. Jerusalem is destroyed its wa
are rent, and where once was the voice Of SIM