Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-10
LATEST NEWS.
BY TELEG RAPH
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
HAMPTON BURNT BY THE REBELS
SKVRMISH.

FORTRESS MONROE Aug o'--l1i'1Ploh mas
been burnt by scouts The iugltlves yester'
day morning brought intelligence OF the ap
proach OF large rebel force from Yorktown
: These juniors were confirmed at five o'clock
in the afternoon by an intelligent deserter
from the rebels, named L. A. Mathew, u ma.
tive of Maine, but II resident of Georgia until
impressed into tile service. He has furnished
an account of the expedition. Mathew has
been stationed at yorktown since the lst of
June On Friday last Col. Magruder left
Yorktown with seven thousand men, includ-
ing two hundred cavalry, eight pieces OF ar,
tlllery, viz: three parrot guns, tour howitz-
ers, and one riled cannon,
Monday night they encamped at Great Beth
el, which had been completely deserted. On
Tuesday night they advanced towards Hamp~
ton, and at noon yesterday took up position
on the bank of the river, some three miles
from town, where Mathew managed to escape
through a corn field, and by swimming cou.
pie of streams reached the fortress. He says
the object Of the expedition was to draw out
our forces and to attack Camp Hamilton or
Newport News, il practicable, and at least
to destroy Hampton, SO as TO prevent our
using it for winter quarters
Gen. Butler at once repaired to this end
of Hampton bridge, where he remained until
IL o'clock. Col Weber erected barricade
near the Hampton end Of the bridge and
placed a strong guard at various points on
this side OF the creek. A few minutes past
midnight, Col Magruder, with about 800 reb.
els some belonging to Hampton, entered the
town, and Immediately fired the buildings.
The greater part OF the 500 buildings were
of wood, and Were very dry The strong
south wind soon produceda terrible confagra
ton.
There were perhaps 200 white people and
tbp
move some OF them were in their houses when
they were fired, aud the rebels dad not them.
They gave Carey Jones and his wife, both of
whom were aged and intirm, fifteen minutes to
move a few articles Of furniture to their gar.
den. Several of the whites and negroes were
hurried away to be impressed into the rebel
service. MIR. Scotield, merchant, took refuge
in a swamp above the town. Two negroes
were drowned while attempting to cross the
creek company OF rebels attempted to
force the passage of the bridge, but were re-
pulsed with the loss of three killed and six
wounded TIE fire ragged all night The
The greater part of the rebels withdrew about
morning, and at noon today there were but
about seven or eight houses standing. The
destruction OF the town was an act of wanton
cruelty to the resident Unionists, and more
over, it was entirely useless, as Gen Butler
intends to winter his army many miles beyond
Hampton.
An attempt will be made to foist the act on
Butler, but after 10 O'Clock "Wednesday night,
there was not federal S ldier in Hampton.
A flag of truce has just arrived from Norfolk,
with Miss Mayo, niece Of Gen. Scott, on her
way IRON Richmond to New York. She says
the rebels attribute the act to General Butler,
Ma gruder has encamped near Newmarket
Bridge, but he will hardly venture to attack
Newport News.
Nh. Mayhem says there has been about 1000
rebels at Yorktown. Some ten days ago, a
battalion OF rebels came down TO the outskirts
of Hampton, and carried away $50 negroes.
Provisions are abundant at Yorktown, and
most Of the regiments are receiving new uni.
forms for the winter campaign.