The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-14

J
Last Friday night (this night one, week
ago) this locality was visited by tremendou us
gale of wind accompanies BY soaking rain, /,
which come down incessantly for twenty four
The Potomac rose rapidly and soon over
flowed its banks. carrying down the stream
every thing mcyeabIe it encountered. On
Sunday, it WAS at the eliminating point Of IS
terrific grandeur, and am pleased 70 say sub
merged the canal in many places, and In
jured that great artery of Federal transporta-
ton to great extent. 1t has not yet been
ascertained the amount of damage done the
canal; but we kaow 1t to be broken at Dam
No. and judging from the number OF boa Is
now lying opposite this place, unable to
proceed further, we are sure that the canal is
materially injured, inasmuch that nayiga.
tion upon 1t has ceased for this season. Thus
we find that Providence has kindly inter-
fered in our behalf, and blockaded, BY breach,
one OF cold Abes important feeders"
The recent gale verified the old adage that
.'it is an i'll wind that blows nobody good
1t assuredly favored US most lavjshly Tor
notice IL extended from one end of ths Con-
federacv TO the other, doing great damage to
our adversaries. While on the Southern coast
it par tally .'pla yed smash with tne Federal
armada, which was sent for tn to deal ont death
and destruction to every living outhron !;
here on the border the grand old Potomac
sulienly arose in all its terror and maj-sti-
eally leaped over the Federal canal banks
and succeeded in accomplishing for our cause
desid1afam long needed-the breaking mp OF
navigation ON the "Duck pond" Our good
people are thankful for this benevolent in
terposition, and all lift up their hearts and
rejoice, acknowledging the unerring fin ger
OF Providence in our cause.
The destruction Of the canal and conse-
quent breaking up OF its navigation, no one
can adequately calculate the loss to the Yam
kee Government. Washington has only one
railway mining into it. Consequently the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was OF priceless
importance to them. 1t was the great feeder
of the Federal Capital. For the past three
mon tbs IL has been literally lined with boa Is
carrying immense quantities Of coal to Wnsh-
ington and Alexandria as also other boats
heavily freighted with precious provisions
for the hungry hirelings Of Abraham. This
canal was all-im portant to them, rendered
more 50 from the fact that 1t had to supply
the place of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road. 1t was the only medium CT transpor-
tation between the Capital and Western Vir-
ginia, and other points. They appreciated
its value, and sent soldiers to guard and pro-
tect it. But soldiers were of no avail. The
power brought against it was mightier than
bayonets, and sentinels challenged in vain
the rain descended, the flood came, and
was the araSs thereof!
The election passed off quietly in this
county. "A very small vote was polled.--
This is to be regretted for it was hoped that
every voter remaining in the county would
turn out and swell the vote as mnch as pos-
sibie for Davis and Stephens, thereby show
ing that we endorse the administration of the
new born Government. The meaere vote
cast by no means indicates the fee ling of the
people. We all give heartyapproval of the
acts of the Executive; and if the Yankees
can get any comfort from the meagreness o1
the vote, and wish to try it on with the hope
of success, predicated on those grounds they
will mot only be deceived, but likewist
sucked in" The election returns come ir
slowly, and as yet it is impossible to say wht
is elected to Congress There were four can
didates in the race: Hon. A. II. Boteler, Hon
VIM. Lucas, Andrew Hunter, and Thos. &
Green. This county gave Boteler a small
majority. 1t is wholly imma teriai W hich on,
OF the candidates is elected as they are al
sound Southern men, heart and soul, and viii
represent the district properly. More anon
PSfoMAC.