Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-21
Family Newspaper.
Burning of HAMPTON, &c.

We have full and interesting particulars Of
the burning of Hampton, and of the series of
events leading theneto. The toon aeas des
troycd By order Of Gen. Magruder, and By
theJorces usder his command.
On Thursday morning laat, about day
break, Gen. Magruder marched a considera-
bic force in the direction of Newport News,
and drew upi in line of battle. After waiting
therefor some time, the enemy declining to
give battle, our forces were marched within
a mile and a half of Hampton, and again
drawn up to give battle, if the enemy should
show. himself. In the meantime, a copy of
a late New York Herald happened to be
obtained by Gen. Magruder, in which was
a letter disclosing dispatches from Gen. But
Ter, received at Washington, stating that it
would be necessary for him to reoccupy
Hampton, in order to be able to retain the
large force O" contraband" negroes that he
had collected. With this notice of the in
tended r~eoccupation of Hampton by the
Federal forces, Gen. Magruder decided to dis
troy the town. Previous to the destruction
OF the town, information was received through
a scout, and confirmed by the circumstance
of an additions Federal steamer haring arrived
in the Roads, that endorsements had arrived
at the fort for the purpose, doubtless, of
iNoBohNAaAtH W DbIlC = uCll1l1u " IuC ItOC-
cupation of Hampton.
1t appears that Hampton had been, evacua-
ted by Buffers forces, in the first instance.
on account of a panic originated by a balloon
exploration. About 700 of our men under
the command of Captain Phillips had gone
in the direction of the town, on a search for
'contraband' negroes. The balloonist re.
ported to Gen. Butler that 10, 900 men were
marching upon Hampton, and in consequence
of the report the town was hastily ordered to
be evacuated. Two sections Of the bridge
were torn up by the retreating party.
The town was burned to the ground or
Wednesday night by the order of Gen. Ma
gruder. The expedition for its destruction
was composed of the Mecklenburg Cavalry
Capt. Good Old Dominion Dragons Capt
Phillips, York Rangers, Capt. Sinclair, War
wick Beauregards, Capt Gusts, and six com
panies Of the 14th Virginia Regiment, tn
whole force being under the command D
Col. James j. Hodges of the 14th. Th
Town was most ~effectually fired. But a singl
house was left standing. The village churcI
was intended to be spared, but caught fir
accidentally, and was consumed to the ground
Many of the members of the companies wer
citizens of champion, and set fire to their ow
houses-among others Capt. Sinclair fire
his own home.
In the early part of the night, about 1
o'clock, a skirmish took place at the bridge
between a small detachment of our fore,
composed of Captains Young and Leftrice
companies, and a German regiment on tn
other side. The firing continued for abor
half an hour, the night being as dark 3
pitch, and only illumined by the flashes
the musketry. Our men were instructed
lire below the flashes of the enemy's gun
and the screams of his wounded told of tt
execution ofour shots. Our men were uni
jured, one receiving a bullet through h
blanket and another being grazed on tt
cheek by a musket ball.
A member Of the expedition that fred II
town relates evidences of some of the fonle
dissertations of these houses and homes
| our Virginia people by their former Yank,
occupants. In many cases, the parlors
the houses were allotted to the flthie
uses of nature, while the walls of the room
:. were garnished by the obscenest expression
} and the vilest carricatures. We have bee
2 shown a number of earricatured letter enve
opes of the Yankee soldiers, which we
| gathered as trophies. One is of an Anne
/, lean eagle bearing aloft "Jeff Davis by Il
most available portion of his pantaloons.
Another is of Uncle Sans Bantam threa
enlnS 10 crow while he hveS,' to whi
there is an addendum in pencil, crows whe
; no one can hear him, and very hard
/ fnd.'
0 The Notifications of Hampton, erected
Buffers troops, and left standing, are de
cribed as of the most complete kind and
extending entirely across the town. A dit
n IS feet deep with rampant and embrasur
It for the heaviest cannon, with other works
defense, had been constructed.
: Newport News has not been evacuated.
Z 1t continues in the possession of the eneu
tt who is about 1900 strong. The defen!
: are said to be complete, the only approa
9 to the place being commanded by nj
= coluinbiads. The present force of the eneI
's at Old point is estimated at 5000.
" Gen. Magruder was erecting strong fort
cations at Bethel, two hundred and fifty n
being daily EN- ploy ed on the works.
. 1t was supposed that aman ofthe name
x Paschal Latimer had persisted in one of
: burnt houses of Hampton, There was
le other casualty known to have occurred.