Spirit of the age., 1861-06-12
From the Norfolk Herald.
Atrocities Of the Enemy in Elizabeth
City County, Va.


Mr. Frederick Jett, formerly of Elizabeth
? City, left Williamsburg few days ago where
he had just moved with his family to avoid
the vandals at Fort Monroe and come round %
by the way of Richmond to Nor ok, where
be is engaged in some work on the fortifca-
tions.
He found at Williamsburg number Of fu-
gitives from Hampton, from whom he learned
some particulars Of the vilainous doings of
the Federal troops after their descent upon
Newport's News
They commenced on the farm of Mr.. Will
liam Smith, which they left a complete wreck
lie had fine field OF wheat, besides num-
Der Of truck crops; these the scoundrels
completely devastated, besides stealing or
shooting down Mr. Smiths stock and poul-
try which they found ranging about the farm
Me Me h%nth % th9nGhtt hth he h @a4la hfs hs little R
had the contents of his smoke house carted
in the woods and buried it when he saw them
approaching. But in this he was foiled a
treacherous darkey who assisted at the bu-
rial, told upon hlm, and the robbers had the
meat disnterred and carted back. This fel-
low, with several others of Mr.. Smiths ne
groes, they took to Fort Monroe and set them
to work on the fortifcations. Mr.. Smith
estimates his loss, including the negroes, at
full $4,000.
They next visited the adjoining farm of
Mr.. West, which they treated as they had
done Mr.. Smiths, cutting up and completely
destroying the crops of every kind. At Mr..
Vests they unluckily found a uniform coat;
upon which they held him a close prisoner,
and sent off his two daughters, grown wo-
men, to the fort as hostages for his 'sgood
behavior" Nothing was alleged against
them; but it was the simple arbitrary act Of
Lincoln's hell-hounds, who in this, though
in violation of low and civilized usage, as in
their proceedings, but followed the example
of the lawiess oldtyrant their Master.
From NJ. Vests they passed over to the
farm of VIM. Lee, which had on it one o
q the finest crops of wheat in the county, be
: sides other valuable products This they
completely devastated as they had done tn
farms We have already mentioned
In short, they continued the work of ruth
less and reckless destruction on every. farm
! fronting Hampton Roads, from Newport
News to Hampton colnmitting every specie
of atrocity, and outraging the persons of ne
gro women, girls, and even female schitdref
! in manner too inhuman and revolving
dwell upon.
The families residing on this range {
'sfarm had generally moved off to the interio
4 and this avoided the insults and infamous trea
ment of the bar barrie enemy.*
Ehe woods back of Hampton were for Sc
eral days filled with the fugitive families fro
tina. once smiling and happy village, al
with such of their household stuff as the
could carry off with them in the hurry
the alarm. They have probably ere th
obtained more desirable lodgings Prov
dentialy they have had fine weather.
1t Is ascertained that there are full thr
tf hundred slaves belonging to citizens of Eli2
beth City, either fugitiyes or forced into t
service, employed as laborers in Fort Mo-
2 roe at the present time. 1t has already be
stated that Col. Mallory, of Elizabeth Cit
!. went with flag of truce to the fort to {
mand thereturn of fugitive negroes but t
Y demand was refused. A similar applicati
e was made on the following day, by anott
: flag, and also refused. The bridge over Han
ton Greek was then burnt by our people, a
as the enemy made his raid upon Newpol
News by water
Rhere are only four of its inhabitants
Snaining in Hampton, who were prevented
e Schrpnic diseases and other Unavailable eau
J, of detention from leaving it'in the entire p
p sess1oa-of the enemy who now occupies il
IS The loss, Gpeluding snegroes) SHstained
It the county. of Elizabeth City, at tie hal
= of these Femorseless niarauders, is estinna
Is at half amilion of dollars :
M A trading character named Aellon, v
had Formerly held the snttler's bertilat ;
le' :NonrSes<s and till resx ao6
i quently exchanging visits &c., IL
II and Hampton, was alias tadmonis 10y
y. Cooper. of HamptoW 1Rt be wasz or
ID suspected of being a 81 y, hicaa Med
$, nied, "A few .dzess, hoTeA s sst'sEscto
ld- la . convicted ,himaSf the clessd fur when
ID yankee troops entered Hampton, Mr.. Ct
OF xers was the first house they broke into,
I'd the one worst served ; as they seemedse
IT, particular at tention to smashing hisfarni
OF and destroying every other .astfcle that C
y in their way. -
re Whenthe vandals from The North occu
en- Hampton an officer With squad of
ry went to the store of Mr p Lattimer, ant
I'd, manded possession. Mr.. Latimer replied
n he bad purchased and paid for his stoc
n goods, and the officer might have then