The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-05
The Rains of Hampton VilIsgs.

VA o. D' " Hite, 1orRtoWn, va. OBsERvEa.
The Rains of Hampton Villexs.
General Wool a few days since, allowed
several visitors at Fortress Monroe to cross
over to the village OF Hampton, or whatra
mains OF If. Oae of them has furnished the
following account of its present appearance
TO fhiiadelpbia paper:
The first objects that strike the eve of the
beholder are scores of blackened aud totter
ing caimneys. stsnding Ike Eaournfui rrlonu
1ntIts OF the deSoiation aud rain beneath -
Passing the outer picket guard of the Ug.io.,
troops at the opposite enu. of the bridge, wa.
followed 3 scouting party 10 the distant eS,d'
OF the town, ana obsefyl az that sf.s eoast
was clear, proceeded to ezplore the ruins -
Hampton was place of.sanle iiupDrtar,re.
there is the Richmond ttsrapise woieh we r,s
tnronsA tle heart OF tue place aad form ed
the principal street, Oa this are the ruins ef
a bank, fine brick residences and s,rc, eus
hardware, grocery, and other stores. On the
QotSkirts OF The town, on this street. STANDS
the old EpIsco pal church, OF which we ei We a.
full account herewith. Efs assss 5.
This main street is inserseoted by others a L
right angles. Iae Sidewalks of the form sr
Were pave with bricks like those of PHI iia de1-
phia, with wooden carbs; the sidewalks of
The latter Were neatly grayeled. Asis custo-
mary IN the south, each brick or frarpe resi-
denGe nad beautiful garden; some had DO W.
ers ana some summer houses, covered swi tn
climbing roses, blooming even now and Was
ting their frasra upon their vsTitable de-
sert air that fills this vacuum of the Ola DO.
mlnion.
In walking over the ruins, we found tin
pans. kettles, stoye-plates, and parts OF eyery
description OF housekeeping articl6s living
around in the ashes. Zach house had its well
of pure water. bricked up to the surface:
these are now about half filled with dirtv
water and rubbish, and as they are mostiv
covered up with ruins, one is as apt to step in
to as over them; so, should any other person
fnta
them to be as careful of these wells as they
are told to be of the lizards that infest the rn.
ins of J Jerusalem and Niasveh.
The Baptist Church is in ruins, although
| q spacious edifice for country town. II has
| II graveyard, but the sravestones are of mod
ern make, and our 'Old Mortality did not
linger long.
Almost in the centre Of what vas oncs
Hampton are the ruins Of the Episcopal
Church of 'EIizabeth City" county. Ii. in
the scene OF desolation, there is any one OBJ
| ject more prominent than its associates 1t is
this relic. The walls yet rom ain, but the in
terror is blackened mass of rubbish The
| owl and the bat Iaay perch at night upon the
| spot where for centnry aud n half the min.
| lister proclaim ed the word Of God
Ashes are the only remains Of roof floor
pulpit and pew, and the moonlight steals in
| through the windows, devoid OF glass, and
lights up the cross shapen rnin-as silent and
dead as the bones that lie in the adjoining
II
desert are not more inhospitable for the
| stranger. Winds whistle shrough the cre-
vices-worms and insects reyel in the most
| secret places, and the silence, IL ever broken,
is only by the wing Of some bird OF darkness,
| or the sharp crack OF the rile Of u distant
| picket. AZ 80 -
1t was almost sunset as we strolled into the
| antiquated ruin. At that time. it happened
| that small parties Of soldiers had ventnred to
| Hampton. Some were seated upon the
graves near the church, some climbing 70
| almost inaccessible places on lettering walls.
and some seeking for roses in the deserted
| gardens. This task seemed like q mockery,
| yet we joined in the pursuit, and plucked
| many buds from the flower beds that now
| have no owners. There was bnt little evil
denee of care on the part Of the old residents
Some of the choicest plants had doubtless
| been removed, but the beds were without
| symmetry or form, and in all of them the
| thistle was springing mp green and lnxuri-
| ant, thriving only as only ill weeds can
| thrive. A few white snow drops reared heir
modest heads, rnd seemed to brave t1le storm
| OF desolation which had swept around
at the western end of Hampton there are q
number of>nalne sheds standing, which are
| saia TO have been occupied by the re bells he
tore they burnt the dwellings. Our trooy,s
/ are making use OF all that tae rebels have left
| at this point, and a little dry wood makes q
| quick and comfortable tire shess cool mig hts
Ducks and oysters pssntifuly abound in
| Hampton creek. The soldiers amuse them
| selves occa sionaily by shooting the 70, me
4
Oysters ;.re caught IN great abundance, and
| ale Of excellent quality.
/ To tbs west ana norlh OF the deserted vii:
iage OF Hampton we can see nothing but
| woods and rolling lands. La these woods me
| rebels are posted, and occasionally th sy come
| in sight with a small body OF infantry and s.
| couple of howftzsrs, headed by SO uadron OF
| cavalry. " hen this is the case orr skir
mishers are ssnt out TO meet them; the enemy
| delivers round and then fails back lssaue
| five miles, it issuppesed,) and our troops re.
1 turn. asss
| WHAT DO Ks III MEAN I'VE find the follow
ing in the Little Rock Stare Jonymas, OF the
26th. NJ
Conspiracy We hear OF q secret organ liza.
| ton which has been formed in Searey a nd
\ Van Buren counties, OF this State, and the
raiaiiieatiens Of which may extend to othe,
counties. The names Of many inaivioua,
| participants are known, and, thanks "a, Col
| Jerome X. Lewis, of l;aa BaTen eoun ty. who
! has acted in II prompt and decided mar ar
| quite 2 nuna6er OF the eonspirators hare been
| sprrenensed, and aEs now con aned. <ahey
| wall ba sent 10 this city for III vest gatloa -
The Constitution OF the society is known, "A
| we'll as all their secret sigas OF fecognitiou
Atsnotaerime the pnbiic shall have the benz
eft Of the whole. q So s. sSsse s.
APPOINTING TEE WRexa Man genMiss1ox Re
u0ked.-A rather novel case has occurred ID
the history Of Governor Browne milltary
two applicants from this ctfy--IssN 8. Rus.
sell and Philip M. Russsll-fpr the post 81
Assistant Commissary IN one u the 0eorei1
regiments. Levi s. Russsll received he ap.
poln imsnt: We. daiy ccmn.ssloasd, and %
duties Of the offlce. Phtlllp, NOT nnlIne thil
state Of things wholly 10 NJ likinr. Coz eiud
I'd to look tnso the mAttsr, and upon Snilginl
= over rasn n,1a tss .S.s uSvsszor sscssdsa
Rumeil. Al lonst tha 0overnor rovohuR1 ~