The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-10
LATEST NEWS.
FE d f. RAJ
TELEGRAMS.
ALL DoUBTFUL--MosTIy FALSE.
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
HAMPTON BURNED.
FIVE HUNDRED HOUSES LAID IN ASHES.
FIVE HUNDRED HOUSES LAID IN ASHES.


Correspondence Of the associated Press1
FORTRESS MONROE, August S.-The town oil
Hampton has been destroyed BY the Confederates.
Scouts and fugitives brought word Yesterday
morning of the approach of large Confederate
force from Y Yorktown
These rumors were confirmed at 5 p NJ bv the
arrival of intelligent deserter from the Concder
ates, named E. A. Mahew, a native Of Maine, but a
resident of Georgia until impressed into the SER
vice, who furnished your correspondent an account t
of the expedition. Mr.. Mahew has been stationed
at Yorktown since the 1st of June. On FRIDAY last
General Magruder left Yorktown with force of
seven thousand men, including two hundred cavai-
ry and eight pieces Of artillery-three Parrot guDs,
four howitZers and riied cannon. Part of .hese
troops were from Williamsburg.
On Monday night the forces enc amped at Great
Bethel, which had been completely deserted. On
Tuesday light they advanced towErds Hampton
and ut noon yesterday took up a position on Back
River, some three miles from ihe town, where
Mahew managed to escape through & cOradatl.
swimming couple of streams and finally reached
the Fortress. He saws the object of the expedition
YVES to draw out our forces, attack Camp Hamilton
or Newport News, if practicable, and at least to
destroy Hampton, as to prevent the Federal
troops using it for winter quarters.
Genera Butler at once repaired to this end Of
Hampton Bridge, where he remained until eleven
o'clock.
Colonel Weber erected barricade near the
Hampton end of the bridge, and placed n strong
guard at various points this side of the creek
A few minutes past midnight General Magruder,
with about five hundred Confederates, some Of them
belonging in Hampton, entered the town ard i'm
mediately ired the buildings with torches
The greater part of the ive hundred houses, be-
ing built of wood and very dry, there having been
no rain lately, were soon in flames, and the strong
south wind quickly famed them to terrible con
hagration.
There were perhaps twenty white people, ard
double that number of negroes remaining in town
from inability to move away. Some of the houses
OF these poor creatures were fired without waking
them.
The incendiary soldiers gave Carey Jones and
his wife, both of them aged and intrm, but fifteen
minutes to remove few articles of furniture to
their garden.
Several of the whites and also of the negroes
were buried away to be pressed into the Conied
era te service.
William Scofield, merchant. took refuge in
the swamp above the town, and thus escaped.
Four negroes were drowned while attempting to
cross the creek.
A Company of Confederates attempted to force
the passage of the bridge, but were repulsed with
loss of three killed and six wounded.
The fire ragged all night with terrific aspect.
The greater part of the Contederates withdrew
towards morning, and at noon to-day, when visit
ed the place, but seven or eight buildings were
left standing.
The destruction of the town was wanton act of
cruelty to the resident Unionists, and moreover
entirely useless, General Butler intends to win
ter his army many miles beyond Hampton. an
attempt cIH be made to frs'en this act Of vandali,m
upon the General, but after ten O'Clock on Wednes
day night there not Federal soldier in Hamp-
ton.
A flag of truce, just in from Norfolk, with Miss
Mayo, neioe of Lieutenant General Scott, on her |
way from Richmond to New York, states that the |
Confederates attribute the act to Gen. Butler
General Magruder has encamped near New Mar
ket Bridge. He will hardly venture to attack |
Mr.. Mabew says there have been about 1900
Contederates stationed at Yorktown. Some ten
days ago battalion down to tho outskirts of
Hampton and carried away one hundred and eighty |
negroes.
Provisions abundant at Yorktown, and most |
of the egiments are receiving new uniforms for J
the winter campaign.