The national Republican., 1861-08-10
Hampton Burnt by the Confederates.
FIVE HUNDRED HOUSES LAID IN ASHES

crates. Scouts and fugitives brought word yes
terday morning of the approach OF a large Con.
federate force from Yorktown. These rumors
we're confirmed at P. M. by the arrival of
an intelligent deserter from the secessionsts,
named E. A. Mayhem, native of Maine, but a
resident of Georgia until impressed into the
service, who has furnished your correspondent
been stationed at Yorktown since the lst of
June.
On Friday last, Gen. Magruder left Yorktown
with q force of 1000 men, including 200 cav.
airy and eight pieces Of srtillery-three Parrot
guns, four howitzers, and one riAed cannon.
Part of these troops we're from Williamsburg.
On Monday night, the force encamped at Great
Bethel, which had been completely deserted.
On Tuesday night, they advanced towards
Hampton, and at noon yesterday took up po.
sition on Back river, scarcely three miles from
the town, where Mayhem managed to escape
through corn.feld, and, by swimming cou.
pie of streams, finally reached the Fortress.
He says the object Of the expedition was to
draw out our forces, attack Camp Hamilton or
Newport News, if practicable, and at least de.
stroy Hampton, so as to prevent the Federal
troops using it for winter quarters.
General Butler at once repaired to this end
of Hampton bridge, where he remained until
eleven o'clock. Col. Weber erected barri.
cade near the Hampton end Of the bridge, and
placed strong guard at various points this side
Of the creek. A few minutes past midnight,
Gen. Msgruder, with about five hundred Con.
federates, some Of them belonging in Hampton,
entered the town, and Immediately fred the
buildings with torches. The greater part Of the
.fpe hundred houses being built Of wood and
very dry, there having been no rain lately, we're
soon in flames, and the strong south wind
quickly famed them to terrible conAagration.
There were perhaps twenty white people, and
double that number Of negroes, remaining in
the town, from inability to move away. Some
of the houses Of these poor creatures were fred
without waking them. The incendisry soldiers
gave Cary Jones and his wife, both Of them
few articles of furniture to the garden. Sew.
hurried away to be pressed into the Confed.
crate service. VIM. Scofield, merchant, took
refuge in the swamp above the town, and thus
escaped.
Two negroes we're drowned while attempting
to cross the creek.
A company of rebels 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 terrible aspect.
The greater part Of the Confederates withdrew
towards morning, and at noon to day, when I
visited the place, but seven or eight buildings
were left standing. The destruction of the
town was a wanton act of cruelty to the resi-
dent Unionists, and moreover entirely useless,
as General Butler Intends to winter his army
many miles beyond Hampton. An attempt
will be made to fasten this act of vandalism
upon the General, but after ten o'clock on Wed.
nesday night there was not Federal soldier
in Hampton.
A flag of truce Just in from Norfolk with
Miss Mayo, a niece of General Scott, on her
way from Richmond to New York, states that
the Confederates attribute the act to General
Butler.
General Magruder has encamped near New
Market Bridge: He will hardly venture to at
tack Newport News.
Mr.. Mayhem says there have been about
1000 Confederates stationed at Yorktown.
Some ten days ago battalion came down to
the outskirts Of Hampton and carried away
780 negroes.
Provisions are abundant at Yorktown, and
most Of the regiments are receiving new uni.
forms for the winter campaign,
In addition to the above, we have the follow.
ing particulars
persons, white and black, residin Z in the town,
and these were soon notified of the state Of
affairs by rapid discharges between two COM
panies Of Max Webers German regiment and
the Confederate infantry. fthe white inhab
itants we may mention the following:
William House, carpenter, was taken in GUS
tody by the Confederates his wife and several
children were on the banks of Mill Creek, una.
BILE to get over, and undecided lin the terror of
the occasion) what to do.
Richard P. Kenner, wife and two children
got away safely and reached Old Point. They
saved nothing, and were asleep when aroused.
Kenner followed the business of oystering.
Wilson Jones, farmer, with his wife, also
succeeded in leaving the place in safety, and
are now at Mr.. Wllard's hotel
George 7. Massenberg, pilot This is an
old man, speechless, and suffering from paraly.
sis, and he had to be carried in chair, by his
negro servant Charles, to the military hospital
at Old Point.
Richard Hicks, pilot and family, succeed.
ed in leaving the place, but had no time to
carry away any of his goods, such was the rapid
progress Of the flames. Mrs. Edward Laws,
who has son engaged in the Star Office at
Washington,) safely left the place. All her
property was entirely destroy yed. John T,
Hicks, house carpenter, had a hard time in
making his escape, as he was several times
shot
Richard Hosier, also house carpenter, in
the act Of retreating, was seized and made
prisoner by the Contederates.
Pascoe Latimer, merchant, Carey Woyds,
tailor and keeper Of refectory, and William
Bulley, effected their escape.
Some of the negroes managed to get off, but
others were captured during the night.
Mr.. Samuel Cummings, merchant, fearing
that the town would be destroyed, collected his
stock and moved to Baltimore about two weeks
since nevertheless he has lost two houses, one
Of which was an elegant building, of modern
finish, and worth at least FIVE thousand dollars.
The fire lasted up to the departure of the
steamer, and the roar Of cracking flames, as