Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-03
The Ruins Of Hampton village.

General Wool few days since allowed several
visitors at Fortress Monroe to cross over to the
village of Hampton, or what remains of it, One
of them has furnished the following account
of its present appearance to Philadelphia
paper:
The first objects that strike the eye Of the be.
holder are scores of blackened and tOtterin
cbimneys, standing like mOuin'ul monument.
of the desolatiOn and ruin beneath. Psssin
the outer picket guard Of the Uuion troops atths
opposite enc of toe bridge, We followed scout
ing party to the distant end of the TO Rn and oh.
serving that the coast was clear, procseoed to
explore the ruins Hampton place of some
Importance; there is the RichmOad turnpike
which went through the heart of the place and
formed the principal street. On this are the
ruins Of bank, 6ne bricE residences and spa
cious hardware, grocery and other stores. On
the outskirts Of the town, on this street, stancs
the old Episcopal church, of which We give full
account herewith.
This main street is intersected by others at
Iieht angles. The sidewalks of the former were
paved with bricks like those of Philadelphia,
with wooden curbs; the sidewalks OF the latter
were neatly graveled. As is customary in the
South, each brick or frame residence had
beautiful garden; some had bowers and sum
mer- house, covered with climbing roses, bloom
ipR even now, and wasting their fragrance upon
the veritable desert air that fills this vacuum of
the Old Dominion.
In walking over the ruins we found tin pans,
kettles, stove plates and parts Of every descrip-
tion of housekeeping articles lying around in
the ashes. Each house had its we'll of pure
water, bricked up to the surface these are now
about half filled with dirty water and rubbish,
and as they are mostly covered up with ruins,
one is as apt to step into over them; so should
any other person visit Hampton, Va, we would
a0vise them to be as careful Of these wells as
they are told to be of the lizards ~hich infest
the ruins Of Jerusalem and NIneveh.
The Baptist Church is in ruins, although only
built in lS46. Itmust have keen quite spacious
edihce for q country town. Il has gravey ard,
but the gravestones are of modern make, and
our "0ld Mortality" old not liDger long.
Almost in the center of what was once Hamp
ton, are the ruins of the Episcopal Church Of
"Elizabeth City" county. If, in the scene of
desoIation, there is any one object more promi
rent than its associates, it is this relic The
owl and the bat may perch at night upon the
spot where, for a century and half the minis ter
proclaimed the word of God. Ashes are the
only remains of roof, floor, pulpit aud pew, and
the moonlight steals in through the windo VS.,
devoid of glass, and lights up the cross shspen
1uin--as silent and dead as the bones that lie iu
the adjoining church yard. At night the lone
shores Of the desert not more inhospi able fol
the stranger. Winds whistle through he crew.
iees-Worms and insects revel in the most secret
PAGES, and the silence, if ever broken, is only
by tie viii of some bird of darkDess or the sharp
crack of the rife of distant picket.
II was almost sunset as we strolled into the
antiquated ruin. At that time il happened that
small parties Of soldiers had ventursd Go H4mp
ton. some we're seated upon tho graves nsac
the church, some climbing almost inaccessible
places on tottering walls, and some seeking for
russs in the deserted gardens. This task seemed
~,y -, Al 81
and pucked many buds from the flower beds
that DOW havs no owners There was but little
evidence ef Gaze on the part of the old
residents. Some of the choicest pianrs haC
doubtless been removed, but the beds we're with
cut symmetry or form, and in all of them tht
thistle was spfipgieg up green and luxuriant &
thriving as only Ill weeds can thrive. A fs =
white STOW drops reared their modest heads, and
sc med TO brave the storm of desOlation which
had swept around.
At the western end of Hamp pton there are a
number of frame sheds standing, which are said
to have been occupied by the rebsls before they
blurred the dwellings. Our troops are making
use of all that the rebels have left at this point
as little dry wood maRes quick and comfort
able fire these cold nights.
DUCKS and oysters plentifully abound in
Hampton oIeek. The soldiers amuse themselv ss
occasionally by shooting the former and the
contraban6s dredge for the latter. Oysters are
caught in great abundance, and are of excellent
quality.
To the west and north of the deserted village
of Hampton we can see nothing but woods nd
rolling lands. In these woods the rebels are
posted, and occasionally they come in sight
with small body of infantry and a couple ol
hOWitEers, headed By a squadron of cavalry
When this is the case, our sklrmishers are sem
out to meet them; the enemy delivers q round
and then falls back (some FIVE miles, it is sup
posed and our troops return.