Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-14
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Az VA hPlohs
The telegraph has given us about all the
fnc:s concerning the destruction of the
town of Hampton, near Fortress Monroe,
ON Thursday eveniag,-but the following
from correspondent of the Philadelphia
Inquirer supplies some incidents that are
new:
At midnight the flames were raging
wildly. | WAS awakened TO tue realizn-
ton Of the fact By the firing of the rebels
upon the guards near my quarters in the
Seminary This firing was returned aud
soon entirely ccnsed. | then FASTENED up
tue river On horseback TO get full view OF
one of the grhndest sights that can be i'm
asimed.
Our sentries were on tue gui viUe.-
"Give the couutctsign quich,or hrrl said
one, as | approached. New York" said
|. Correct" said he. Aud on sped to-
wards the scene. Others, with almost ta-
tai vigilance, guarded the road at every
friend, without tue tnlismanc word, would
have iared hnrd. As ii was, believe,
some of our own men mere fired upon.
AT one o'clock stood near Col. Mtllo-
rvs house, and by tue ridI'ei fence. The
tiAmcS were exulting in their power, and
rushing on to their work of destruction
with terrific grandeur. The woods aud
houses on this side of the river were Gov
cred with :, weird light. reflected from the
coni!ugratiun, and the country, for miles
around, was iiIumined. The clouds Sgemcd
to dance with the light of bursting flames,
that lcaped towards them in iitlu shrets.
The wind from the south blew in furiously
upon the town, and spread the flames from
house 10 house and street to street. The
river scented all on fire from reflected light,
and now and then s9me of the buildings,
standing on its very bank, tilted their
burning sides over into the water. with
spiashing. kissing, stcaming sound, that
added much to the effect OF the sccne.-
Near by me STOOD two companies of Colo
ne! Weber's men, upon whose faces the
light shone wildly. Others lay PROSTATE
upon the grass aloug the roadside, ready,
ut n moments warning To spring into ac-
ton. The only sounds that were heard
were the cracklu and roar of the fumes,
mingled now and then with the crash and
plunge Of some falling building, with all
It's treasury Of sparkling. flashing embcrs.
wrote BRIEF dispatch hy the light OF
the flames, whose heat was bsconling uu-
comfortable, and then turned back to the
camps. after long, absorbing gaze on the
terrific scene. Hound the'roHdsand camps
alive with soldiers, all waiting and anxious
TO be called into action. Company after
company had been sent out toward FOxhiil
and the adjacent country, TO act as pickets,
patrols and skirniishers, aud their rsturn
was unxiousIy awaited at the reserve sta
tions, where the guard listened intently
for the discharge OF guns, which should
warn them OF an approach of the enemy.
At their headquarters l found Colonel
Weber, Acting rigIdier-Geueral. and Cap
tain Won Dagun, of bis staff, who had been
out before to explore the dangers of the
night, aud were now awaiting reports.
With them WAS Captiin Wales, of the
Mounted Riflemen, and after social chat
again returned to the scene of the con-
fhgrntion. The fumes still ragged wildly,
and had extended, embracing tue back os
the village. a party of our men had been
across into the villages aud returned, bearing
information thatthe Military Academy, the
only building of any consequences which
had thought on my first would survive
the flames, had just been fired in the base
ment by the Rebels, who came in in the
rear of the building. The floors had been
covered with ramphene and burning fluid,
AMI holes hacked through them to afford
draft for the ire. A few moments after
it was lighted up from within with light
that told well ofits approaching destruc-
tiou by tue FIRE demon, that ravaged the
orce beautiful village. Every window