Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-27
ro,riosIc voleo from one or h suGorors.

To tho Editors Of Me Enquirer:
GEES. MAaRupER, AMP u BURNING or HAMPTON
GsNTLExEN.-There are some p'rsons who
Condemn Gen. Mzgruder for burning the
town of Hampton. UnarqusiDted with the
circumstances, or cherishing a fault finding
feeling, they denounce an act Grprogcd oy
| those, who, doubtless, have the best reasons to
| complain. The residents Of Hampton are tho
people to condemn the act, If it was improper,
not those who are not at all interested. We
place but a small appreciation Oh the sayings.
and apparent sympathy Of these who shy ut
gas G wanton act" when they have not up TO
| this hour offered q house or home, or eny pro
lection to those who, months ng,, were, drlren
from their only shelter. Strange philanthropy,
that, when people calling themselves patriots.
condemn inc most patriotic act known 10 the
citizens Of this, Of any other government gave
that Of tho Russians in destroying Moscow.
and yet have failed to offer a "helptng hand
to, probably, sone Of their oDn relatives,
driven last spring from their homes.
lie. such persons keep quiet They would
be unwilling to give Z lev dollars or in
any way aid those struggling for liberty.
But there are those who love liberty more
than d Jltars and cents, and ~ho were willing
to place the torch TO their own nome in its
glorious cause. | will go further and say:
numbers Of citizens Of the pleasant town OF
Hampton would gladly have been among the
honcsea nunsder who were ordered by thelr
ch;7alraus commander TO do that Th ca, zoe
knosc, hos seriously interfered with the plans
Of the enemy. We hare had seine little op
portunity OF learning the movements Of old
Bombasscs Furioso Butler, and belieTe the
towu of Hampton would have been occupied
during the Fall and Winter by his forces. and
his mine hundred fugitive slaves =" and when
evacuated By them it would have been burned.
In proof Of this tho evidence Of Northern pa
pers will suffice, stating the intention of But
Ter to rs.occupy the toSu, make winter quar-
,ers Of it, &C., &c. There Is another feet which
has been lost sight Of. Every negro who could
escape from the farmers Of York and Warwick
counties made his abode in the 10 Tn. Some
sho had a very clear idea Of our forces, nc.
Louen,lg visited that place, thus keeping the
enemy tolerably well advised of all our move
ments. applaud General Magruder for the
act. Though have suf red much, do not hes
itate 10 say that I would have applied the
torch wh;sh would nave Consumed my hume.
Iwca7d haze 9GRs so toiM pleasure.
Tell me not Of the man whn talks Of liberty!
who SAY lie will sacrifice all for the good y!
| his country, and then repincs or 6lIs'ers when
ne learns uf the destruction Of a sturcnCusc or
dwelling. There arc men who once called
Hampton homo, who are aware, shonlt there
be peace t. morrow, they have no shelter, no
roof to cover the heads nf wife aid chll'lrcn
desr-,o homes nou! Yet they b'w With O
orop.r Shirt, saying: Let all be sacrificed
yea! lilo itself! so that the inTud.r be drivtn
from the soil Of our blessed STATED
know the spirit of that people and am
authorized to say, that wh,le they feel deeply
their loss, When They rea:ct up)n the fact that
they will no more see the dear old holIe-nn
more look upon the scenes Of carly childhood
-or gaze upon old portraits aud pictures which
for years have hung on the walls of their rooms
while they know. ell arc 9pds .(drersr. they
5lcme not General Nagrudsr. How can sc
say anything against the man who turned
back the enemies Of the South, when the
Northern papers had announced the watch.
word, Beauty ard Booty Our families
mad been removed beyond Bethel. This brave.
gallant lead ,r, with Iittl. ovsr ! 900 men, drove
buck si5 times that num6sr-gained thc FIST
rictory, and thus endrartd himself to every
father, husbsnd and brother, from Hampton TO
Williamsburg; yea! and to Richmond, too.
! could give ether reasons, but hare already
made this Communication longer than | in.
tended. l ain convinced the iew, rsry fee.
property hold IT'S who d, not applaud the act,
will soon be convinced Of their error, and hers
after be proud TO know they wero once iuhabi.
tanls Of the Ioscou Of -AmsricU.
CHESAPEAKE.