The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-09
HESSIAN VILIAINY.

Yankee named Stephens, Adjutant of one of
the Vermont Regiments, thus speaks of his ex-
ploits while on the road to Great Bethel:
On reaching the bend Of the road took sur
vey of the rear, to see what | m: ght see,' and
discovered single soldier coming toward me, and
waited for him to come up. / found it Clark
of the Bradford company. Before he reached me,
observed horseman coming at full speed towards
me. On reaching the house he turned in, which
induced ME to think him Secessionst. ! ordered
Clark to cover him with his rife, and revolver in
hand, ordered him to dsmount and surrender. Tie
cried out, q" W no are you?" Answer, ''Fermont!'
"Then raise your piece, Vermont; l am Col. Dur
yea, of the Zouaves;" and so it was; his gay
looking red boys just appeared turning the corner
Of the road, coming towards He asked the
cause of the firing in the rear, and whose premises
We were on. | told him he knew the first as well
as did, but as to the last could give full infarnla-
ton; that the house belonged to one Adjutant
Whiting, who, just before, had sent bullet whiz-
ziug by me, and shot one Of my boys, and that my
greatest pleasure would be to burn the rascal S
house in payment. "Your wish will be grati6ed
at once" said the Colonel, Z" | ordered by Gen.
Butler to burn every house whose occupant or
owner fires upon our troops-burn it lie leaped
from his horse, and l upon the steps, and by that
time three ZOuaves with | o dcred
them to try the door with the butts of their guns;
down went tie door, and in went. A we'll
packed travelling-bag lay upon mlhosany table.
| tore it open with the hope of finding revolver,
but did not. The first thing l took out was a
white linen coat; laid it on the table, and Col.
Duryea put lighted match to it. Other clothing
was added to the pile, and We had rousing
fire. Before leaving | went into the large parlor
in the right wing Of the house; it was perfectly
splendid. A large room with tapestry carpet, a
nice piano, a fine library Of miscellaneous books
rich sofas, elegant chairs with superior needle
work wrough: bottoms, what-nots in the corners,
loaded with articles of luxury, taste and refine
ment, and upon mahogany ccntre-table lay a
Bible and ladys portrait. The last two articles
| took, and have them now in my possession
also took decanter of most excellent old brandy
from the sideboard, and left the burning house.
The last number Of the Winchester Virsinian
contains the following:
When Lincoln's thieves crossed the Potomac
river at Nilliamsport, they visited the house of a
wealthy gentleman, of Berkeley county, named
| Cunningham, who, with his family, Except a
large number of negroes left the premises. The
rogues ransaeked the house FROM top to bottom,
taking everything that suited their fancy. In the
eating line they went so far TO take old len
| turkeys (as poor as Job's) off their nests and
cooked the eggs which had been set on for weeks
| 4 large tub of sour milk in which the ladies had
been soaking pettcoats, for whitening purposes,
the starved puppies drank up voraciously as
ever famished hounds Tapped butter-milk
They endcavored to persuade the negroes to
leave their master, but the Africans were so dis
guscd with their conduct and filthy appearance
that they scorned to have anything to do with such
trash. One of the blacks stole off some valuable
papers belonging to his master and hid them, to
save them from spoliation by the wretched vandals
We understand that the agent of the French
Government, now in Richmond, is about to buy
tobacco here 1t is said he will commence in the
course of few days. Independent of this being
good news to planters, there is an important sig
nifcance in this action of this agent. 1t is we'll
known that tobacco is an article of monopoly with
the Frereh Government The question naturally
arises, then why would that Government author
ize the purchase of tobacco here, if the blockade
is to be recognized and continued? Would France
purchase that which she cannot receive? If this
be true, as stated, it is very encouraging to our
planters and disagreeable hint to our enemies
Richmond Examiner.