The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-15

= YCNSSNQ o. aANSg 20 =
A NORTHERN ACCOUNT.

Que Of the most splendid, and at the sarns
time truly awful c0nfagrationG, II has ever
been my lot to witness, filling the night with
It's luric glare and the silence with the crack
ling of its hames has just laid the beautiful
village OF Hampton IN ashes.
My quarters are not tar remote from the
fcene OF the fire, being on the opposite bank OF
the stream, q short distance further down;
and when awoke at midnight amid the firing
of guns, and under the glare of tho burning
village, The scene presented WAS one 10 De long
remembered. Yesterday evening, deserter
from the rebels managed 70 wade TO the dis
mantlad sHd Of the bridge, and pulling him
self up by one OF the piers, escaped TO our
picket Gu this side, and was taken TO the
fortress. The information which was at last
obtained from him, was to The effect that
seven thousand of the enemy had marched,
with rations for twenty -four hours, since
yes terday morning. from Yorktown; that they
were now formed in line OF battle short dis
taEce back from Hampton. 49,,
Uuite al excitement was thus created in
camp and at the fortress, ard preparations
were made for any emergency which might
occur during the night. Dol Webers entire
regiment were put on active duty, and, a. l
rode through The camp last evening, were
being supplied with ext ira ammuni ton for the
splendid rife with which they are armed.
two extra cuij pa'ues were put on picket
duty md the ZEN Under We're kept IN camp
asa ready reserve. Early in the evening
about Q 0'clock--a few rebel bullets came
ACROSS tho river and were answered. After
that all Cmained quiet until about half past
eleven. when the enemy opened FIRE upon our
pic kets near the bridge, dIEchufRllg their
n uskets by sections. Our men instantly fell
upon their faces, Or they woald have bsen
moHed down BY the fire.. The tsnc3 pca- Col.
Mallory s house : riddisd vi it'll their bullets.
Very fortuna teIy, not Gre Of them injured
.insle rlan OF O2fs. When the enemy ceased
t!riuc, cur Inen ross ana gave deliberate rine
are amorg item, asl Is supposed, DONG Them
much daInlge Eu alarm, OF course, BY this
4 -.r yr.zIg pit 2
moment. literW. -TJs Il baldiug IN The sou hern
end Of tle Fh!Lse was observed 10 DE Of !iTe
Not moro thau ION minutes triiaSplfed before
he " holt ,ll!qRe wGs ugh led up as if ey1iy
0SLsa had been lantern. Al nidnirAt ti.o
fam Is were raging w,idly, ] was awakened
=. Ihn realization Of The fact by tie firing OF
the rebels upou the quad. ne',r my quarters
=, tbs seminary. l1ls hriAs wa" le1u --o"
M. so.u e4tiIeiy ceased, then Fastened "
re f5ver IN horseback 70 sc; fun view Of
nc # TIE srunceat slSHts that cah b.
H,r sen1nes ware on The qtet vtrs. Give
he couaterslen quICR, O. / ire sand ere, as
r ,,,nro-rned New York. SAID !. "C0r
=. a. sad "a, and IN sped oTe.;d the scene
.t.b.1s. with almost t+t@-i vigilance, guarded
ia. v2ad At eyer5 tsyv ro:.s distant. Aueaemy.
,.r even i lrieLi, without The tLhstpanIc word,
;. Ms have :4-eG AAld Aa it WIS, believe
re ~ oar ow, men wsre Art upon
,.et.ticGk ! tool AEir Col. Naillry's
ne nd ~ .h3 r,dciei fence The flames
.' :
f., ,re!r woTk o. destruction with terrible
,.r...dsrr Ihs woods and hoases On this side
e., taa river v.r-e gered with i Find OF @eiru
..-l. = liz, ted rom the cgufdEra'ivu and tne
,5ugf-g tor miles around Was Il Illuminated
1.a ,t,Ids So Hl2d 10 dance With the lIsht CT
n.s..3,E IL -les thal leapet toward them i'll
II RI saeat- re y - from The south tisU
j., tg-.,usly Ep,4 L. own; and spread tbs
i ms from toase - hCUsa and stree. 10
,r14. I'h- river seemed All on tire with 70
tl.rr4,; ~ {, aot now and theE sctoe q tbs
auitt,ux- sanding On is very brink til teQ
.nyir burning slass lHtc the water Y'h l.
smashing, htssing, steaCliug souAd, thathddeG
:auca u the fleet OF The scene. Near by me
ai00G TWO ,oElpauies Of Col Webe-. mon
1uo1 whose faces the EGhI shore wi dly
Others l&y prosITaTe upon ~ sTt-ss aJns Ehe
oads,de, ready. a. = moments warning, 10
-lrinr ta5o action. Ihe only sound that we
lsnrd we're The CTtckle and roar of the tnaec,
Mingled uow and then with the crash and
plunge Of some falling building, with all ia
treasury o. sparkling, HGsuirC enbers.
4. ! v-~ote Q BRET dislatch by thE hight OF the
1 .rres, whose hrat was becoming uHcomtart-
.lbIe and then turned back to the camps after
. ICug absorbing gaze Oh the trrriE. scene
! found me roads aAd camps alive with sol
}iers al waiting and a2x,uus 20 be c:iIed
into action Company after conpGny had
been sent out towards koyhiH and the sdia-
.4rt country, to act AS picAeos, patrols and
ekirru hers, ard their return Was aLxiouaty
awaited ct the reserve TINS, where tn
guns, Nhi2h should warn them Of al ap-
uroach OF he enemy AT their headQ uarteTs
! fount: Colonel " eoer acting BrigadIer Gen
eTal, and Captain Won Dagun, OF his staff
who mao been cut before 70 explore the dan.
gers Of the night, aud were now awaiting re-
ports. With mem was Captain Wales, or
the Mounted Eitiemea, and after social chat
! again returned 10 the scene CT the confia-
grafton. The DANES still ragged wildly, and
mad extended, embracing the back OF the viii
\,
into the village and returned, bearing iufor-
nation that the Military Academy, the only
building OF any consequence which | had
thought Oh my first visit would survive the
by the rebels, who came in the rear OF the
building. The floors had been covered with
and burning fluid, and holeu hacked
through them Ia afford .afg fer The fire.
A few moments after il was lighted up from
within with IL light that told well OF its APP
prcac hing destruction by the fire demon. that
ravaged the once beautiful village. Every
window became lividly red, and | watched i.
unil, TIC sides OF the fine building began TO
CULVER and reel III the tempest OF nams and
wind, and the pillars 10 'front.' toppted and
tumhleG Cna by Que from their foundations 10
me ground. Then side fell in, and the
flames ieaped triumphantly over It as 1t buried
itself in the cellar beneath. Tdus house after
house, ana building after building, melted like
wax before the fiery element, and threw iu-
rid glare up 10 the sky. 4 long heavy
tress, as il crying for help To- the poor val
lage, IS / guided my. morse back TO my quar-
tiers, and turning 70 look once more, sought
rest from the excitement and fatigues OF the
night
This forenoon | Visited The sp0t again. No
thing bnt forest Of blear- sided chimniss and
walls Of brick houses tottering aud cooling IN
the wind, scorched and scared tree. ana
heaps Of s,noulderins ruins, mark the site OF
{ loveiiest Auburn; columns OF snoka rise hero
and there, from yet The seething masses, and
desoiation has marked lis bligated path until
& clear vista OF tbs forests far beyond the
Town is afforded. TIE bridge was saved It
had been, IS | have msntioatd, dtsnantled
abou g rod from is father end.
To 4 little barIIc4da at The farther sxtTemi-
tv, which, when the rebels CONNIE need firing,
: heite:ed two of eur picBets, | SAW Captain
Stomph. OF the German Regiment, and six of
bis men, march hr1yely in the face OF the
flame cru the too when both we're hottest -
Many eyes watched the little company an1
t0Usiy, as they mSrched on with tirpl, uuwa-
V".lG. sup Every moment We expected 70
sac tGen tall tetorr tn9 eneyny's shot, for tina
EHshirF '..ht a the conhsgraton made them
more prCmIueft than Gay light coulj 0avr
Gone, aoG the waters OF the river mirt ored
hem aHd every motion They reached tie
, .rriCaI-, 10 g,eYec, il saf5tv, and stood with
heir riiit~ ready 10 pick / any incendiery
A mHTe dvso.ate sight Cannot ba imagined
than 10 IL AInrtnn today Last evening Il WAS
CL- Of tne most eeGutifu Villages az the con
ineut, with wealth Of cottage aud villas en-
lowered u luxurious foliage. and adorned
rItl tisl@ The streets ware strnignt aid
- soV'et h. IHLeTincing coughs, and Al that
. 81 "a. 4atv sod refinement tn "a country
: lace G! 500 r 0QU iuha5lt ian IA has been the
40 sci # A@Inptou. War and frenzy, and f.e
n nigh SSSe devastated ali The Old church
M SAN our rev iutionGry trials etill stands
20 lock rs sereeely on the ruins TO Gay Is 1t
iii Oh Inc II .nes last Night Besides this, only
ONE hGu-dUZs1 small nous are left.
= FINALE = LoE-A Romantic Story "A
'"Tl. person n sailors attire was brought
betor'-J Justice Osborne. 1T the TorGhs, last Fri
Icy, u charge CT being female in male at
ire The prisoner It once confessed that the
sUsplci4ns 9QAinst her were well founded, and
tel that her name was Bridget Delacry