Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-14

became lividly red. and watched it until
tue sides OF the fine Building began TO
quivcr and reel in the tempest of flame,
aud wind and the pillars in front toppled
and tumGled one by one from their founla.
tions to the ground. Then side fell in.
and the flames leAped sFiunphantly over
it as il buried itself in the cellar beneith.
Thus house after house, aud building after
building, melted like wax before the fiery
element, and threw lurid final glare up
to the sky. A long heavy line of clouds
fOated away toward the Fortress. rs il
crying tor help for the poor village, us
guided my horse back to my quarters, and
turnimg to look once more, sought rest
from the excitement aud fatigue Of the
night
This forenoon visited the spot again.
Nothing but Il forest of blear.sided chin
nies and walls of brick houses tottering
and cooling in the wind, scorched and
scared trees and heaps of smouldering rI-
ins mark the'sight of .loveliest Aubnrn;'
anil columns of smoke rise here aud there
from the yet seetbing masses, and desolh-
tion has marked it biighted path until Il
clear vista o. the forests beyond tue town
is afford j. The bridge was sa.ed. 1t
htd been, rs have mentioned, disnan;led
about a rod from i's further end. To
a little bHrricHde at the further < remity,
which, when the rebels commeneed firing,
sheltered two of our picketS, saw Capt.
Stomph, of the German regiment, and six
of his men march bravely in the face of
flame Andtoe when both were hottest
Many eyes watched the little company aux
iOusly, as they marched on with firm, un-
wavering step. Every moment we expect
ed to see them fall before the cncmy's shot,
for the flashing light OF the conaugration
made them more prominent than daylight
could have done, and the waters of the riv-
er mfrrored them and every motion. They
reached the barricaie, however, in safety
and stood with their rifles ready to pick of
any fnrcndiary who might be seen at bis
heliisI work.
: a more desolate sight cannot be i'm
agined than is Hampton to-day. Last eve
ming it was one of the most beautiful VIII
lagcs on the continent, with wealth of cot
thge and villas emhowered in luxurious fo-
liagc, and adorned with taste. The streets
were straight and shudowed by intCrlIcing
boughs, anil all that can add beauty and
refinement TO IL country place of 500 or
1900 inhabitluts has been the dover of
Hampton War and frenzy, and FIRE IN
night have devastated nil. The OLD church
til 1t saw our revolutionary trials still
stands TO look as sercucly on the ruins Of
to-day as it did on the fumes lust night.
Besides this, only some half dozen small
houses are left.
have since learned that three of the
white families %ho persisted in remaining
in the place when it was recently deserted
by our troops, were seized by the rebels
last night, their houses burned down and
they taken TO he impressed into the rebel
service. Quite number of negroes were
also taken have my information from II
man who escaped, Mt great peril, from the
Secessionists. who were endnavoriug to
take him, aud who has lost all in the viii
lage. He says he saw nbOIt 300 Virginii,
and Louisiana troops in the back part OF
tue place dnriug the conhigration; aud
that they acted perfectly insane with rage.