The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-02
HesSian XillainY.

A Yankee, named Stephens, Adlutant of
one of the Vermont Regiments, thus speaks
of his exploits while on the road to Great
Bethel:
On reaching the bend of the road / took a
survey of the rear, to 'see what might see,"
and discovered single soldier coming to-
ward me, and waited for him TO come up
l found it was Clark, of the Bradford compa-
ny. Before he reached me, l observed s.
horseman coming at full speed towards me
On reaching the honse he turned in, which in
duced me to think him Secessionist. / or
dered Clark to cover him wi his rifle, and,
revolver in hand, ordered him to dismount
and surrender. He cried out, "Who are
you ~ answer, "Fermont!" "Then raise
your piece, Vermont; 1 am Col. Durysa, of
the Zouaves;' and so it was. His gay look
ing red boys Just appeared turning the
corner of the road, coming towards
MS. He asked me the cause of the firing in
The rear, and whose premises we were on.
told him he knew the first as well as l did,
but as TO the last could give full informa-
ton; that the house belonged to one Adjutan t
Whiting, who, just before, had sent bullet
whizzipg by me, and shot one OF my boys,
and that my greatest pleasure would be to
burn the rascals house in payment. "Your
wish will be gratified at once" said the Colo
mel. II am ordered by Gen. Butler to barn ev-
cry house whose occupant or owner fires up pom
our troops. Burn it," He leaped from his horse,
and upon the steps, and by that time three
Zouaves were with me. l ordered them to
=,
down went the door, and in we went. A well
packed travelling bag lay upon m3hoga-
ny table. l tore it open with the hopes of
finding q revolver, but did not. The first
thing I took out was white linen coat
/ laid it on the table, and Colonel Duryea
put n ligh ted match to it. Other clothing was
added TO the pile, and soon we had a rousing
fire. Before leaving l went in to the large par
Tor in the right wing or the house it was
perfectly splendid A large room with a ia
pestry carpet, a nice piano, a fine library OF
miscellaneous books rich sofas, elegant chairs
with superior needle work wrought bot toms,
what nOts in the corners, loaded with articles
of luxury, taste and refinement, and upon a
mahogany centre table lay Bible and a
ladys portrait. The last two articles j took,
and have them now in my possession. l also
took Il decanter Of most excellent old brandy
from the sideboard, and left the burning
house.
The last number Of the Winchester Vir-
ginian contains the following
When Lincoln's thieves crossed the Poto-
mac river, at William sport, they visited the
house of Il wealthy gentleman, of Berkeley
county, named Cunningham, who, with his
family, except large number of negroes }
left the premises. The rogues ransacked the
house from top to bottom taking everything
that suited their fancy In the eating line,
they went so far as to take old hen turkeys off
their nests tpoor as jobs and cooked the
eggs which had been SCI on for weeks. A large
tub of sour milk, in which the ladies had
been soaking petticoats, for whitening pur-
poses, the starved puppies drank up as vora-
ciousiy as ever farnished hounds tapped but
ter-milk.
They endeavored to persuade the negroes to
leave their master but the Africans were 30
disguised with their conduct and filthy ap-
pearance, that they scorned to have anything
10 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.