Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-28

and visit the various camps in that yiein-
ity.
On my re,Grn, found Capt. Charles J.
Wiekersham, formerly OF Wheeling, who
had brought a horse 10 take me out to his
camp near Hampton. Il will, no iOubt, be
interesting 10 the numerous friends of
Capt Wickershzm in and around Wheel
Jag. 10 hear Of his UheieAbOu;s. lie now
commands company in cavalry regi-
meui, which is considered one of the most
efficient in the serVice. Wben the regi-
ulent Wss organized, many Of the officers
received commissions through political in-
aaence, or on account of their local import
ance and assistance IN recruiting the regi-
meat Most Of those appointed for these
considerations were found incompetent,
and on being sent before the examining
board, were, TO use camp phrase, ''sent
up a spout." The regiment then re-
csiTed officer of the regular army,
and the Younger, more intelligent and
ambitious line officers were promoted, and
it Was pat under \ thorough course of
drilling. The result is one of the best
regiments in the field. more gallant
aud courteous set of feId aud line officers
do not command another regiment. Capt.
W entered the service as LIST Iieuteaaat-
lie WAS shortly after transferred 10 the
zigual camp for instruction, and on COM
pIetIng the course was ordered. with some
eight others, to report TO Gen. Mcclellan
for duty 10 his eOTgE de ayses. AT the
same time be received an appointment TO
the comnand of s company 10 his regi-
ment- Preferring active service, he ac-
ceptei the latter, and joine.i his regiment,
on its way 10 Manassas. His former com
pany presented him with a handsome
sword, with the usual ceremonies. He
enjoys the same popularity in his regiment
that he did in Wheeling.
In coming out we passed. through the
ruins OF the ancient town OF Hampton,
and such a scene of des0lation ii is bard
70 conceive, much less describe Where
once wpre neat and comfortable dwellings
the homes OF happy families, nothing is
now seen but GlackeHed waIIs, huge piles
of brick and chimneys still staining The
appearance is ineXpressibly dreary. War
is here seen, not its GLORIOUS p0mp and
circumstance bu, in all its horrors
The walls of St Johns Church. built in
l6G0-the oldest structure, believe, OF its
kind in America-are still standing. To
what pitch will not desperate vindic-
tive spirit lead q people! Viewing the
ruins OF this ancient church, venerable
With the boar Of antiquity, its affairs sa-
%aNh " AAAl tut AGNukluus VI NuOusuOus VINO
had kBelt there in the course of two CEN
turtles, loved as the shrine at which had
wor=hipped a glorious ancestry, could
not avoid thinking Wha: utter madness
must have seized the brain Of those who
could ihus devote TO destruction the monu-
ments of their former pride and glory
In the space around the church, sur.
rounded By r brick wall, is the village
cemetery-the tombslones bIackened aud
cracked by the effect Of the fire, and the
falling Of portions of the wall We re-
coguized many names familiar in The
ehriy history OF Virginia. The brick walls
OF the cemetery were used as a iortifi-
cation by the Confederates Earth was
thrown up against them, making the
breastworks about six feet high and eight
feet wide, with I wet ditch: the em6rn-
Zurcs were made by barrels filled with
sand
The country around Hampton IS very
level, and the soil sandy. AS it has been
in possession Of the military, one side or
the other, for year, the roads are much
cut up aud the fences all gone. a large
frame building contains the ''cOnIrA bands
which OccasiOned Butler aud Cameron 40
much trouble. The interior is constructed
in the same manner as our Western steam.
boat cabins-smail rooms with berIhs, one
above the other. The little tcontrAbandsp
they are nOmberless, about MS thick az
mosquitoes in summer time and the
cutest looking beings in tue world, with
their kinky hair aud rolling up the whites
Of their eyeS) are stuck i'll the lower berths
crOsswise, while the "uucIes'' and ..aunts''
occupy the upper. The men are EMPLOYED
in the quartermaster's and other deDart
ments; the women in knitting and wash
ing. They are still coming in. Many are
picked mp by the officers for servants.
Yesterday Capt. Wick ersham aud my
self (the captain keeps splendid horses)
took galiOp up to Newport News. Much
that would be interesting in regard to this
locality 10 contraband. The gallant frig.
ate Cumberland is the first object of inter
est. She lies not more than three hundred
yards from the shore, nearly all her rig
ging above water. From her masthead
floats flag, not the one, however, which
she so brayely defended. She entombs
some one hundred and twenty brave men,
VINO would desire q more honorable grave
t ina the ship he had so nobly defended?-
what tate more glOriOns than to sink with
tue PennOn Tying, and the cannon thun-
uerlng parting shot at the rebels as the
waves closed over her foreyefP what
tomb more grateful than her shattered
huiEI or monument more fitting than her
masts aad sPars, with the glorious FAC
streaming from her peak? Every one who
witnessed the fight seems to lack words in
expressing their admiration of the way in
which she was fought.
From Gen. Manstelds quarters the Con.
flags can be seen floating from Pig
Point Battery aud on clear days from sew
eral others.
Capt. De Kay who was out in the Roads
On an expedition, without any arms, came |
ACROSS rebel boat with about an equal I
number OF men, he rolled up his overcoat
"a y inc snap OF small cannon, placed il in
The bow of the boat and made boldly for
he enemy. He succeeded in capturing
hem taking paper, tobacco, &c.
The only Ohio troops have found in I
his vicinity is, squadron Of cavalry COM
nanlnl hn EanLain Dn=..aLl. NJ NJ