The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-27

Jour OWN CORRESPONDENCE

FROM NOBF0kK.
foUR own, CORRESPONDENCE
Noa1oLx, Jan. -, 1864.
without . furious storm !: warmth and
comfort within. Without the wind bowls
throagh street and alley, - II engaged in
some slsmsn tal war, and the rain beats .
dismal tattoo upen the easement. Thsstorm
sptrtts are abroad, and one can fancy their
vetrA and discordAnt voices mingiing with
the distant, sod, Continuous roaring Of ths
arrf within . bright nrs burns In the
crate: q comfortable warmth pervadss the
room some alps Of white paper 10 upon
The table; "your own" has donned his smok-
Ing cap-ths ar Of m unknown hisnd-and
ats before them with psn suspsndsd over
the yet uusullisd page, preparatory - quiet
chat with his distant friends. wreath Of
blue and fragrant smoke curls upward,
forming ftself into . gorgeous, dreamy cloud.
No vou like the pictursf Go ON, Old Borsasl
work away at the chinks and crevices
vhistls ~ the ksyhols; shake the shutters
Al vour best, old fellow; bat you are i'm
r.otsnt to.nishti This chamber bios de-
nancs to your power.
The storm increases in vigor; . blast Of I'M
usual nsrceness dashes against tho windows,
and 1t comes laden with dreamy, saddening
memories Of suffering In the army. Twelve
moaths OF war has made NJ familiar with
the exposure Of camps, and one can but think
with sorrow Of tho many, many hundreds
who have NO protecting room to shelter them
from the chilling storm no bright and com.
Portable flre none Of the sweet household
music that makes Life happy. Notice well
our vast army and see the men Of genius,
educatiou, Of moral rectitude, Of chtlvaric
daring, that composes Its rank and fle;
think Of them leaving comfort in fAr on
Southern homes to night for the honor of their
country, and what picture Of patriotism
of trae manly heroism. is presented to the
mind. Think, too, Of such men challenging
death and exposure In defeace Of the right
Think Of them tonight, Orouching beside
some scanty IRE, wearing tbs weary, stormy
hours away. What heart is there In this
whole land which does not throb with SYM
patty q. the mention Of such thoughts7 Who
i, there in this whole land that does not ask
God to protect them from the pittiless storms
of winter? All! comrades, there is one who
would gladly share his comfort with you
were 1t in his power; who would gladly
divide your burdens and assist your troubles.
He NO longer looks with pleasure upon
thu cleaning nre-no longer defes tie
pslting storm. Old Boreas, on have coI-
ouered! but You struck the heart, and not
the body!
In bearing the hardships Of severe storms
there 10 consolation In knowing that our
enemy IL spHsring also, and to . far greater
extent. The Burnside expedition, which has
bsen already scattered and seriously injured,
IL still Drawing the waves on perilous coast.
Ever since the feet sailed from Hampton
Roads there has been no settled weather, and
nearly every day has been stormy. There
was 4 report in Baltimore three days ago
that several OF the gun boats and one large
steamer had been destroyed, and there 10 but
Little doubt that this fierce Northeastern
wind will drive many more Of them ashore.
1t began yesterday and has providsntially
increased up TO thus time, and, should 1t con-
.inus another day, none bat the strongest
min. would be able to stand It. II not en-.
tirsly destroyed, our enemy will be decidedly
weaksned and in bad condition to make an
attack upon the coast.
This morning tho iight.boat anchored off
Cape Henry, to take the place Of the Cape
light, which has bssn sxtingutshsd, broke
from her noorings, and run asho ON Plea.
sure House beash. It was discovered BY
portion Of the Chesapeake Cavalry, who i'm
msdiatsly took possession. They captured
seven persons, and, among other things,
seven muaksts, . quantity OF provisions. and
three hundred gallons Of oil. The following
Is list Of the prisoners, composing the keeper
and guard Of the boat: Alex. Ruak, Conrad
Fritz, Thomas ssgernin, Ed. Smith, Job
Thompson, Charles Wise. Richard Miller.
They are now lodged in jail here, having
come into town in Q decided state Of inebria.
ton. These light boats are always moorsd
very strongly, and We can therefore imagine
how severe this stornmust have been to have
snapped the pondsrous cable.
There il really very little news in town be-
yond what have already sent you BY tels.
graph. The weather has bssn 20 bad that
have been unable to look around the city, or
to visit any Of the numerous camps in this
vicinity. Besides, have felt 30 little like
writing Of late, that my attention has been
given only to literary tasks that would not
be neglected. That il my excuse to CORES
pondsnts; but BEG laavs to say . word or
two here TO some OF them. s. d. will for
ward your articles Immediately; send them
along; have written you on the subject B.
q: L.-Many thanks; excuse my tardiness In
saying 20. L. II. M.-Paokage received by
express; thank you. Several letters have
been long time delayed BY bsing misdi.
rected. II addressed to "Boh emian, box
ITS, Norfolk. >" letters will reach me.
In approaching the city on the Norfolk and
Petersburg Railroad, one Of the nrst objects
that strikes the eye Of stranger Is the nne
suspension bridge over tho east branch Of
Elizabeth river, terminating within a few
hundred yards Of the town. It is q splendid
structure, and IL 20 pleasing in appearance
and 20 symstrical In contour, that venture
70 give . slight description Of it. Commence
Ing at the bottom, then, I will say the OK.
IRENE depth Of tho water At mean tide 10
twenty nve feet. The foundation IL OF piles
driven through Z soft stratum Of mud-ny
twenty feet in thicknsss-to . solid bottom.
Upon these piles are built three massive piers
and two abutmsnts Of hswn granite. each
block Of stone having been laid with diving
ball. The sxtreme length Of the bridge II
six hundred and sixty three 1sst, consisting
Of three spans, each Of two hundred and six
feet, and one drawbrtdge Of forty -nve feet
The superstrscturs 10 Of iron. This rests
upon three cut granite pillars, from twenty
nvs TO thirty. ave feet high, attached BY the
cast iron Suspension truss. The whole II q