Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-04

Destruction of fPrOpertys-ExcltIng scenes.
The following details of the Lasty eyac-
uation Of White House Landing on satur-
day last are from the correspondence of the
N. Y. Tribune:
WHITE HOUSE LANDING, Va,
II A. NJ, Saturday, June 2s, 1862.
THE EXCITEMENT.
My letters Of this morning which sent
you by the mail boat that left here at 9
O'clock, will have informed you Of the gen
eral panic which prevailed here up TO the
time Of her leaving. Shortly after her de-
parture, officers and wagon-masters who
rode down from the rear of the army in
formed us that the enemy had possession
Of Dispatch Station, (which is about mid
way between the army lines and White
House, They also brought the inteli-
genoe that Gen. Stoneman, with about
5000 men, was cut off, and was falling
back on White House. This news created
the widest excitement, and a general
stampede to the remaining barges and
steamers took place. The steam tugs were
now seen flying down stream with barges
schooners and canal boats in tow-the lat
ter crowded with every description of
property, piled mp in the direst confusion,
among which were mixed up contrabands
young and old, and of both sexes.
THE PREPARATIONS TO LEAVE.
Gangs of laborers and fatigue parties
from the esd New York were now set to
work at the Commissariat, Subsistence and
Forage Departments, to pile up the heaps
Of stores, and prepare them for grand
and stupendous bonfire Barrels of whisky
and turpentine, with loose bundles of hay,
were placed all round them. The railroad
hands were not idle. The locomotives were
seen darting up and down the track coli
lecting all the cars-most Of which were
freighted with every kind Of stores re-
quired daily by our army-and backing
them down toward the river bank
Notwithstanding all these manifestations
of immediate skedaddling, a few still ling
cred, reluctant to leave until the last mo-
ment. now left my tent, and proceeded
up the river bank toward the Post Office,
which is situated near the railroad track,
and just on the bank Of the river Ipassed
all the Quartermasters' Offices, the Provost
Marshal's Office, the HarbOr Masters Office
They were all empty. I passed the tele-
graph tent; they were hastily packing
and just going to leave. l arrived at the
Post Office; it was empty-eYerythin
gone. Continuing on, soon overlook
Perkins, the POSTMASTER General Of the
Army of the Potomac" who, with four
contrabands, was conveying large chest
to the Elm City, then the only boat
except the Canonicus-whioh was waiting
for Col. Ingalls-which lay above the White
House. You must understand White
House Landing extends from little way
above the White House-from which it
gets its name-to where the railroad track
crosses the riyer-or, rather where it did
cross before the Reb-u-els burnt the bridge
"a distance of about one mile. In a few
minutes after the mail was on board, the
Elm City steamed down Fortress Monroe
ward. l looked on for moment at the
preparations making for blowing up the
locomotives and burning the long train of
railroad cars, and, seeing the workmen
retire, thought / might as well do the
same.
The gunboat Carrituck, which was up the
river about hundred yards from where
stood, had lookout on the masthead, while
AAOAA AAbOA~4DIA - AA%hAo RNAAfE5
vigorously exchanged with our headquar-
ters at the White House. now felt that
was skedaddling, though did not like to
60 until could see what on earth was GO
ing from !; but there were only three boats
left, and they were away below the White
House; so off Istarted, soon arriving at the
Tribune tent, which was next the mail-boat
landing. l cast one long, last, sorrowful
look behind, and then nut It tea q q 44e
the W. WI 80 they were dining on the green
in front of "the house" Here
learned that General Stoneman-who,
with his staff, had arrived ut White House
and Gen. Casey had consultation, at
which it was decided that the infantry,
numbering some 1000 or more, should be
conveyed down the river by the steamers
in waiting, while the cavalry and artillery
would fall back to Williamsburg. A com
pany of the 93d New York was now detail
ed to attend to the blowing up and firing
part of the business-their instructions
being to make sure work of it.