The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-03
tsPzcIAL coRRsspox DsNcR or rHs DIsP Arcu

Fe0pH-Ht0oTtcA AcMtNascencEa -Savrices Of
AorfSik Citizens.
fsPEcIAL coRRsspo on DsNcR or rHs DIspAfcu
NoRroLK, Jan. 81 = 1882.
have very late and reliable Intelligence
from the Northern cities, and from Wash.
tngton and baltimore. The New York of
1862 is far different from the swarminR. hive
like, noisy, driving, dashing. thriving Em.
pire City Of 1880. You may perambulate
about town now without the danger of being
knocked down and run over In tho hurry OF
affairs. Business Is dull; the people com.
plain bitterly Of the continuance Of tho war.
Rsal estate has fallen IN some parts of the
city below zero; hundreds Of stores are closed:
fires occur frequently; the people are dis.
satisfied and restless, and the low rumblinr
of q storm that will shake the mammofh
city to its deep foundations are already
hos rd.
Philadelphia la q SLOW looking place. com.
pared to its bushes s-like and cheerful a appear.
anca in days Of prosperity. Baltimore locks
more like going ahead, but, judging from the
suppressed murmurs that are heard, there
may soon be az eruption Of the volcanic fires
thai are struggling for vent. Washington is
q muddy place. An armed sOldiery 10 the
great feature, while the beautiful public
structures Of stone form \ striking contrast
10 tno INQUEST iOOkIEk pFlVdt0 OullQlOR8.-
There, the contractors. Office seekers, and all
the crowd OF scram blers after money, are IA
busy es ever; but Washington too, presens e
the sad effecls OF TIE war waged by misguided
fanatics and INSCRIPTIONS demagoguss
If the historic chapters relative to the pre-.
sent stupendous revolution, which are to be
read by coming generations, shall present
truthful record OF events that marked the
commencement Of the struggle for liberty in
Virginia, some exploits in this section Of our
noble old State will be recorded rs possessing
vast Importance. There are some names, too,
still un written upon the scroll Of fame, that
will descend vii tn those of the heroes Of those
days, far down the track of time
There WAS a time here when men hesitated.
waited, reasoned, while the plot was tn ick.
ening for onr subjugation and enslavement.
1ramn nat oT1ef nf ho!I psTsod nnimproysd and tho
heard in our streets; our peaceful homes
and affairs would now be Invaded, and the
seaport of Virginia, u Mess its buildings had
again fed the flames ~ in '76, would have
been in the hands. and ut the mercy of the
vandal hordes Of the North.
One of the enemy's powerful war ships.
was so close at hand that the boatswain's
whistle could be distinctly heard ON shore
Her great guns pointed towards our peace
ful dwellings; but her officers knew not of
the determine1 spirit OF resistance that
fired the hearts of some who wore ready and
eager to step forth to the haz ,rdous task of
duty, just when the deep-toned mutterings
from tEe black storm. cloud of revolt were
first heard in the distance.
In the report from the Office of Detail and
Equipment to the Convention, by Captain
barron, there are illusions to Important
measures taken here relative to the msga.
zine, &C., and the report may have been ne
cessarily brief. A few additional particulars
will not be Inappropriate here.
1t was decided by one or two bold and
daring spirits to remove the vast quantity of
powder stored in the Government magazine
upon the shore, mile below the city. And
was it executed, so eagerly and So rapidly,
and ct SO quietly, was the work done, that
thousands Of the citizens knew nothing of
the important matter until the labor was ac-
gard to those who so bravely and SO carefully
toil0d in behalf Of their country's honor on
that night, when the explosion Of q single
package would have been death and ruin,
aud REVEALED the plot by widespread de-
struotion2
At the beginning of active hostilities here
many of the volunteer officers and men of
the revenue. as well as the navy officers, most
be said, too, Of that valuable class of men in
q seaport, the pilots.
Our esteemed fellow citizen, Capt. Rich d
Evans and Capt. Osmond Peters, ON the op-
pOsite side OF the river, nobly stood up to
their duty In spite ofinfirmities and regardless
0f exposure; indeed thers seemed to be on
hand just the men wanted for the occasion
On the Goth Of April, the day before the
. Z
gan, a removed officer, took command Of the
Empire. two days after she was steaminE
off to Richmond, with the first guns for
warded from the Navy Yard. and few days
later she again passed up james river. loaded
with powder, shot. shell, &c. Returning
the last time, she had to run the blockade,
which she did safely, Notwithstanding she
had TWO barges in tow. The zeal and the
efficient and able services of Lieutenant, now
CAP tain Milligan, then and since, have been
deservedly appreciated and acknowledged In
proper quarters. No one has labored more
willingly and untiringly- AS signal officer,
his System of signals is believed to be equal
to any that has been adopted.
The steamer Raney quickly followed the
Empire to Richmond, and indeed was the
powder for that city. She was In command
of Captain William Face, q Virginia pilot,
who was very prompt and energetic in the
performances of the important duties assigned
him, when men of nerve and action were in
demand tor special service.
Capt Il. X. Hudgins aud his worthy SON,
Lieut.. w. +. Hudgins, also Of the revenue
service, should be mentioned among the best
men in the stirring scenes enacted during the
period alluded to. Other brave men were
active in urging forward those measures
which were so requisite for safety, and in
securing the defences Of our city and other
rs On the 10th OF April, some of our citizens,
under the very guns of the Cumberland,
seized three light Is, towed them In the
darkness of the night near by the 10 rmidable
looking war ship Cumberland, and sunk
them in the channel of the river where they
now lie, concealed from the watch ful toe that
looks with a cOvetous eva up the well gu ard
ed shores Of the Elizabeth.
Atanorher time, may allude to the active
part taken by others, resident here and else.
where and connected witb the army, the
navy, and in private life. Now, time and
space are insu fficient.
f{sorrespoudspce of tho Richmond Oisnatch.1