The National tribune., 1900-10-04

was a bold bluff and this last movemei.
! was also a bluff, as was afterward learned
for the purpose of gathering supplies 20
the starving army of Lee. The COuntic
Of Nansemond. Isle-of-Wight, Surrey an,
others passed through by his army wer
stripped of their food supplies The de
SCI tOnS from his command were large
as many of his men We're from Ports
mouth. Suffolk and the ncighboIing Coun
ties. | was in Portsmouth at that time
and the Confederate soldiers were comm;
in to our pickets every day or TWO. ar,
remember hearing that Capt. Petit
whose company was recruited in Ports
mouth, came in and announced that hi,
entire company deserted, one or two ri
Il time, until there was none left but he
and Sergeant, when he concluded that
it was high time to depart and return
TO the protecting folds of the old Flag.
AT the time of this advance of Long.
street against Portsmouth,. Gen. Robt
Viele was commanding the post, and it was
| Fort Monroe for reinforcements. Five
| thousand negro troops were promptly
sent. They landed from the barges at the
| Portsmouth dock singing the then popu-
lar war-song of Babylon Has Fallen -
well remember their cool, steady and
massive tread as they were quickly formed
| IN shore and began their rapid march to
H.
| They were black, but comely, that day.
We noticed no kinks in the hair that day,
| no fat noses. Had LOngstreet and Lee
| heard the shouts and song of Babylon
| Has Fallen and I'VE are gwine to occupy
de land by these 5000 armed negro
troops, shouts and songs expressive of
determination and undaunted valor. thcil.
| checks would have banched.
And the regiment from Norfolk, too.
came rapidly and with n determined.
steady step, to strike n sharp blow for the
old Flag. This regiment was composed
OF Southern Union men, who had been
driven from their homes in Virginia,
North Carolina and Tennessee. My heart
went out to them as they passed up Main
street on the double-quick to the fortif-
cations.
FORT MONROE.
This famous fort was built during the
Presidency of Monroe hence its name. 1t
guards the entrance to Hampton Roads
which leads to Norfolk and Portsmouth,
some five miles up the Elizabeth River.
and looms up grandly on the right hand
as you enter the Roads from the Chesa-
peake Bay or the Atlantic Ocean, The
pretty little village of Hampton is sit
uatcd on Hampton Creek, some three or
three and Il half miles south of Fort Mon
roe. Hampton Creek divides at the uppcr
ps'iI VI thN iiltit ana UaSSlnH Ill
something OF Il curve on each side causes
1t to present a remarkably picturesque ap-
pearance to the Summer visitor 1t was.
and Is still, popular place in Summer.
The Fort Is situated on the extreme point
of the island, Ocean-ward, and the lower
her OF guns are near the edge of the
water. substantial bridge connects
fort Monroe with the mainland, passing
over creek and broad marsh. In front
of the Fort, leading to the entrance, is n
heavy plank walk-way, and Immediately
IN front of the gate is Il magnificent draw
bridge, which can be raised or lowered Mt
pleasure by few turns of wheels on the
inside of the heavy gates. The Fort has
splendid parade-ground inside, around
which are comfortable officers Quarters
The Fort from the upper cascmates. To
the lower, or water battery, is supplied
with heavy and superior armamehts. The
wallis of the Fort are some Is feet in
thickness, and were originally composed of
compact formations of earth. with large
tough grasses, which added to its general
tirmncSS.
The rip -Raps'' Fort is located on tho
opposite side of the channel, about mid
way between Fort Monroe and the Nor
folk shore, and presents rough, dark and
dismal appearance to the observer as he
enters the Roads
! well remember the first "uygeia Uo-
tel, winch was located very near the
Fort, and was frequently the scene of
brilliant balls, which were attended~ bvI
charmingly-attired ladies and gentlemen. Il !
also remember that the rich and CAV unt
forms of the officers from the Fort always
the fair lasses, who were mostly
from the Southern States, and the Young
men, citizens, were exceedingly Jealous of |
these military men, who gaily tripped the |
light fantastic toe" with their. sweet |
hearts fair. The old "Hygeia" was aeci- |
dentally burned down during the war .of |
the rebellion.
In the early sos the old "Hygeia" was
purchased by Mr.. Reynolds, of Ports |
mouth, Va, who had gone to California
in 40 or 80 and made respectable for
une in San Francisco. He had purchased
md loaded n large brig with food. cloth
ing and other articles and left Baltimore
Tor the land of gold, and had made his
money by trading. This Mr.. Reynolds
lad married Mrs. Ellis, charming wild
Nv, of Portsmouth, Va, who had son
md daughter, Miss Mary Ellis, and John
Ellis. John Ellis and l were the young
musicians of Portsmouth, and were popu-
ar, too, there being no musicians in the
own until the advent Of the Navy Yard