Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-24

| St'i'l' OiuitcS upUCUTcu 10 ne CnrUKCu
by this act, and demanded payment for
the vessel, and stores he alleged to
have lost, threatening dire vengeance
III his demands were not acceded to.
In order To DO prepared I'm case he
did attack the town. Il company of
soldiers under Major James Inmls,
came from Williamsburg on readiness
to repel the assault.
| Suuircs. however made no hostile
movement Mt the time satisfying him.
self with coniiscating ull boats ana
| their cnrgoes he could capture, and
was In fair way TO destroy the ferry
business on October 25th 1t was re-.
ported that number of vessels were
| standing In towards the shore, the
soldiers flew To arms and thcir POSTS.
the women and children removed to
Il safe distance and armed citizens OF
thc town aud country locked to the
scene, Squires had Il handsome resi-
dcnco just at the mouth OF the river
burned and attempted to land, but
stnlson vessels In the channel retarded
him, Some small cannons were fired
hut without effect, but the fire rn.
turned was SO effective that the enemy
was glad u move out of range. Dur.
Ing the night they cut through tho
hoatS and the next morning were
scCn drawing close to tho town, aud
Il furious cannonade was begun, shell
and shot flying In showers. all about
the place. Just us this commenced
Col. Woodford, with company of
riilcmen arrived from williamsburg,
having made the march in seven hours
Tho GOODNESS and valor of the defen.
ders could not be exceeded. While 1t
n ~ hot 1n tf,,,, n. n
yct they fought steadily OH, and ID was
not long before the deadly precision of
their fire began to have It's effect, the
enemy seemed IN confusion, their fire
slackened and an order was given to
slip anchors and retire. But this was
dangerous work, no man could stand mt
the helm, or go aloft with safety, and
Squires had to beat nn ignomlnous 70.
treat, with the loss Of two vessels
and largo number of muskots. Be.
sidcs II number of prisoners In the
hands Of the victors.
This was the first battle of the Rev.
olution In Virginia.
During the War OF 1912.
When the war Of 1912 began tho OK.
posed position of Hampton caused the
military authorities to construct n fort
tFort Dcflancc) on tho west side of
the river, near where the residence OF
Mr. j.. W. Darling now stands; and
several small cannon mounted. In the
month of May 1914. British feet,
under command Of the Infamous Ad-
miral Cockburn, entered Chesapeake
Bay and committed the most shoclt-
ing depredations along the defenccless
shores. Norfolk WINS attacked, but
made such gallant fight that the
enemy had to abandon their designs
upon the city. Their attention was
then turned to his town as likely to
fall an easy prey. They first at
tempted to land ut the town. but met
with such q determined resistance
on the part of Col. Crutchtiold and the
few men under him that they with
drew and effected landing on the
shore near where LaSalle avenue In
tciSects the Bolllvard, and marched
heavy force 10 capture the iliated
town Every inch of ground was holly
contested by the gallant defenders,
but they were at last compelled to
retire before sich overwhelming num-
bcrs. They entered the town, and COM
mittcd outrages of the most shocking
character, sparing neither Sex or age.
a number of buildings were burned
and old St Johns church turned into
stable ami slaughter house. But the
people were fully aroused and gath
cred In such force rs to cause Cock
burn to retire to his ships.
in Civil War Days.
While there was no battle fought
here during the civil war, there were
several bloodloss skirmishes. the town
being burned by Its own people and
exciting scenes all around, both on
land and water.
Nearly four hundred men loft their
iiresidcs TO Gag. their lot with the
Southern cause, only about seventy
five ure now living. and monument
stands OH our old church-yard in mem.
DRY and honor of those who fell
The burning OF Hampton occurred
on the night of the 18th of August 1861.
and the account given below Is that
OF Col. j. G. Phillips, who commanded
the troops who applied the torch.
Later In the afternoon. an order
came for me to report to Gen. Ma
gruder, who | found, with his staff at
| the residence of Mai. Geo. Wray on
Back river. He showed me an item In
northern paper, which stated that
the Federal forces contemplated oc-
cupying Hampton as winter quarters,
and said he had concluded to burn the
town; ordered me to take four com
panies, two cavalry and two infantry,
to proceed to Hampton that night and
burn 1t. The companies designated,
| were:
The "Old Dominion Dragons" of
which | was captain.
"Mecklcnburg Cavalry" Capt. Goode,
Warwick Beauregards." Capt. Cur
It's.
York Rangers" Capt. Sinclair.