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and perhaps far more terrible, will there be before it is over!

bers cut away on the Hampton side. At that point our force, consisting of a detachment of Max Weber's riflemen, erected a barricade. When Gen. Butler left, every thing was quiet in the village, and there was no appearance of any thing unusual. Shortly after a rebel force came to the bridge, and commenced a vigorous attack on our force there. A sharp contest ensued, which resulted in loss to the enemy and their retreat. The rebels then commenced to fire the town. Fire was first set to the buildings nearest to the bridge. Those who commit-vants, was taken by them from his house, near ted this act of Vandalism were, to a considerable extent, former leading citizens of Hampton and owners of property, and consequently among the greatest sufferers. They distributed themselves through the village, went to the residences of the few remaining white inhabitants, and warned them to prepare for the event that was at hand. No other reason was given than that they had orders to burn the village, and that it would be done. No time was given to remove furniture or other effects, and scarcely enough to allow the terrified people to dress and escape to the street.

At the house of Mr. Joseph Segar, who was absent, a faithful colored servant undertook to remove some valuables, when he was warned by the rebel charged with the duty of setting fire to the dwelling to desist. The negro, instead of obeying, kept on, only remarking that the things must be got out. The rebel then told him if he did not stop he would shoot him. "Can't help dat; massa's things must be got out," was the reply. The chivalrous rebel fired, but missed his aim. The negro fled, and is safe, having done all that could be asked of any one. It is known that in not a few instances men fired their own property, and thus destroyed dwellings in which they had spent a good share of their lives.

After the first fire had been kindled, the attacking force returned to the bridge, where another sharp contest of about twenty minutes ensued, and which resulted as before in the repulse of the rebels. It is known that they lost quite a number, as they were seen carried away, picked off by the German riflemen, who took good aim in the light of the burning buildings. No one was was hurt on our side, though the planks and barrels of which the barricade was constructed were freely pierced by bullets.

Failing in the attempt to carry the bridge, the town was fired in every part, and by a little past midnight the village was a mass of flames lighting up the heavens, so that as far off as Newport News it was light enough to read a newspaper. It required no very vivid imagination to discern in the glare, smoke, and flame, the horrid features of civil war. Never before has our country furnished a scene calculated to suggest a thought like this. "Kill, burn, destroy," was the injunction of the Charleston Mercury, and here it was literally obeyed. It was the first instance of the kind in the course of the war. How many more,

There were probably from 20 to 50 white persons in the village, and from 100 to 200 negroes. Terror-stricken, as they well might be, at such a midnight visitation, they fled in all directions, not knowing what fate might overtake them at any turn. One old, half-dying, speechless, and utterly helpess man, Mr. George L. Massenberg, one of the oldest inhabitants of the place, surrounded by a few devoted serthe bridge, and, while the fight was going on, the flames raging, the stifling smoke surging, and bullets whizzing all around, was removed on a wheelbarrow to a point on the creek, where a small boat was found, in which he was taken in safety to our side. To-day he found security and attention in the fortress hospital. He is an undisguised secessionist, and, though the fact was as well known as any other, he received neither mercy nor the manifestation of human feelings from the rebels. But for the devotion of his servants he, no doubt, would have perished in the flames that were the legitimate consequences of his own doctrines.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Jones, two old and highly respectable people, known to sympathize with the rebellion, and about the only couple who could but did not flee when Hampton was deserted three months since, and who, notwithstanding the well-understood views of Mr. J., lived in undisturbed quiet, were roused from their slumbers and scarcely given time to dress. They did take out a very few things that were sacred in the household so long maintained, and now so rudely and suddenly set in flames, and retreated to the rear of the yard; and there they stood all night silent, solitary spectators amid the glare of conflagration, barely escaping the flames that almost lapped them in their folds. This morning, two gentlemen, old acquaintances, solicitous for their fate, set out from the fortress, and, at their own risk, went into the village and found the aged couple standing there still under the rays of the sun that were scarcely less scorching than the flames that all night had raged around them. The protection which was due to them from the rebels, but was worse than denied them, was given by the two loyal citizens, who by their acts evinced that fidelity to the Government was but humanity to man. Certain features of Mr. Jones' case are peculiarly aggravating.

In the afternoon, a relative, holding an office in the Secession army, came to his house, and after enjoying his hospitalities, informed him that the order was out to burn the village. So absurd was the statement that he did not credit it. In the evening he went into the streets, where all was quiet, and no evidence of such a purpose. Rebel guards were stationed; besides this, there was nothing unusual. About ten o'clock he returned to his house and retired. Scarcely had the aged couple fallen

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asleep when they were aroused by a knock at the door, where a former neighbor, and, I believe, relative of Mr. Jones, awaited him, and informed him that he had been detailed specially to set fire to his dwelling. Hurrying back to the chamber of his wife and informing her of the message, they had barely time to dress themselves, and flee to the yard with a few articles, when the flames burst through the house. So intense was the spirit of Vandalism, that no disposition was shown to spare even the old church, which is one of the landmarks connecting the past with the present-where Washington worshipped, and whose associations were sacred, and ought to have been respected, though we could scarcely expect so much from men intent on destroying the Government of which Washington was chief architect. The flames, as they ascended the steeple, seemed to spit and hiss spitefully at the traitors, who spare nothing, however sacred-neither age, sex, nor holy antiquity, if it stands in the way of their designs.

The destruction was nearly complete. Less than a dozen buildings remain standing. In most of them fire was kindled, but it did not burn in all. I visited the village to-day with a strong guard. The rebel pickets were to be seen skulking about, the main body having withdrawn, probably to Newmarket Bridge. Word has been given out that the remaining houses will be fired to-night, and the work of devastation rendered complete.

No adequate reason can be given for this extraordinary step. The only one that approaches to plausibility is, that the destruction of the village would deprive the Federal troops of quarters, not only at present, but more especially this winter. I will take the occasion to intimate to General Magruder, that the troops here have little idea of wintering in Hampton, but will seek a more genial climate, and, further, that it will be of small concern to him whether they do or not.

But few persons, white or black, remain in the town. The rebels do not seem to have carried away any negroes, most of them having taken refuge within our lines. Some few white persons, including three or four females, are not accounted for. It is not believed that any lives were lost except in the fight at the bridge. When I visited the village this afternoon, so devouring had been the fire, that in only a few places the smoke continued to rise. It was a wilderness of naked chimneys and tottering walls. The old brick structures had burned out, leaving them standing empty shells-monuments to mark the footsteps of rebellion. A few negro women were scratching in the ashes, or guarding a few things of their masters saved from the conflagration. As our little steamer neared the wharf, an old woman thus occupied made violent motions for us to keep off, at the same time running toward us and shouting forth something which we made to mean: "De secesh ar comin'."

This is about the end of Hampton. One of the oldest, handsomest, and most aristocratic villages in the Old Dominion, it has been crushed utterly under the heel of rebellion, and nearly wiped out forever.

A "CONFEDERATE" ACCOUNT.

We have full and interesting particulars of the burning of Hampton, and of the series of events leading thereto. The town was destroyed by order of Gen. Magruder, and by the forces under his command.

On Thursday morning last, about daybreak, Gen. Magruder marched a considerable force in the direction of Newport News, and drew up in line of battle. After waiting there for some time, the enemy declining to give battle, our forces were marched within a mile and a half of Hampton, and again drawn up to give battle, if the enemy should show himself. In the mean time, a copy of a late New York Herald happened to be obtained by Gen. Magruder, in which was a letter disclosing despatches from Gen. Butler, received at Washington, stating that it would be necessary for him to reoccupy Hampton, in order to be able to retain the large force of "contraband " negroes that he had collected. With this notice of the intended reoccupation of Hampton by the Federal forces, Gen. Magruder decided to destroy the town. Previous to the destruction of the town, information was received through a scout, and confirmed by the circumstance of an additional Federal steamer having arrived in the Roads, that reinforcements had arrived at the fort, for the purpose, doubtless, of responding to Butler's demand for the reoccupation of Hampton.

It appears that Hampton had been evacuated by Butler's forces, in the first instance, on account of a panic originated by a balloon exploration. About 700 of our men, under the command of Capt. Phillips, had gone in the direction of the town, on a search for "contraband" negroes. The balloonist reported to Gen. Butler that 10,000 men were marching upon Hampton, and in consequence of the report the town was hastily ordered to be evacuated. Two sections of the bridge were torn up by the retreating party.

The town was burned to the ground on Wednesday night by the order of Gen. Magruder. The expedition for its destruction was composed of the Mecklenburg Cavalry, Captain Goode, Old Dominion Dragoons, Captain Phillips, York Rangers, Captain Sinclair, Warwick Beauregards, Captain Custis, and six companies of the Fourteenth Virginia regiment, the whole force being under the command of Col. James J. Hodges, of the Fourteenth. The town was most effectually fired. But a single house was left standing. The village church was intended to be spared, but caught fire accidentally, and was consumed to the ground. Many of the members of the companies were citizens of Hampton, and set fire to their own houses

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may demand, shall be fitted for the field at the earliest practicable moment, and the remainder In the early part of the night, about 11 of which shall be held in reserve, ready to o'clock, a skirmish took place at the bridge, march at short notice; and, whereas, the between a small detachment of our forces, com- provisional force which has been organized, posed of Capts. Young and Leftridge's compa-armed, equipped, and fitted for the field has nies, and a German regiment on the other side. been transferred to the service of the ConfedThe firing continued for about half an hour, the erate States; and, whereas, the President and night being as dark as pitch, and only illumined Congress of the United States have been deaf by the flashes of the musketry. Our men were to the promptings of justice, and notwithstandinstructed to fire below the flashes of the ene-ing their troops have been ingloriously defeatmy's guns, and the screams of his wounded told ed in their plans of subjugation by the intrepid of the execution of our shots. Our men were valor of the South, have appropriated immense uninjured, one receiving a bullet through his amounts of money and are bringing into the blanket, and another being grazed on the cheek field large additional armaments to effect their by a musket ball. purpose of overriding and trampling upon the rights and liberties of our people;

A member of the expedition that fired the town relates evidences of some of the foulest desecrations of these houses and homes of our Virginia people by their former Yankee occupants. In many cases, the parlors of the houses were allotted to the filthiest uses of nature, while the walls of the rooms were garnished by the obscenest expressions and the vilest caricatures. We have been shown a number of caricatured letter envelopes of the Yankee soldiers, which were gathered as trophies. One is of an American eagle bearing aloft "Jeff. Davis" by the most available portion of his pantaloons. Another is of "Uncle Sam's Bantam," threatening to crow while he lives," to which there is an addendum in pencil, "crows where no one can hear him, and very hard to find."

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The fortifications of Hampton, erected by Butler's troops, and left standing, are described as of the most complete kind, and as extending entirely across the town. A ditch 18 feet deep, with rampart and embrasures for the heaviest cannon, with other works of defence, had been constructed.

Now, therefore, I, Isham G. Harris, Governor of the State of Tennessee, by virtue of the authority in me vested by the above-recited act, do issue this my proclamation, appealing to the patriotism of the people to raise, organize, and thoroughly prepare a reserve force of thirty thousand volunteers, to be styled the "Reserve Corps of Tennessee," which shall be organized in companies, battalions, regiments, and brigades, and mustered into the service of the State, and held ready to march at short notice; but not put on pay or subsistence, or withdrawn from their ordinary vocations until the necessity for actual service shall arise, when they shall be ordered out on duty, and placed on the same footing of the other twelve-months volunteers.

Officers will be appointed to visit the respective counties in which companies may be raised and organized, and muster them into service, after they shall have reported themselves by companies to the Adjutant-General. When thus mustered into service, they will be required to drill by companies at least once a week, and by battalions and regiments as often as once a month, and, when on duty, will be subject to the rules and articles of war.

Newport News has not been evacuated. It continues in the possession of the enemy, who is about 4,000 strong. The defences are said to be complete, the only approach to the place being commanded by nine columbiads. The pres- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my ent force of the enemy at Old Point is estimat-hand and caused the great seal of the State to ed at 6,000. be affixed at the Executive Office, in Nashville, this, the 7th day of August, 1861. By the Governor,

Gen. Magruder was erecting strong fortifications at Bethel, 250 men being daily employed on the works.

It was supposed that a man of the name of Paschal Latimer had perished in one of the burnt houses of Hampton. There was no other casualty known to have occurred.

-Richmond Examiner, Aug. 12.

Doc. 169.

GOV. HARRIS'S PROCLAMATION. Whereas, by the act of the General Assembly, passed May 6, 1861, it is made the duty of the Governor "to raise, organize, and equip a provisional force of fifty-five thousand volunteers, twenty-five thousand of whom, or any less number which the wants of the service

ÍSHAM G. HARRIS. J. E. R. RAY, Secretary of State.

Doo. 170.

THE BARQUE ALVARADC.

THE Fernandina Floridian of the 7th of August has the following statement in relation to this vessel, which was captured by the Jeff. Davis:

On Monday last our town became greatly excited, by receiving the intelligence that two vessels were in sight of our bar, one of them being pursued by the other. About ten o'clock a messenger arrived in town from the beach, bringing the intelligence that one of the vessels, a large barque, was beached, and that her crew

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had come ashore. Soon the drum was beating | not, will not, be tolerated. But perfect freedom to arms, and in a short time the Fernandina of the ballot-box has and will be accorded, and Volunteers, Island City Guards, and also the no man's rights, property, or privileges shall private citizens, were armed and on their way be disturbed. All who desire peace can have to the scene of action. peace by quietly and harmlessly pursuing their lawful avocations. But Tennessee having taken her stand with her sister States of the South, her honor and safety require that no aid shall be given within her borders to the arms of the tyrant Lincoln.

After arriving at the beach, we learned that the vessel ashore was the barque Alvarado, a prize captured by the privateer Jeff. Davis, and she was, by order, making for our town. The prize crew consisted of eight men, the captain of which was a Savannah pilot; they came ashore and brought their private property.

We soon learned that the Yankee captain, his wife, and a negro were aboard, who refused to come ashore, and who raised the American flag, Union down, as soon as the prize crew left. A detachment of our citizens subsequently went aboard and brought them on shore, and they are now in our town. At this time the United States ship Vincennes, which had been pursuing the prize, soon anchored and fired a few guns at the barque, which, however, did not take effect.

We have asked of the North a recognition of our political equality, and have been refused. We have asked for terms merely under which we could enjoy a sense of safety to our property and time-honored institutions, but in vain. Under such circumstances the States of the South resolved to submit no longer to long repeated and vexatious intermeddling with our rights. The North was deaf to justice, because they believed they had the power to crush us if we rebelled. With terrific threats they moved great armies upon us. have been driven back, with havoc and conAfter impatiently waiting for some time, the sternation. Heaven has smiled upon the South barque (carried by the rising tide) got afloat-blessing her with rich harvests and heroic and came nearer to the shore, so near, in fact, that the six-pounders on the beach could throw a ball some distance beyond; a company of our men manned the yawl boat brought ashore from the barque, and started to board her, when it was announced that three launches had started from the ship for the same purpose; our men perceiving this, and not being prepared to resist so large a number, returned to the shore. The men from the Vincennes proceeded to the barque, amid a shower of six-pounders, which fell thick and fast all around them, and, after raising a United States flag, set fire to her and left.

The vessel continued burning all night, and yesterday morning numbers of our citizens and others from Old Point were around the wreck, trying to save what they could. The Yankee captain lost all of his clothes, and every thing else which he and his wife had aboard. It is estimated that the prize was worth one hundred thousand dollars, being the most valuable one yet captured by our bold privateer. The prize vessel was loaded with medicines, wool, copper, and furs.

Doo. 171.

ZOLLICOFFER'S PROCLAMATION.
AUGUST 8, 1861.

To the People of East Tennessee:

In assuming command of the military forces of this division, I cannot forbear an earnest appeal to all who have preferred the old Union no longer to resist the recent decisions at the ballot-box by overwhelming majorities of the people of Tennessee. The military authorities are not here to offend or injure the people, but to insure peace to their homes, by repelling invasion and preventing the introduction of the horrors of civil war. Treason to the State can

sons. The North is already shaken as with a palsy-her late arrogant soldiers filled with apprehension-her late boasted revenues dwindled to a stern necessity for direct taxation. Can there be recreant sons of Tennessee who would strike at their brothers while thus struggling for Southern honor and independence? or who would invite the enemy over the border, to inaugurate war and desolation amid our own fair fields? There can be but few such. If any, it were better for their memory had they perished before such dishonor. Let not the Union men of the late contest at the ballot-box, among whom I personally know so many to be patriotic and true men, be carried along by excitement or passion into so deplorable an extreme. Though differing upon the late political questions we are all Tennesseeans. For the honor and glory of Tennessee let us be, as heretofore, shoulder to shoulder in battle, or peacefully at home, not sorrowing when victory perches on the standards of Tennessee regiments.

F. K. ZOLLICOFFER, Brigadier-General Commanding.

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flected quite severely upon the character and conduct of our soldiers, until they could endure it no longer, and concluded to take the matter into their own hands. Early this afternoon several soldiers of the First regiment went to the printing office, and asked for some of the papers, with the intention of purchasing them, and it is reported that the publishers refused to sell them. The soldiers afterward went into the street and by some means pro- | cured several copies; these were read to an excited and increasing multitude. In one article the editor spoke of the premium which Congress had offered to induce the three months' men to reenlist for three years. The writer then went on to state that the men would be allowed to change from one company or regiment to another in order to get clear of obnoxious or incompetent officers, and closed by stating that—

At

which I referred previous to this digression
continued to increase until a frantic collection
had surrounded the building, and were filling
the air with loud shouts and imprecations.
this time, several persons went up to the print-
ing rooms, which were in the third story of
Low's block, and found the doors locked. Im-
mediately after a revolver was fired, and the
ball passed through the floor into the second
story, into a room occupied by Tailor Stewart's
sewing women, causing, of course, great con-
sternation. From the direction of the ball, it
is evident that the weapon was fired for the
simple purpose of intimidating the crowd.

Soon after the publishers, four in number, appeared at the windows armed with revolvers, guns, and axes. One of them very impudently reached forth a Colt's revolver, shook it, and told the crowd they were well prepared and should defend themselves to the last extremity.

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"This may be the case with a certain North-Those who composed the mob answered with ern New England regiment, a portion of which ejaculations like these following: "fire, you actually mutinied against the abolition Colonel traitor "- 'you rebel and secessionist "fire, who commands it, before leaving for the seat if you dare." At this time the City Marshal of war. A number of his men, having demand- appeared and read the riot act, and with great ed a furlough to visit their friends over Sun- difficulty prevented the soldiers from ascending day, were refused. Whereupon they formed the stairway. John M. Hill, Esq., and several into line and charged bayonets on the recusant prominent citizens endeavored to calm the excommander, who made sudden tracks for the cited populace, but with no effect; they then nearest fence. This movement the men greet- went up to the office and told the publishers ed with shouts of derisive laughter, and three that if they would give up their arms they cheers for Jeff. Davis.' They were subsequent- would endeavor to protect their persons and ly granted the required furlough, and "order property. They agreed to this, but before any reigned in Warsaw.' After reaching Washing- thing could be done the soldiers were at the ton, it was found necessary to divide this regi-head of the stairs and all parleying was at an ment, and station portions of it at different points."

There is no question but what the above refers to our regiment.

The following are other specimens of the matter which the edition of the paper referred to contained:

end. The rioters attempted to enter, but the door was bolted, and they commenced staving out the panels; firearms were then freely used inside, and several of the crowd were wounded

one in the arm, another in the hand, while bullets passed through the clothes of a number. The firing was distinctly heard in the street, and thousands filled the way to a long distance above and below the building.

"Our Southern papers are filled with heartsickening accounts of the murders and robberies which individuals in Old Abe's Mob are The soldiers were unable to procure their perpetrating on the Southern people. Inno-muskets, and we believe they had no weapons cent women and children are shot on their own doorsteps, for wearing what is called secession bonnets. No wonder the Northern people run, when the honest men of the South march toward them.

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excepting dirks. The publishers escaped into the attic by a ladder, and the rioters took possession. The work of demolition was now commenced in good earnest; types, desks, paper of all kinds, and in fact every thing which is used about a printing office, came tumbling down on to the sidewalk in a fearful manner. Bonfires were immediately kindled, and the relics of the secession press were thrown upon the burning pile, while the soldiers gathered around the smouldering rains, and gave vent to their joy in the wildest acclamations. After the fires had somewhat abated, and nearly every thing had been consumed, the City Marshall went into the office and prevailed upon the rioters to go into the street. As I close, the excitement is intense, and diligent search is being made for those connected with the paper. It is feared their lives will be taken in case they are found.

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