Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
election in Suffolk — sad accident — handsome parade.
Suffolk, Va.,May 25, 1861. The election has passed over quietly, and although the vote is one of the largest ever polled, there is not one for Union. Messrs. Day, (for the Senate,) and Riddick, (for the House,) were elected without opposition. That miserable ad valorem amendment, which, (mark my prediction,) is to be the ground of future trouble in our glorious new Confederacy, was ratified by a large vote.
It becomes my painful duty to record another sad casualty, which happened on yesterday to a member of the Smithfield Artillery, now stationed at Town Point Battery, near this place. It seems that at some call to arms, probably for drill, Mr. Frank Atkinson, son of Dr. Joe Atkinson, of Smithfield, caught his piece, which was lying on the ground in the tent, by the muzzle, and pulled it directly towards him, and in passing out the hammer was caught by something which so far lifted it that when it fell the piece discharged, and fired a large ball and several buckshot diagonally through Mr. Atkinson's bowels. He lived fourteen hours after the accident. His remains were transported to Smithfield. He was a very popular and promising young man, and a nephew of the Hon. Archibald Atkinson.
A company of Southampton Cavalry, numbering about eighty men, well mounted and armed, arrived here last evening, and are quartered at the Fair Ground. While I write, they are on parade, in company with our Nansemond Cavalry, and the appearance of the two together would frighten a host of Old Abe's minions.
The news of the invasion of our beloved State is hailed with joy, as affording an occasion to hurt somebody. May it be none of ours!
Ego.
