From Yorktown.
Federal outrages — Burning of Hampton — Conjectured movement of the hessians, &c.
[special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
On Wednesday last they slipped up Back River to Mr. George Booker's landing, where his schooner was lying laden with his furniture and provisions, which Mr. B. was about to remove to a place of greater security than his own house afforded. It is probable that the loading of the schooner was discovered from the dome of the Chesapeake College, where a look-out is constantly posted, with glass in hand. However this may be, the schooner had scarcely received her cargo of valuables, when a strong force of armed men drove off the little crew of three or four men, took possession of the vessel and started, probably, for Old Point. If such men are not pirates in the literal sense of the term, what shall we call them? If this schooner had been captured in an attempt to run the blockade, however unlawful that blockade may be, there would have been some show of the lawfulness of the prize; but as it was, it can be there would have been some show of the lawfulness of the prize; but as it was, it can be regarded in no other light than a piratical theft. Nor is this all. The same day of the above theft, a steam tug was seen in Back River, and her barges, fully manned, were sent from point to point along the shore, and setting fire to every schooner, sloop, &c., they could find. Many of these were the entire wealth of poor oystermen and fishermen, whose whole living the blockade had deprived them of Hitherto the redoubtable General Butler has pretended that these depredations were committed in violation of orders, which would protect private property; but when an armed steamer is employed for purposes of arson and plunder, even this shallow pretext must be given up, and the acknowledged leaders of the Washington Administration be held responsible before the civilized world for its savage barbarity.
To consummate this diabolical work, on Friday last the town of Hampton was set on fire by the vandals and nearly all that portion of the town north of Queen street (being about one-third of the town) was a heap of smouldering ruins. Unless the wind prevented the progress of the flames, it is probable that are this the whole town is laid in ashes. The supposition is, that the camp at Newport News and the occupation of Hampton had been abandoned, and to prevent the citizens from returning to their homes in peace, the town was fired. This supposition is based upon the fact discovered by some of our troops who went down with a flag of truce on Saturday, that they saw no videttes on the roads leading to Newport News or Hampton, and on reaching Hampton they found only a handful of men there. If these places have not been abandoned by the enemy, why this withdrawing of their guards and videttes? Or is this a mere Yankee trick to catch some of our unwary men? Would it be surprising if the panic produced by their disastrous and overwhelming defeat at Manassas should lead the cowardly miscreants to serve Fort Monroe as they did Gosport Navy-Yard and Harper's Ferry? Is there not full as much reason for such an act in this case as in either of the others? Would not the spiking of the guns and blowing up of the casemates, and destruction of other property, be in entire keeping with other acts of the Administration?
I cannot close this without relating a little incident connected with the capture of those Yankee prisoners on the 12th of this month. During the skirmish six of the enemy ran into a field and stood huddled together like so many sheep. Capt. Jeff. Philips, of the Old Dominion Dragoons, seeing their danger and their fright, called out to them from the fence, ‘"Lay down your arms and come to me, and I will protect you!" ’ Four of them immediately dropped their muskets and the whole six marched up to the brave captain. He ordered them into the road where the other prisoners were, at the same time turned towards the road himself. No sooner had he turned than one of the two who still retained his musket aimed deliberately at the captain. Fortunately the miscreant's purpose was discovered by a trooper armed with a rifle. In the twinkling of an eye the deadly rifle was aimed and the treacherous scoundrel dropped dead in his tracks. The other Yankee immediately let fall his musket and marched with his four companions to the spot pointed out by Capt. P. Could anything better illustrate the brave generosity of Southern soldiers on the one side, and the mean treachery of Northern hirelings on the other? Virtus.
