No Virginians left in the burned-down Hampton, Virginia
We’ve seen the Union military ask Northerners to make mittens for its troops as the weather gets colder. Here a Richmond paper is asking citizens to send warm clothing to the troops from the burned down Hampton, Virginia.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 25, 1861:
The Elizabeth city soldiers.
–We would again call attention to the necessities of the Elizabeth City soldiers. As Jackson was the first Virginia martyr in the cause of Southern independence, Hampton was the first Virginia town which has been literally destroyed by the scourge of invasion. No one can think without a tear of the fate of that beautiful village, and of the refined and noble- hearted people who have been driven from its quiet homes, and whose roof trees are all in ashes. The whole of that region has been desolated by the vandals, and, if any who have suffered in the Southern cause deserve sympathy and aid, their claims are pre-eminent above all. We appeal again for assistance to the soldiers of this oppressed and devoted section who are now in the Confederate service. They have been driven from their homes, leaving all their wordily goods behind them — many of them bringing away only the clothes on their backs, such as were suited to the warm season that had then set in. Winter is now upon us. These soldiers have no fathers, mothers, and sisters at home to call upon; for they, too, are wanderers — A correspondent of the Enquirer states that most acceptable donations of clothing have already been sent to some of them, but still they are sadly in need of yarn socks and yarn gloves, overcoats, flannel shirts, &c. Some of them are now stationed on the wagon-courses, where the winds are piercing and the frosts are bleak. We would suggest that all boxes intended for them be directed to the captains of the respective companies, and be sent to the care of Assistant Quartermaster James White, at Yorktown. The Elizabeth City companies are, the Wythe Rifles, Capt. W. R. Wills; Old Dominion Dragoons, Capt. W. R. Vaughan; Washington Artillery, Capt. C. L. Smith and Hampton Grays, Capt. B. F. Hudgins. The York Rangers, Capt. Jeff. Sinclair, are also partially composed of Elizabeth City men. In the 115th Regiment of Virginia militia are good and true men, too, from the same county.
Hampton Burns
The northern “vandals” did not torch Hampton. The Dispatch sort of passed over the fact that Hampton was actually burned by Confederates commanded by John Bankhead Magruder. According to Almost Chosen People Magruder “burned Hampton, Virginia to the ground on August 7, 1861, after learning that Butler planned to use it as a base for his “contraband” former slaves.” Almost Chosen People also shows a related video from the Hampton History Museum. The video is conducted near a display that features a statue of a Napoleonesque Benjamin Butler.
You can read more about the August 7, 1861 fire at The Historical Marker Database
Zouaves occupy what's left of town
'Prince John' Magruder torched Hampton
