Our Fredericksburg Correspondence.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.] Fredericksburg, Va., Sept. 15.
The mutilated manuscript of a letter I sent you appears in the Dispatch. You publish two statements and an illustration, and omit the weigh that matters," which I considered wise reflections.--Perhaps my chirographical embellishments were obscure and hieroglyphically presented to the editorial eye. Corresponding with the Dispatch has employed my lighter moments even in the days of darkness in the far South which succeeded the fall of New Orleans.
An hour's detention in a tunnel.
I have not yet recorded.
No man could make light of that especially with a lunatic sitting in front of him, and as a darkle said, ‘"taken unawares"’ and kept so long.
The alarmed inquiries of the ladies, and the nervous responses of brave men, in regard to this premature interment and unexpected ‘"under ground railroad"’ excursion, would afford an amusing paragraph, but the Yankee occupation and late evacuation of Fredericksburg should now more appropriately employ the pen. Of the latter I can only learn that on Friday (29th ult.,) preceding their departure, a few pigs kicked up a dust on the road above town, which frightened the pickets, who rushed in declaring that Stonewall Jackson was after them.
The panic was tremendous.
The alarmed Yankees were drawn up in line-of battle across the river, with several batteries pointing on the town, in the streets the troops were also ‘"drawn up," ’ and ‘"under arms"’ all night.
The Postmaster at headquarters was looking for a letter, when, at the cry "Stonewall is coming," he dropped everything and ran, without stopping, until he reached the opposite side of the river.
His customer coolly selected his own and the latters of his friends.
During all that last week in August they had been removing what ever property their fear permitted them to keep in Fredericksburg, and on Tuesday night, having stolen all the negroes, &c., they could move, they illuminated their retiring villainy by burning bridge., bakeries, depots camps &c. The sight was beautiful and refreshing.
Our citizens — men, women and children — were exultant to a degree which manifested itself in every way, except standing on their heads — so glad, so thankful, so thoroughly rejoiced, and jubilant!--The Yankees left, skedaddled, gone glimmering.--What a hurrah all over town.
When Kingsbury sent for the acting Mayor (they had Mr. Slaughter prisoner) and delivered up the burg to its citizens, they knew Pope had been smashed and that they were free.
To this excited crowd the magnificent conflagration was most welcome.
The flames the water, the illumination, the ree and the dark night together, made a splendid celebration of the restored independence of the subjugated Confederate.
I can't describe the crowds of flying fugitive darkies with bags and bundles, and bandboxes, and chests, and every imaginable variety of baggage, lumber, &c. One woman had a feather bed on her head — all frightened by the Yankee report that the town was to be shelled.
The foolish starving creatures lined the bridge and the Stafford shore on Friday and Saturday Some returned but more of them were transported to Washington.
Burnside having burned all he could on this side of Stafford, proceeded in much fright to the Potomac side, where he burned about a million (five reported) worth of stores.
He has earned his name most expensively.
Uncle Sam can call him Dear Burn side.
Their confusion at Aquia Creek was worse confounded, and the smoke of their fornado ascended and darkened all the horizon.
Our cavalry captured some of their pickets, and a few pieces of artillery could have destroyed or compelled the surrender of the whole disorganized and demoralized mass of this ‘"on to Richmond"’ ‘"army of invasion,"’ Surely, the world never saw so disgustingly absurd and ridiculous a set of braggart miscreate.
Fredericksburg is of course very quiet, not much business and not much anything else left.
Except the arrest of nineteen citizens, it has not suffered much in "person or property.
The country surrounding has suffered in depredation.--losses of stod, corn, &c., tenaces and negroes innumerable.
My judgment is from the history of the war of the Revolution, and of that slave labor can be speedily restored to this action.
In another letter I may give the facts which are the foundation for my belief. L. 