The evacuation of Berkeley.
Since the evacuation of
Berkeley by the enemy's forces a various statements have been given the public with reference to
McClellan's movements.
We yesterday met with a gentleman who witnessed the evacuation, and who has been over the ground recently occupied by the
Federal forces since.
He says that he inquired of one of the officers, on the morning they were leaving, where they intended to go. The reply was, that they were going where they would be heard from in good time.
He estimates the force with
McClellan at 50,000, and says they crossed the
Chickahominy in three columns, and moved in the direction of
Williamsburg.
This gentleman confirms all that has heretofore been published with reference to the immense destruction of property, and the large amount left behind them uninjured.
Axes, picks, guns, and everything that contributes to the efficient appointment of an army, were found on the field in profusion.
The venerable
Edmund Rufflin, who fired the first gun at
Fort Sumter, was made an especial object of malignity by the
Yankee hirelings during their occupation of
Coggin's Point and adjacent country.
The Petersburg
Express says that most of his slaves absconded soon after the enemy's gunboats came up the river.
His son, who held a commission in the Confederate army, lost, in all, 86 of his negroes.
Nearly all the cattle, sheep, and hogs, together with 10 mules, were stolen.
The valuable libraries both of the old gentleman and his son were stolen.
Mr. R., Sr., also lost all his general correspondence for the last eighteen years, embracing many valuable letters from distinguished men.--Everything in the house was taken, down even to the bells and hooks in the closets and elsewhere.
The only thing that was not done to damage the proprietor was that the houses were not burned.--The windows were broken, and the inner walls defaced with charcoal scribblings of the most rascally character.
The following chaste epistle, written with a pencil, was found in the house after the miscreants had departed:
Mr. E. Ruffin; ‘"They tell me you did fire on
Fort Sumter."’
Taking pattern from some epistles left by your chivalry at
Yorktown, &c., I have thought it not out of place to leave this note.
We leave here in a few minutes, and feel sorry at so doing — as we have fared sumptuously, and we came to the conclusion that you were a brick and knew ‘"how to keep a hotel. "’ * * * *
From the care we have taken of your property, you will no doubt thank us, but
don't mention it. Please forward this to the editor of the Petersburg
Express, or Richmond papers, and oblige a
Penna Reserved Yankee, alias
‘"
McCall's Dutch."’
P. S.--What do you think of me, anyhow?
Mrs. Martha Cocke, of
Tar Bay, a neighbor of
Capt. Ruffin, fared no better.
The whole of that flourishing vicinage has been reduced to a state of desolation, from which it is feared it will not recover for years.
