Peninsula Items.
[correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
February 25th, 1863.
The following paragraphs are the products of a peep at odd times, within the past few weeks, into the Yankee lines behind Yankee scouts and Yankee pickets, by a rebel scout.
The Yanks on that unfortunate strip of country are a braggadocios and bad people, with faces behind and before; their eyes sometimes no eyes at all, their consciences are only manifested in their thefts, their brains in their retreats and futile skirmishes with our boys.
The poor women are made to suffer intensely, either from want or the apprehensions of a doleful future.
In Hampton and thereabouts — where the greatest number of contraband are — negro brigades are being organized, armed, drilled, &c.--More than four hundred negroes are at King's Mill, where the negro recruiting officers from Hampton operate in behalf of their respective commands, frequently extending their recruiting circuit to Williamsburg where they appear very pompous and superior among their color, but supremely ridiculous to others, in their uniform of red pants and black jackets.
The ladies in the town say they know not what the God-forsaken Yankees are going to do with them, unless it be to turn them loose upon the women and children.
The negroes who had collected in Williamsburg grow very jubilant over the grand entres of Gen. Keys and his bride, from Yorktown, who were attended by an escort of an hundred cavalry, an ambulance train, loaded perhaps with the ghosts of those who died in defence of a corrupt Government, flags flying, etc. They visited the provosts and asylum, rode in a sweeping gallop through the streets, as though the town and whites belonged to them, the negroes being the only freemen.
Many houses in Williamsburg, including the college and out buildings, clerk's office, stable, and barns in any number, kitchen, smoke-house, etc., have been burned to ashes.
Houses unoccupied have the floors torn up, windows out, blinds off, doors torn off, furniture broken, beds clothing, stores, etc., stolen and carried off. The trees in every yard, garden, and in the streets are barked and broken down, fences gone, and the sidewalks made the highway for wagons and equestrians.
The Yanks have dancing parties in the kitchen attached to the President's house, on the College grounds and other buildings in the city.
The burley negro men and women being their partners in the evening dance.
It is a common thing to see a Yank and black gal promenading the streets in good weather.
The ladies walk out but little, and have to keep their houses loosen up.
The press, material, &c., of the Williamsburg Gazettes office was demanded a few weeks since by Gen. Keys for the use of the United States forces at Yorktown.
The importunities of Mrs. Lively the mother of the editor of the Gasetts, who retreated with our army in May last, had no effect.
The Lieut, of the guard ordered the men to break the office door down unless she, Mrs. L., would give up the keys.
Being alarmed by this and other similar threats, Mrs. Lively had to surrender the keys.
The press &c., was taken off to York own, where the publication of the Yankee Cavalier sheet is continued.
This dirty sheet was first printed in the Gasetts office; but upon the raid of Col. Shingler in the burg, it was discontinued.
The basest evasion of truth is, that when Mrs. Lively requested a receipt for the press, types, &c., belonging to her sons, E. H. and R. A. Lively, now in the army, they gave it in favor of Ewing & Lively, instead of in favor of those rightful owners.
This Mr. Ewing formerly published a paper in Williamsburg, but before the war moved his effects to Norfolk.
It is possible that this Ewing, who has some spleen against the Lavery brothers, and being a Pennsylvania Yankee, wedded to the present invasion, is making an effort through Gen. Keys to obtain the press, &c., belonging to these young men. 