The Advance from White House Traditions; Crump's Plantation Gen. Sickles' Arrival- Rebel Liberality- Successful Skirmishing.
WHITE OAK SWAMP, MIDDLE ROAD, Wednesday, May 28, 1862.
From the White House landing to our present encampment, a distance of 15 miles, and within ten miles of Richmond, we found few farm-houses that could be either called comfortable inside or beautiful without. The style of architecture varies, but is by no means pleasing to the eye. How these old dilapidated exteriors and interiors looked in the days of Virginia's earliest history, I am unaware. At the present time they are a mass of tottering brick and wood, decayed by time, falling piece by piece. None bear the slightest trace of repair or of that compound known as paint. The occupants seem to have abandoned all veneration for the homes of their progenitors, so much so that when the front portico gave way before old Time, they no doubt felt thankful they had still the back one left to make their entrance into and exit from their crumbling domicils(sic).
The White House, belonging to the Custis family, you have had a full description of in previous letters. I might here mention, however, that one of your correspondents is in error relative to the original house being destroyed by fire. The present house with the exception of the two wings attached, is the identical one where WASHINGTON courted the widow CUSTIS. The estate is known as the "Old Quarter." About a mile and a half from the house, on the road leading to the Baltimore cross-roads and the Richmond turnpike, there is a cluster of large oak trees of ancient growth, standing on the edge of the rising ground facing the level track where the White House stands. The roots cover the surface for fifty feet in circumference. Beneath the base of the largest tree a spring of water gushes forth of great purity.
Tradition states that POCAHONTAS, tired and weary with hunting, with some of her father's chiefs, discovered this spring and tarried to bathe her feet, while the chiefs hunted the forest for game. Early settlers from this tradition named the spring Pocahontas' Bath. It is now called the Old Quarter Spring, after the farm. WASHINGTON, on his return from his marriage ceremony at St. Peter's Church to the house of his wife, together with his attendant friends, halted at the spring and drank from a wooden bucket to the health of the bridesmaids. About a mile back from the spring, and a little to the right, stands a residence of tolerable antiquity, belonging to the Mason family, now occupied by a descendant, Dr. MASON1, who is the Presiding Justice of New-Kent County, as well as a practicing physician. He is a personification of the old type of a Virginia F.F.V. The polish on his waxen floors look like glass, and his sideboard is decorated with crystal cut glasses, with two decanters in bold relief, containing old Bourbon of the rarest quality. Over his mantelpiece hangs an oil painting, representing a facsimile of the original house, built by the MASONS, on Mason Island, in the Pamunkey River. On the mantelpiece lies a brick, with raised letters, 1698. This is the date, the Doctor says, when the house represented in the painting was built. The outside of the Doctor's present residence shows a calm resignation to the havoc of Time. The beautiful lattice-work around the portico has the moss growing on its broken fragments. The stables, barns, and out-buildings severally, have rude cedar posts propping up their sides and roofs, supporting their decrepit age. As I gazed upon their tottering aspect, I thought Slavery was linked with their decay. I trust it is so. There is nothing in the mouldering ruins of Virginia's first families to recommend its perpetuity.
Next to the White House, the Mason mansion is the best, toward Baltimore Cross-roads. There are many small farm-houses, apparently built by the first settlers, crude in finish, and in a frightful state of dilapidation.
The place next in order worthy of notice is Dr. CRUMP's2 plantation -- seven hundred acres, situated at the Baltimore Cross-roads3, eight miles from the White House, on the road to Richmond. There is quite an elegant house upon the estate, as well as numerous out-buildings, in a fine condition of repair. Dr. CRUMP, like Dr. MASON, is also a Justice of New-Kent. County, and was a member of the Legislature when the ordinance of secession was passed, and voted heartily for that measure. Dr. CRUMP is very wealthy. He owns forty-two negroes, sixteen of which, at the present moment, are not come-at-able, owing to strange motions of being free. When our army landed at the White House, they hired themselves out us cooks, &c., to the officers, without as much as saying to CRUMP -- their master -- "By your leave," and they peremptorily refuse to "go back to their quarters," CRUMP's grief is overwhelming. His wife and the young CRUMPS share his feelings of affliction with a devotion worthy of stories.
Dr. CRUMP's house being the most respectable of its class, I took up any abode there for three days. Gen. SICKLES arrived at the same time, with Capt. CHAS. L. YOUNG and Lieut. LAURIA of his staff, and the General was assigned the bed occupied by Gen. JOE JOHNSTON some two weeks since, in his retreat from Williamsburgh. Dr. CHUMP was an obliging host, and Mrs. CRUMP4 was indefatigable in endeavors to make our stay comfortable. The General started off the following morning, to report in person to Gen. MCCLELLAN, and before leaving called for his bill. The landlord of the "Golden Lion" could not have hit on a more outrageous demand. The General has often dined and supped at renowned cafes, but CRUMP, Justice CRUMP, overstepped all bounds of conscience. The General paid his bill without questioning its correctness, and in answer to CRUMP's hoping to see him again soon, the General made the satirical reply, "I fully appreciate your kindness."
Down at the forks of the road we have a temporary hospital. CRUMP's kindness to the patients is often spoken of among the invalids. It consists of his liberal supply of milk, for which he charges thirty cents a quart, and butter one dollar a pound. To the officer of the guard stationed at the house for CRUMP's exclusive protection from straggling soldiers, CRUMP suggested the guard should be provided with rations, as he would not be able to feed them, (there were only two,) for bacon was high, and he was afraid he would not have sufficient to last until the war was over.
Provost-Marshal withdrew the guard when we advanced here.
CRUMP was on great terms of intimacy with JEFF. DAVIS, whom he styled the President in his conversations with me. DAVIS advised CRUMP to burn his dwelling and destroy all his movable property, as the National forces had invariably done the same thing wherever they advanced. "Our patriots," said JEFF. DAVIS, "when they can afford no assistance to our cause, fly with our armies." CRUMP replied, he would consider the matter. DAVIS came down from Richmond, with several of his Cabinet officers, after the fight at Williamsburgh on Tuesday, and held a consultation with his prominent officers. What transpired at this interview, CRUMP was not informed, but DAVIS left, on the morning of Wednesday, for Richmond, in great haste. JOE JOHNSTON stayed at CRUMP's until his rear column came up, Thursday evening, and then left. Our troops came up on Friday following, and occupied the ground.
Dr. CRUMP obtained a pass from the Provost Marshal to visit the White House, and there met with some of his hands, whom he accosted in a kind manner, desiring them to return to their quarters. One of them, a likely negro, who, CRUMP assured me, was worth $1,800 -- he had him insured for $1,200 -- replied to his salutation: "Now, Dr. CRUMP, dis ain't de way you talk to us when we home; you say you d -- d blacks -- b --, do dat; and last week you hit me ober de head with a rail. Der am de spot. I kin show him to any gemman." The negro took off his cap and displayed a bruised cranium.
CRUMP was about losing his equanimity of temper, when he concluded to mount his horse and leave the place.
On reaching home, Mrs. CRUMP was much affected to hear he had not returned with his property, and advised him to shoot a colored preacher, by the name of GORDON, who they suspected was the instigator of their troubles. To make matters still worse, the principal housewoman was not expected to live. She was a faithful servant, about 40, worth $800.
Dr. CRUMP shed tears, so did Mrs. CRUMP. I appreciated their feelings at losing so worthy a servant, but was a little surprised when CRUMP said; "You will excuse me, Mr. ----- , but it's too bad. Them sixteen niggers were worth $12,000, and this woman $800, easy. I could have sold her a month ago, but I was a fool." CRUMP applied the handkerchief to his eyes, and wiped away the tears that rolled down; "too bad, too bad," he ejaculated, as he sobbed audibly.
CRUMP is a representative of Virginia planters. There are two or three fine houses between Dr. CRUMP'S and White Oak Swamp. Their owners have deserted them -- gone to Richmond. These have been turned into hospitals for our sick and wounded soldiers.Gen. PORTER has had another successful and brilliant fight, a few miles from New Bridge, routing the rebels completely.
The retreat of BANKS has had no effect on our forces, unless to make them more determined to capture Richmond. If the stories of contrabands and deserters prove true about the rebels having one hundred and fifty thousand men (probably half that number) it is immaterial. Gen. HOOKER, with a little over six thousand, whipped four times that number of their chosen troops at Williamsburg. M.
-New York Times, June 8, 1862
1- Actually this is probably Dr. William Hartwell Macon, owner of "Mt. Prospect" and who sat as one of the 16 members of the County Court. The Masons lived nearby, but the fact that he is described as a doctor and a magistrate and the owner of a "mansion," points to it being W.H. Macon.
2- Dr. Leonard C. Crump.
3- He is referring to Crump's Crossroads not Talleysville
4- Emily A. Crump nee Savage, daughter of Nathaniel Savage.
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