The following letter appeared in the NH Patriot, printed in Concord, on July 20, 1813 as the War of 1812 raged. It would be two more decades before newspapers began hiring reporters. It was in snippets like these that the public followed wars and other events:
Extract of a letter from captain Cooper to Charles K. Mallory, esq. Lt. Governor of Virginia
I was yesterday in Hampton with my troops; that place being evacuated in the morning by Britain. My blood fran cold at what I saw and heard. The few distressed inhabitants running up in every direction to congratulate us; tears were shedding in every corner – the infamous scoundrels, monsters, desteroyed, everything but the houses and (my pen is almost unwilling to describe it.) the women were ravished by the abandoned ruffians. Great God! My dear friend, can you figure to yourself our Hampton females seized and treated with violence by those mosters, and not a solitary American arm present to avenge their wrongs! But enough – I can no more of this
They have received a reinforcement of 2000 in all 6000 men: and Norfolkd or Richmond is their immediate aim. Protect yourselves from such scenes as we have witnessed. They retired in great confusion, leaving behind 3000 weight beef, muskets, ammunition, canteens etc. etc. and some of their men which we took. It is supposed that they apprehended an immediate attack from 5000 of our men which caused them to retreat precipitately.