The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-21
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
Some IHctdchtS Of The Fight-FIiqht Of Neyro,s
0aH cutie. d
CAMP NEAR WILIIAM-BrKs, June /

CAMP NEAR WILIIAa<BURG, June 10, 1861.
After furnishing your readers a tui report,
through yo.r several caterers from the field
Of Bethel" l have thought that Il few
" scraps might De served up from the same
dish, which perhaps might be dIgestible
During he night ON the 10Th, and while our de
tachment was in the trenches near the church,
We We're amused by kle conduct of Il fine,
large looking gen tlpmsN who ensconsed him
sAlt under the corner of the building and at
The sound OF each cannon bowed himself low
to the ground III true Eastern style. One of
our officers happening to pass by, aud the fire
ceasing tor while, the aforesaid stranger re
marked, with great spirit, " Never mind, we
will give them HI yet"
Having shoe torn from my foot in passing
| the marsh on several occasions, and at.er the
| firing ceased, l went 10 our camp, about ,2u0
| yards to the rear of the church. to repair
| the loss The camp was a square enclosed on
| all sides by our brush tents, looking like an
! Indian village. When | entered there Wa
| the "stilineSs as of death | saw exactly
| what the enemy would have seen had we
! been rout ted. kuapsacks blue blankets. tin
cups, canteens, hats, carpet bags half open
| ed, camp stools, &C., lay on all sides, in great
| confusion, in the area, picks, shoves and
| axes, and the slumberng embers in the cook
| ing pits The scene was solemn, and paused
| 4 moment, impressed by the strange stiffness
| Not q sound was heard, The lannon's peal
| had died away. The sharp crack Of the rifle
| had ceased. No sound OF lowing cattle, OF
| nelghlng war horses, no sweet song OF birds
| among the branches was heard. The thunder
! OF aftlileTy n1u driven everything from lie l.!
| and wood, and man is left alone in de I'd Y
| struggle with his fellow-ma Great God
| what a spectacle for angels and saints!
| We lett eight negro men iii charge of our
| camp; but it was lust III the raar OF the
centre of the battle, the balls and shells tel
| so thick aud fast about their heads that one Of
| them leaped upon his mUlo and rode "foI
| death and lite'' till he reached Yorktown, l.
| miles off. The others retired whether in goo1
| order or not, | tOrbear TO say to Il tavern
| miles in the rear.
| Speaking OF the flight ofcattla, was strucn
| with this just after the firing began. On our
| right was u field, In which there was herd Of
| cattle feeding, and l cannot convey to your
| readers the terror written in their faces
| lion III hot purs nit could not have alarmed
| them more. They seemed to know no
| where to fly. They had been accustomed K
| the thunder of Heavens artillery, out these
| rapid peals and exploding shells, quite con
| founded the poor creatures, and they lied IN
| the widest confusion. What a sad common
| tary upon our humanity The implement,
| inven ted for mans destruction terrify brutisf
| beasts, and send them bowling from theil
| coVerts. But our poor nature is tull OF con
| tradlct tons and extremes. Our comfortable
| cond ton now reminds NE of this con trare "
| and l wish 70 inform our friends in your cit
| how highly we appreciate their liberalIty
| We have ceased, thank God, TO erect tents q
| brushwood which only protect us from thu
sun. Last Sab0a Ia afternoon, as the cloud
gathered thick and black in the East, and IN
| thunder muttered III the dis lance, we locke
WITH SATISFACTION 10 our TENS IEty lay l.
the valley, skirted by green trees, and shon
in the evening light in all their new mad
Wilderness. Night came on, the winds blew
the rain descended, and beat upon them
We had gone to rest. Oar Oil cloths lay nea
by, lest our tents should disdppoint us. Blu
10 the rain beat upon our humble but seCur
| dwellings, the sense OF comfort experience
| by our naarness TO the peIting rain, aud GU
security from 1t, brought our safety NOR
| striklngly TO our minds, and we stTetche
| ourselves with great satisfaction upon GU
| bl3HketS and in our inmOst heart blessed on
kind friends for their nbeIality. Had ~
needed any additional inspiration to spen
our days and nights III the fields and wood,
this retiec ton would have supplied it. Blu
our cause is 50 good, so just, so holy, that
need be, we would willingly fi-ht for IL da
and night in storm and tempest, Withou
shelter, and even without sympathy. But {
this latter incentive there is no lack, / III
, very sure, ana will take the liberty here
suggest that those who stay 1T HON. could NJ
show their sympathy for their brethren in III
held III any WAY so substantially she
? teriug them from the weather. By this NEAR
they will show their love for their friends
and also manifest their devotion to the
country, In this her hour OF need. We ha.
been engaged this morning IN naming OF
! tents after those kind friends who took Il
: most active part III procuring them for us.
! LIFE (tuAED.