The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-06
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CAxp nEAs, Nov 2, 1851.
From Information published in your paper
last week, many persons have been led to be-
lieye that important events were about to
take place on the Peninsula. To relieve such
as may be interestedin the forces stationed
here, as also &c inform you of some other
matters that may be In interesting, drop you g
line.
The late prospect of fight here was,
think, due almost entirely 10 the appearances
OF large fleet in the nsigbborhood These
ships, as supposed st the time, were SIMPLY
WAITING for the transports that had been sent
up to Annapolis for troops. AS yon nave
seen, the on tire aset sailed week ago for
some Southern Port, perhaps pensacola, MO
bile, or New Orleans. You may renem Der
that some time ago some Northern WItter al
tempted to show the absolute necessity OF the
possession of a Southern port daring the win
ter, In order TO the enforcement OF the. DOCK
ade.
as 10 the prospect of n fight here, give You
sirn piy nv opinion. A month ago, had sup
nosad that ere this we would have had
An enva cement, hut matters have taken snch
a turn ia Kentucky, Missouri, and Oh the 70
tomac, that l think the ankees must nave
changed their plans Secure IN the posses
sion of Old Point, and everything being In
gecnre in the West, ii is natural they should
lend all their energies TO those exposed points
The West now demands that their Interest be
at once attended 20, and DOUBT MT tEeIA ap-
peals will be heeGed.
a bout ten days ago q scouting party came
across the advance guard of large force sent
out after wood, and fired upon them. killed.
il is supposed one, and certainly took one
prisoner He states that there were 1000
men at Newport News. The next day a COM
paBy was sent down within few miles OF
Newport News Point, and burned 500 cords OF
wood, which the Yankees had utand though
in sight, they dared not come out. "A few days
before this they had driven in picket OF three
roen, stationed on the river, but with no idea
Of any advance. az it has turned ont.
An amusing scene took place few days ago
at an election in the Virginia Life Guard,
while doing picket duty. Lit. Rady having
resigned TO take the Office of Captain of the
Young Guard, Il was necessary to fill his
place. After the election of I'd Lieut. Lyon
TO the post OF lst Lieutenant, and Sergt viii
lis TO that of 81 Lieutenant, pHivate Daily
stepped forward from the ranks, and, in the
most grave and solemn manner, said that the
Company had requested him TO present TO Lit.
Willis a sword, and having unbuckIed it from
his own person, he drew from his pocket a pa
per, which read thus "Sir, this magnificent
sword whi8h have the honor to present you,
has been procured by this company At Il great
price. Its keen edge has spilled the blood Of
many a brave man. II is, sir, the same
sword that was worn by Goliah Of Gath, and
with which the youthful hero, David, severed
the CHANTS head from his body. AT the de.
struction Of Jerusalem ii was buried amid the
ruins of that great city, and found many cen
turies afterward by an English travel
err, who sold it TO Richard the Third,
and was used bv him in the great fight
where he cried horse, a horse, q king
dom for a horse The next time we hear
of II, it had fallen into the hands of The fam
lily of CORVALLIS, and when his lordship of
revolution times was about TO leave England
for this country, it was presented 10 him with
great ceremony, and brought over in two
ships. After the battle of Yorktown il was
surrendered to General Washington, on the
18th day of Oct, ISL From thence it got into
the hands Of tyau Sanft mot oy1u i,a lafk
q drinking house il Richmond, and was worn
by him I Manassas, and left in his carriage
just before the great Bull Run races began
From gentleman who now lives near York
town, the company, as before said. purchased
1t ct great cost You perceive, sir, from the
sears and other evidences OF age and hard
usage, that it has done serious work in its
time, and trust, sir, that with a strong arm
and valiant heart, you will with it hew
yonr enemies and the enemies OF YOUR coun-
try IN pieces This old relic, whose inter
esting history Mr.. Daily sketched so briefly
to0Asa very much LIKE the upper half of
seythe blade, with Il rough wooden handle
iniprovisod. IT was about two feet long and
had various gaps IL it, and was attached to q
strong coarse leather belt or girdle bY means
of several links of Il chaia very much rese1u-
bling an OK chain.
The great subject of interest here is as to
OR "winter quarters" If We continue 10
live in tents, there will be very small force
here by the spring. We will ali simply
not sleep at all. Having TO put blankets Uni
der them to keep them off the damn ground,
they have nothing scarcely 10 cover with
They have no straw even. This is sad 20
think of, but much sadder, I tell YOU TO wit
ness. There is very bad mana cement some
where. The "sick list' already is telling q
tale. The roads here, contrary to my ex3ec-
tati0ns. are getting very bad, and TRANSPORTS
ton difficult. Orders were issued from q en.
Magruder on Sd October to build huts, but
the first pole has not been cut.
! witnessed q sad spectacle on THURSDAY
last. The picket, where was stationed was
informed that 4 funeral procession would
pass, and we were Instructed 10 permit it,
About dusk We Were surprised, and grieved
to see a two wheeled vehicle, and upon it u
plain pine coffin, covered with black, adYauC-
ing up the road. Upon the cofiin was mounted
the son of the deceased woman rs driver, and
behind followed q single mourner who
turned ont TO be the husband. The sight
touched every heart. The poor woman had
sickened and died, without the attention OF Il
physician, and perhaps without the sympa-
thy of fl lends, most OF whom had been driven
from their homes by the er erny--(they lived
rome miles below.) With several others we
concluded to follow the sad procession to
Darby's Church, where we had seen an open
grave. Without minister, and without
this father and son were about to
deposit their best earthly friend in the cold
81 ound. We had been at The grave but
short time before several others collected,
and we committed the "sarti 10 ear I'll, ashes
To ashes,' with prayer from one of the
company, and left after dark thin king Of the
strange contrasts in life, OF mastering legions
and beating drums, OF the death bed, the sad
funeral, and the vacant hearth stone. =.