The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-23
/ Rsax Oss TnsE POTOMAC
Prem Our own eorresponden.

Having just Returned from long aud very
| il terestng ride, a description Of which would
prove quite readable did not prudence forbid
it, seat myself to give you an item two
which is all the present quiet viii afford
Stern Necessity will compel me to write with
steam engine speed TO the conclusion of this
letter, ana 10 cut it extremely short, or else
be left in darkness On going to our room
this evening it was found that our landlord
had run completely out OF candles, and that
there were none for sale IN the village OF
Fairfax. From this predicament we were
relieved by lieutenant in the army, who
kindly gave us four inches Of his own. While
thus short piece is rapidly wasting away,
take advantage of It's feeble illumination and
improve he time.
For some time this village has been quite
lively, owing To the number OF men, horses
and vehicles OF every description and variety
which have throHged its streets. Early In
the morning when the crowd is greatest when
the heavy wagons keep up continuous rat
tie when soldiers are shooting, mules bray
ing, dragons riding by with cIanking sabres,
drums beating, and there is u constant Babe
oil strange notses, one could easily fancy Il
market day III Armagh, or that, by some h0css
pOcas, he h'td been suddenly dropped into the
midst OF Denny brook fair. FROM morning
until night the main street is IiIed wi tn busy
lAeA, WHO gather around the storee-where
there L. nothing 10 buy--or around the Post
Once, where "A sentinel stands TO prevent con-
fusion and a crowd or walk the streets III
search OF Inc kichmond papers, now III great
demand, and hard 10 get at a dime each
From the balcony OF Hubbai's hotel a strange
scene OF busy iIte Is visible, and the MANY
curious and amusing pictures one sees would
demand the lifetime OF a Uogarth to delln-
cate. Just OF the principal Lhorou-hlare the
people 1--we very quietly IN their houses ana
seem 10 ENJOY tie comforts OF home as hap
pity as n The army was thousand miles
away.
Of the llD proved health OF The army, and OF
the return Of a great number OF chose who
have been on sick leave. The cars never fail
to bring in more or less, and / believe the
regiments can now turu out more men to
battalion GriIi or dress parade than ut any
time tor the past two months. Contentmeui,
order, and quiet now reign III the army, and
one secs no slgAS of uiSOTdtrly conduct OF OF
INSTRUMENTATION.
/ learn that several men belonging to the
2th South Carolina reg iment were sent back
10 her camp day OF t~o ago from the adj
vance post. They were picket duty, and,
aui1ateJ with the best OF intentions, desired
70 stop the picket firing which is kept UP 50
constantly; bat IN doing 50 they violated II
ruIe OF tuc army, and were ordered 10 report
thtlGseINe under arrest. One morning the
Yankee piCkets came oUt with white flags
along their line, which was soon respon ded
10 from our side, and IN a short time visits
were exchanged between them. This, OF
course, could not be allowed, and our men
were Consequently rpprimapded. Their en-
Geavors 10 stop the barbatous practice of
piCktts shulkin& behind fences ana laying IN
rIdepitS, IN order 10 get a snot at the guards
opposite, WAS certainly Iauda bic, but ii IN iglt
nave been done possibly without Il meeting
Of an exchange Ci compliments. l regret that
some thing cannot be done TO stop Il warfare
So ighum3n and 50 proHtlts-, and one that
cannot f;li 10 stir up the worst passions OF
the human heart.
1t is q singular fact in the war that the
ladies are foremost in every thing, and thar
their patriotism and vigilance IN guarding
the il forests II the Government rs nnceasiug.
\ short time ago u well known newsp4 per
Tan, who has been for years severe tire
eater and strongly in favor of opening the
slave Trade, was arrested at the iastigatipn ol
Il female custodian OF the public welfare Is
n Suspi@ iOus character. 1T WIS with difficulty
he escaped mpTiSonmeHt although he showed
a clear record, and proved that ne had MADE
secession speeches ever since he was nrsI
elected 10 tie Legislature of his native State,
many years ago. With this circumstance III
mind, ! was much amused at an old lady
few miles below this place, VINO evidently
kept sharp look ont on al strangers who
~ Tht prove emlsSurltS of the Round
heads. the locality, tor convenience sake.
may lie called BrIstow. Scene--the
pariOr of hotel. jyaaRtjs pa~spH9-party
Vt gentlemen c0nvelel"g in one corner.
ladies' IN the other, who continually east
side Chances ~ 4 newspaper reporter who is
writing out his notes at the eentre-table.
Act Ist.--Reporter ohhvious TO ali about him.
Old lady walks back aud forward, casting
SUudrV chances on the strange hIsrCgl Vphtcs.
Gents stil converting. UId lady whispers
Significantly 10 her companions, when the
party put their heads together and converse
IN an ltuder-tone. Reporter still obivious.
Finally, ny work is comp leted, the notes 20
into Il side pocket. he book is folded, pen
wiped, and il kstand put away Reporter
prepares 10 leave the room 10y side entrance
but is intercepted by old lady, in behalf of
Oh iady.-"Hlve you been taking down
what we've been sayipg?'
Rpo 5tU.-'Ccrtainly not, madam" {ASide--
- what an cid - -
OH Lady, Gin terrupting) Sc Wen, then, mis-
ter, be you spy or anything -
Reporter very suddenly subsidies, but i'm
mediuteIy draws sundry papers containing
his record, which he spreads upon the table.
To make matters still stronger, he claims
lationsbip with JEFF. Davis, has known Aleck
stephens from his boyhood, went to school
with BeauregHrd, was 10y Johnston's side al
the taking OF hJpultep2C, and fought III the
battle OF Bull Run. Smiles OF satisfaction
gradually creep over all faces. Play con-
cludes by finding all parties satisfied, old
lady having introduced pretty black eyed
daughter 10 the rowing Bohemian and sus-
pccted spy.
One of The principal features OF the village
OF Fairfax is the great nulE Der of beautiful
horses that daily pass through 1t. Sanding
hundred TO a thousand daily, some Of them
the finest nimals that Virginia and Kentucky
can produce. Ii is true, the cavalry Is en-
cHmped not many miles away and are fire.
quently seen in the village; but, aside from
IT, everybody seems taken with the strong de-
sire of having fine horse. The finest and
best, pro badly, are those owned by gentlemen
from the extreme South, who have expended
large sums in order to get good animals
Many Of them are bloOded horses, or racers of
known reputation. This evening l met a
Georgia Major riding a racer well known on
the Southern turf, ana another mounted
on one of NiXen's finest colts. Colo
neis, Captains. and Lieutenants vie with
each other il the character of their stock
and so universal has the Juror become, that
the newspaper correspondents have been
drawn i'll 10 it. One OF these has purchased
. beautiful black mare, for which he gave
two hundred and fifty dollars--wonder
where lie got it Your "Own'' has a fine
bav ON which, like Il modern tlas he car
ries about with leIm, from place to place, in
the process OF dispensing ana collecting news,
the little world OF int lligenee which you
daily see in the correspondence from the Army
of The Potomac. / believe there are none OF
the mounted kin. of London Times Russell III
| this point, who, however well mounted, will
| make so good tine after day OF battle.
The necessity of being well mounted at
| this place is evident from the fact that We
have very long journeys to make sometimes
| to gain matter enough for Il sing para ph
The camps being sometimes twenty miles
apart, it Will be seen al Il glance that il is nc
| easy Is SIX 10 visit them. Alter journey on
horseback, over roads by no means inviting
| il will not be strange if l give you occa.
sionai letters remarkable for duIlness, or thai
| / should not write at all. II any battle occurs
| or amy facts that it is proper to give to thu
| world can be had, depend upon il you shall
| get them as soon IS the post Will allow. Fol
the present, hope for something better soon.
BOHEMIAN.
| From Hampton's Legion.
| Cdralry Erprdition-What the Prisoners Said
| Paiafi Casualty Fornard Increment, Sc
|