The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-29
or THE DAILY DIspArcH. J
CgxTRRvILLR, Nov. Is, 1851.


CgxTREvnLB, Nov. Is, 1851.
Editors Dispasck I'm a communication sent
you from ,Charlo ottesville, l stated report
current there that Mr.. s. w. Ficklin had pro-
am happy to inform you that he returned
home iastTuesday, after being detained long
er than he expected in the enemy's lines.
! came TO Centreyille on Thursday, and
here h Ad ram BILE in the camps and around
the fortifications erected in this vicinity.
have no right to say how many there are, or
how strongly the army here is posted, There
are soldiers enough, / believe, TO whip the
late It. Let II come whenever General
Mcclellan pleases, and our mum bers will
report them their full strength.
1t is magnificent sight to stand on the
parapet OF one of the fortifca tons near Cen
treville, and see as it Were spread out before
you city eneom mpassing several miles. Here
Ia a larger army than your correspondent
ever believed be would live to behold en-
standing his eyes see large batteries on every
side, and " any quantity of regiments Of
brave and patriotic men armed to the teeth
and clad In arI.Sr ssaax e . s. e e die naSi.a
lies now deserted, fields laid waste, and for
ests destroyed; yet it is hard to realize that
war with its sad realities exists in this once
happy and prosperous country. May tn e
great Ruler of the Universe continue to favor
and bless the Confederate States as He has
done up to the present time, and make US q
people loving holiness. humbly and devoutly
serving Him. The recognition of Ieav ven is
above that of all the Potentates and princes
Of the earth.
On Friday last the three regiments of Gen.
Philip st. George Cookies Brigade, 3d., the
18th, commanded by Col. r. f. Withers, OF
Danviile; 10th, M 'jor Henry CAN'T, Of Albe-
marie, and the 2Sth, Col Robert Preston of
Montgomery, paraded in full strength to well
come the Sth regiment, Col Eppa Hunton, of
Prince William, which had been assigned to
ID nr,rn ndn hon Ia h.
headquarters of the l9pn regiment, the
Bloody Sth," as Col. Huntoa's corps is de-
sgnated, was received by the left and
marched TO the right, when they took posi-
ton. the band of the 10Th regiment and the
m osic of the other regiments playing as il
marched by the line in column The three
receiving regiments then passed by the Sth in
column OF companies, after which, General
Cooke, in i brief and pertinent address, well
coined the Sth regiment TO position in the
Sd Brigade, in the course of which he said
they mad distinS Suisbed themselves at Ma
nassas, aud covered themselves with glory at
the battle of Leesburg." Sol H. acknow-
LEGGED the compliment by the usual military
salute after which the officers of the three reg.
ments were introduced by Gen Cooke TO Col
II. The brigade then took up the lire ofmarch
for their respective quarters. The 18th regi-
ment, whose speciai duty it was to escort the
sth regiment TO their new camping ground,
at the word Of command from their Colonel,
gave three rousing cheers for their new asso
ciateS, which was returned with yigor by the
Sih regiment.
To give you some idea of what is necessary
for the transportation of ammunition, bag
gage, &c, of single regiment, will state
that twenty eight baggage wagons, each
drawn by four horses, composed the train of
this regiment. The men were noble band
who had gloriously fought and conquered the
enemy in 'wo hard contested battles, and they
will, most assuredly, fight vaiorously on all
occasions whenever the enemy shows him
self.
On Saturday visited Gen. J Z B. Stuart
at his headquarters, about five miles below
Centreville. On my way thither saw many
houses vacant, the windows destroyed, sta
bles and barus from which the planks had
been torn Off, and farms desolated. For miles
near Centreville the fences aud land marks
have been destroyed and carried off.
Gen. S. is perhaps the youngest man in the
Southern Confederacy who has attained to
such high position as he so worthily fills,
having only reached his 2Sth year last Feb
BILE, and gentlemanly. An inferior may ap-
proach him with ease, as he displays none of
that hauteur which some officers assume. He
dispatches business promptly, and at the
same time cOnverses with his visitors in 8
social and friendly style that at once secures
confidence and commands respect. While
sitting in the business room OF Gen. S., his
Sergeant announced a visitor; he WAS admit
ted-a youth Of perhaps 19 years, the Serg't
Major of Colonel Ransom's North Carolina
Cavalry Intelligence beamed from his bright
flashing eyes, and after his report was made,
General 5. and he conversed with as much
familiarity and freedom if they were
equals in rank, and then followed an invita-
tion for both of us to dine with him. After
dinner, another visitor came into the Gene
rails office while he was asleep; he took his
seat by the sleeper, spoke to him, and he
opened his eyes, attended to the business de-
Sired and then in Il twinkling was again
in the land of nod. In less than five minutes
Generals. was up again, and took us to the
10 n Sbnyr ryod
Virginia Regiment returning from picket
duty; he then showed us formidable Bel
gian:l2 pound rifle cannon, which had been run
through the blockade, and was safely stand
ing in front of his house ready to speak for
itself whenever the enemy visited his quar-
ters. Long may he live to serve his country
and win unfading honors and glory.
On Sunday, witnessed the burial of one
Of the members of Captain Crisps Artillery
the band of the Ninetsenth Regiment played
8 mournfel requium, the cannon doomed
over his grave, and the sod was turned over
his remains. A few months since, l stood by
the grave of my oldest son, who had died in
the service of his country, when similar
honors were paid. / could not hslp dropping
a tear over the grave of this soldier, whe was
doubtless a dutiful son, fond, afectiOnate
brother, good citizen and patriot.
To day witnessed a grand and imposing
scene--it was n O less than the whole army in
line. This was done to assign the different
regiments the positions they were to occupy
Gems Johnston, Beauregard, and Longstreet
passed in front of the entire column. The
day was cold and comfortable, snow hav-
ing fallen, and ice an inch thick was formed
the previous night. Before the Generals
made their appearance, two of the regimen is
in line near Fort Beauregard, where l was
standing, gave specimen of the YanSees
running at the battle Of Bull Run. II was
truly laughable scene, and created shouts OF
applause. 1t was "tall running" and a few
of the mimickers had long legs and made ra-
pid and astonishing strides.
For the past five days l have bivouacked
with the 10th Virginia regiment, commanded
by Lieut.. Col. J. b. Strange, who is at pres
ent sick with the jaundice, f''yaller jan :
ders,' as the disease is usually called,) whie h
is prevailin 6 In the army. 1t is endemic
blue mass and the usual medicines do not ef-
feet cure. while mustard plasters applied to
the stomach and cupping will accomplish the
object.
With your permission, will hereafter give
you sketch of some things in camp life that
l have seen while among my friends, neigh
Dors and kinfolk, who have come up here to
fight the battles of us who stay at home, and
perhaps think and say, too, what lazy fel.
lows the soldiers are. Gould the grumblers
come and see for themselves, as have done,
the five miles OF fortifcations and breast
works which the army has thrown up, they
would never utter another complaint during
the war.
This morning 1t. was rumored that a fight
was expected by the picket, THE 10Th reg1.
mens is now on that duty,) and that Gen.
Stuart in tended making an advance on the
enemy. As the Sth regiment was also sent
early this morning on picket, 1t gave come
color to the report; bat ] flnd rumors and
reports here are like those which hoar about
in the cities and towns-they have no good
foundation. This evening learn the enemy
At Evansport are constructing pontoon
bridges to cross the Occoquon. This, too
may be mere rumor. It 10 evident that ths
Yankee nation are anxious for forward
movement. MoHrIoHLLo.
Incidents sf the Bat tie or Leesburg.