The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-01
tFor ths Richmond Dispatch.l
A L.ady's Recreatiers In Camp-n.easant In.
c1deUts.

June 20, 1851.
To the Edftars Of the Dfspatch. am we'll
aware that you have had letters nnufnerable
from Manassas Junction and tts vicinity, but
j do not thiuk that you have as yet received
any account of the hospitafities SO literally
displayed towards ladies and other chancs
visitors. We are party of refugees, whose
fayarite aYrn semen. in to drive down ~ bat
TALON drill and dress pag,de towards sunset,
and afterwards 10 take tea in the different
tents You wonld be amused to see the unique
entertainments to which we have several
times been invited. In thu charity OF my
heart, only wish that some of the other
girls In Virginia could participate in these fes-
tivities. Imagine party Of ladies in sonnees
and f'uttering ribbons, and gentlemen la ani-
form, grouped around rough board tanle,
drinking coffee from tln-cups. with pewter
spoons, and doing justice TO heterogeneous
collection Of edihles heaped thereupon in pic
tuTasque Coufusion-giass Jars of preserves
and tin plates OF broiied chicken, in loving
in staposition, with beef tongue and pound
cake--the whole scene lit By itary candle.
in q wooden block for a candlestic i must
say, however, in justice to the ANA teur SoYers
thar the bread, etc, which / have on
srch Occasions was q ute worthy Of the kitchen
of 2 first rate Airginia housewife, while the
protusion with which we were entertained
was only equalled by the cordiaiity OF our re-
ceptson. The novelty. of course, Is decidedly
agreeable to young ladies wearied out with
ballroom and town gaieties, who for aomc
time past haye sighed for " fresh fields and
ample -llowanca Of eranlettad ndrnirprs-
which belleshp, unfortunately for Us, Is,
tear, chiefly owing to the rarity OF such
50 angel visitors in the camp--and the distin-
gni she'd attention paid us by the digni itafies,
combine 70 maze our visits to Camp Pickens
among thu most pleasant episodes of our
lives.
One evening last week WAS spsnt At the
marquee OF the chivairous Colonel NJ, of
- Regiment. We enioyed IL immensely,
can assure you; and afterwards the band oat
in the moonlight discoursing exquisite opera
melodies until a iata hour, gave an added
charm TO the pleasures Of the an tertainment.
Uus would think tEat this is not a time Tor
merry -u3king or enjoyment, and indeed be-
fore we found ourselves in the vicinity OF Ma
nassas, nothing could have equalied this lugu-
bri0us expression of orr faces and our general
down hearledne bot, once here, fear and
depression ayaunti IL q utterly impossible
not 10 be cheered by the baatnInE faces t-s
iHept on every side, or not to be infected by
the general spirit of confluence ai.d certainty
OF success which ssnmates our soldiers. There
is some thing so irresistbly attractive, too, liz
being arrested At every turn by q severe lock-
in1, sentinel, with bis bayonet pointed in ones
face, and IN having to be escorted out or camp
after night by "a tTienG with the counter
sign -
/ never thought. n my f,eq uent passiDga by
the Junction, that old MANASSAS would ever
assume so delightfully."- wariiae an exterior
One nescr-taiiins source OF amusement, ia our
conversations with the different soldiers sta
tfonAst as z guard IN CnT VICtnDIF. we were
mnch eoified, Il few nights since, ny the patri-
otle outburst Of an 1rishraan, who seemed to
be the acknowledged wit of his party. His
brogus was of the broadesJ description, and
we could not bat smile at the unction with
which he gaze the toast May the Confide-
"a aisle pick out the eyes OF the haste Lin
cola Ia accordance with their
specttulty urged request, ve sang tbe " Mar
sellaise' Tor 3 group OF them: anG, i5 the last
words rang out npon the midnight air, " Lib
erty oI Death there vas an enthusiastically
responsive cheer, and one man spranE IN his
ieet, -Aciai.u,ilg, - ii you cou!a sing tnar 10
as Wa SO ga 10 battle. there is not 3 man
who would not only cut his way through the
Yankees, but woaid eat them, tor ~
But, seriously speaking, II is the -frost in
spiIinS thiag Imaginable TO ses tis deter
mined front presan ted by our men. GRE and
ali, and TO witness he unquench3hie hatred,
Of the North, and the burning desire 70 avenge
Ilse wrongs Of tbe South, which ha8 become
a liked princi pie with them. We hear some
times : sigh, and sea e tasrful rye, as the
thought OF home aEd loved ones rises before
them. bat there il lnanful putting aside OF
private ,rjefa, and g steady resolve 10 do or
die, which makes tha syrnpa hetic blood
course il our veins tud rtIiSoS rs TO re-
alize more than ever before what We women
ot Virginia owe 10 these men whose lives are
I'm paril!ed in cur defence, and in whom,
liz Z, q God ana orr glorious commanders,
Davis, Lee. Ba3uresarn ana Johnston, we
trlst 70 res toTa TO us the homes from which
wa have been forced TO hy. Exile.