Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
from Manassas Junction.
Camp Walker, Manassas Junction, July 6th, 1861.
We are still enjoying ourselves hugely, waiting for orders, drilling in the school of the battalion, loading and firing, &c., &c. We raw militia have got it into our heads that we are progressing with astonishing rapidity in all the duties of the soldier, and are vain enough to believe that we have not only got a Colonel and field officers who know a thing or two, but that we are proficient enough to do a thing or two just as it ought to be done.
The regiments of the Third Brigade now here, viz: the Fifth S. C. and Seventeenth and Eighteenth Miss., were reviewed by General Beauregard and staff on Thursday evening, and all expressed themselves as highly delighted at the appearance and manœuvres of the troops.
I believe, however, the Eighteenth Mississippi Regiment was not reviewed in line.
The General and staff rode through the camp and were rather reviewed by the regiment themselves.
Enough, however, was seen of this noble body of men to satisfy the general officers that it is composed of the right kind of material.
In fact, this regiment will compare favorably with any I have seen from any quarter, and my belief is that Brigadier General Jones will have no cause to regret that he has the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Mississippi Regiments under his command.
The only excitement we have had since I last wrote you was caused by the brilliant meteor that made its appearance on Thursday evening, a little after sundown.
It was one of the most magnificent specimens of nature's fireworks I ever witnessed, and like its predecessor, the comet, has the reputation of being the harbinger of some grand events.
Its course was southerly, indicating that like the Israelites of old, the chosen people of God, we will have a pillar of fire by night, if needs be, to light up our path to victory and to glory.
With such omens and such soldiers as we have in the field, we will ‘"follow our leaders and fear no evil."’ Dan. 