Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
presentation of battle flags.
Camp Hill, near Centreville, Thursday night, Nov. 28, '61.
As I expect that your "own" is still enjoying his explorations of the ruins of Dumfries, I've concluded to send you a brief account of the great battle that didn't take place here to-day.
That we were to have had a fight to-day seemed a fixed fact.
Private Smith had told Private Brown that Corporal Johnes had told him that Lieut. White had heard Capt. Harrison say, that he heard Col. Grundy say, that Gen. Ewell had told him, that General Johnston had said, ‘"there would certainly be a fight on Thursday, the 28th of November," and of course there was no getting around such good authority.’
Well, I rose about my usual hour this morning (the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry did not awaken me and, everything being as quiet as usual about camp,) concluded to go over to the fortifications and see what was going on there.
As I approached I saw troops drawn up in line at several points along the breastworks and at first did not know what to make of it. I soon found, however, that it was an exhibition of a very different character from that which Dame Rumor had provided for to-day.
I saw before me all ‘"the glorious pomp and circumstance of war,"’ instead of the ‘"grim visaged monster"’ of the blood-stained field.
Gen. Longstreet's Division was drawn up in the form of a hollow square to receive from the hands of Gen. Beauregard the battle flag, the origin of which is so beautifully described in your yesterday's paper.
Securing a position on the breastwork near by, there burst upon my enraptured vision a scene which a master hand might delight to paint.
Before me stood Johnston, Beauregard, Smith, Van-Dorn, Longstreet, and other gallant officers too numerous to mention, surrounded by brave sons of Louisiana, Georgia, Carolina, and the Old Dominicans, who had won imperishable glory on the memorable 21st.
As far as the eye could reach, hillside and valley were whitened with tents, and the smoke from our encampments carried gracefully upwards, while in the distance the Blue Mountains peacefully sleeping in the West added not a little to the effect.
The exercises were opened by Adjt. Gen. Jordan, who, in a brief but eloquent address, charged the men to preserve from dishonor the flags committed to their keeping.
Rev. Dr. Harrold, (a refugee from Georgetown,) then rode forward, and after an eloquent allusion to the emblem of the flag, (the Southern Cross,) offered up a most fervent prayer to the ‘"God of battles,"’ to which many a heart in that vast throng responded a deep amen!
The officers then dismount and the Colonels of the different regiments coming forward to the centre, Gen. Beauregard, in a few remarks (which, unfortunately I could not hear,) presented each with a banner, and was eloquently responded to. The regiments then came to a "present," and received their flags with deafening cheers.
I never witnessed greater enthusiasm than that which followed.
The air was rent with cheers for Johnston, Beauregard, Smith, Longstreet, &c. There was music from four bands; and the whole conspired to make one feel ‘"who would not be a soldier."’ It will take several weeks of hard picketing to wear away the impression produced.
There were similar scenes at other points.
So much for to-day's fight.
I believe, however, that private Smith has concluded that he was only mistaken in the day, and that next Tuesday is the appointed time for the great battle.
Some of Stuart's cavalry captured, at Vienna, on yesterday, 28 Hessians, with their horses and equipments.
That does not look much like a Yankee advance; and I confess, that I am skeptical about there being one in this quarter.
But we shall see what we shall see. W. 