From the Peninsula.
a hard-road to travel — the 15th Virginia--camp life, &c., &c.[correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
Camp Deas Young's Mill, Warwick co., Feb. 22d.
The road to the Golden City is typically represented as being one difficult to traverse; but if it is more so than the one which leads from Yorktown to this place, the writer of this is quite sure he will never attain companionship with St. Peter.
From the incessant rains of late, the roads are almost impassable for horse, foot and gig, and our teamsters have a hard task in the transportation of articles for camp comfort.
A few days ago a team was stalled in one of the roads that runs westward, and a beast attached to the train of wagons was almost entirely submerged by mud and water-so entirely so, that the animal died as quickly as did the stud of the master of Ravenswood in the quicksands of Scotland.
The winter quarters of the 15th Va. regiment, however, are so securely erected that we old defiance to the ire of the storm-king.
Our manifold log-cabins present the appearance of a thriving village, and we possess every requisite for the comfort of the soldier.
An extensive forrest that skirts ‘"our village"’ yields us excellent fire-wood, which may be had for the getting, and as I now write the ‘"yule log"’ is blazing cheerfully on the hearth.
The mess of which I am a member, (the ‘ "Spotswood"’) has just finished its evening meal, and ‘"the boys"’ are passing away time in different pursuits: one is completely enshrouded in smoke from his Bethel pipe, others are chatting of by-gone days and their pleasant associations, while Pigyoke, "the most ethereal of all, is singing ‘"Then you'll remember me." ’
There is no news of importance on the Peninsula.
Our scouts and pickets are extremely vigilant in the performance of their arduous duties, and if fall positions were as safely guarded as ours, the newspapers would never have occasion to chronicle defeat from undue watchfulness.
The battle of Bethel seems to have acted as an opiate upon the nerves of our adversary, and he has ever since slept securely within the strongholds of his fortress.
The Northern newspapers, a few weeks ago, contained a grandiloquent account of the successful operations of a body of cavalry upon Great Bethel.
The mountain gave birth to a mouse.
It seems they rode up as far as Great Bethel and derivate our pickets the design of this pulsant hand being to set on fire the church which brought up to their minds such direful associations; but, before they could accomplish their sacrilegious purpose, the hasty marching of our troops reminded them that another defeat might possibly await them.
So they bestride their horses and were soon back to Newport News.
The wretch who shot the gallant Colonel Dreux has been killed in a skirmish.
It is stated that a member of the War wick Bean regards was the avenger of his cruel death; but I do not know how true the statement may be, as false rumors are continually on the wing.
A note-book was found upon the person of the Federalist which gave an account of Colonel Dreux's death and the date of the month he fell.
The Young Guard are very healthy and in fine spirits.
Their vacant Captaincy has not yet been fire. C. B. 