Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
from Manassas Junction.
Manassas Junction. Camp Walker, 5th Reg't, S. C. V., June 30, 1861.
All is quiet in our camp to-day, and has been since the fight on last Sunday night, when one cow fell mortally wounded, at the first fire, by a sentinel whose vigilant imagination, after calling her three times without a response, conceived in the dark shade a Yankee in cow's skin, a la mode the Trojan horse, endeavoring to enter our lines; and, intent upon immortal glory, in futuro, and beefsteak in presento, he let slip his deadly rifle and ‘"fetch her,"’ heels up. The alarm having subsided, and the smoke of the battle mingled with the somere shade which deceived the faithful guard, he was ordered to be arrested, and the cow to be skinned.
On trial: Plea, ‘"heard of Trojan horse and Stich like."’ Our excellent Col. Jenkins, no less generous than strict, forgave the sentinel, with a kind admonition, and sentenced the cow to be removed hence, as unworthy to be eaten, having but little flesh on her bones.
We have suffered immensely with dust until to-day, when refreshing showers relieved us of that post.
The prospect of a fight at this post is as uncertain as the thousand and one rumors of war which find, their way to the ears of the credulous lovers of gossip, and soon become ‘"three black crows."’ He who undertakes to conjecture as to the probabilities of a fight, continued hostilities, or speedy peace, soon finds himself occupying the unenviable position of a ‘"weather wise,"’ who always knew it was going to hall, snow, or storm, a few seconds after it began.
10 P. M.--The orders to prepare three days provision, issued this evening to our regiment at dress parade, indicates an expected movement in some direction; but whether it is in anticipation of a fight or a mere precaution to be ready to take up the line of march at a moment's warning, so as not to delay transports, which are over-taxed, to send troops forward, is all conjecture.
But be what it may, our camp to-night, (Camp Walker,) Sunday as it is, presents a scene of cheerful and active preparation, amounting almost to a jollification, at the idea of moving, not that our men are tired of camp life, but because there is a hope of active employment.
Our regiment seems to prefer to be fighting to being stationed anywhere.
One of our bashful young men was writing a letter for a married soldier to his wife, and was so delighted on hearing the order that he immediately closed the letter by saying ‘"kiss all the children and believe me your loving husband"’ and signed his own name instead of his friend's to whose ‘"dear wife"’ he had addressed the letter, and did not think of his mistake until he had sent the letter to the post-office.
The monotony of camp life does not suit our hot and impatient Southern blood; they want action, excitement, and my word for it, they will give you a good account of themselves whenever called in the field. Dan.
