[correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
the anticipated battle — military ardor — the balloon — the militia law, &c. Camp near Centreville, December 10th, 1861.
The public has been on tip-toe, expecting a grand fight ‘"hereabouts"’ for some time — They have been standing in this attitude too long to be agreeable.
Suppose they come down, flat-footed, and be relieved by the thought that the Yankees have practiced a Yankee trick on us; and, as the enemy have not come, it is to be hoped that we will be excused for not fighting them.
As to the desire of the soldiers to get into a fight here, I can safely say it is universal, and almost amounts to enthusiasm.
Never, since the troops of this branch of the army entered the field, have they burnt with more military zeal than they have during the few weeks past, while they were anticipating a battle of a magnitude greater and grander by far than any yet fought upon this continent.
If McClellan designs to advance, there is nothing to prevent him from doing so, unless it is a distrust in the ability of his forces to prevent him from being superceded.
The weather has been remarkably mild, and the roads are in excellent order.
Heaven seems to favor the advance, and earth opens the way, yet the cannon sounds in the distance, and there is no indication of any grand move within reach of our guns.
To-day, while General Longstreet was drilling his Division, Professor Lowe's balloon was seen in the direction of Mason's Hill.
This is the first time that we have observed the balloon from Centreville.
That the militia law, as passed by the Convention, subject to the repeal or ratification of the Legislature, is unjust, no one can deny.
If the Legislature adopts a law so unequal in its operations, the complaint against the injustice of it will be so great as to chill the military ardor of some of the most patriotic men that are now in the field, and the evil will be felt throughout the whole war to such a degree as in a great measure to destroy the efficiency of the present volunteers.
The motion of Mr. Nash, in the Senate of Virginia, meets with the cordial approbation of the soldiers in camp.
It authorizes the Governor to draft from the militia Virginia's quota to the Confederate States, exempting the present volunteers after having served twelve months, and providing by law a suitable bonus to such of those as may reenlist after their present term expires.--
This law operates well for all ages subject to military duty, and if adopted, thousands upon thousands of those who are now in the
field, actuated by the same patriotic impulses that first caused them to enlist, will again rally to their country's need with an unchilled ardor and a devotion prompted by the noblest feelings of the human heart.
In this war, waged between the North and the South, the soldier is contending for the right of equality.
The State of Virginia appeals to her sons to sacrifice their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in defence of a nationality founded upon even-balanced justice, and shell the Mother of States, at the first dawn of our new born nationality, be so forgetful of what is right as to violate a principle in defence of which she offers freely her treasure, and pours out the blood of her best citizens.
That it may not be charged to the discredit of the author of what has been said in the foregoing remarks, he will simply state that be fortunately belongs to the ‘"reserve, "’ and therefore has no other reason to desire the repeal of the ordinance of the Convention than to see justice meted out fairly and the good of the country promoted.
He intends to ignore all classification, and before he will go back under the tyranny that now reigns in the Lincoln domains, he will live upon bread and water, and continue to enjoy the liberty of fighting the Yankees.
H*****, 18th Va. Vols.
P. S.--A soldier by the name of Burgess committed suicide a few days ago in the 9th South Carolina Regiment.
He was sitting in the commissary tent at the time, guarding the provisions The circumstances go to show that it was a deliberate act, as his shoe and sock on one foot had been taken off, and his brains blown cut by placing the muzzle of his gun just above his eyes His friends could give no reason for so rash a step.
It is supposed that he was tired of life, and had concluded to try the realities of another world.
This is the second instance, in a few days, of such deplorable waste of life.
Men in war become more reckless of their lives, and attempt, through a mistaken notion, to relieve themselves of a burden too heavy to bear.
H*****. 