Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
Bedford — spirit of the people — Bountiful Crops.
I conversed with a gentleman direct from Franklin county, several days since, and he told me that not long since a report reached there that the enemy had penetrated as far as Buford's Depot, in Bedford county, whereupon the sturdy husbandmen in old Franklin shouldered their trusty rifles; he himself, as also many others, left their work, and, without any change of their working active, proceeded to a place designated, where near a hundred had congregated and were about starting to meet the enemy, when a dispatch messenger arrived, informing them that the report was false. It seemed, he said, that they were sorry of it, for they were sure of a victory, and if man is capable of great feats, they were determined that not one of the Yankees should be left to tell the tale of woe. How can the North ever expect to conquer such men, who are determined to exemplify that stanza, with which all are conversant,--
‘ "Freedom's battle oft begun, Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son, Though baffled oft, is ever won? "
’ The wheat is now all cut. From the appearance of it I am inclined to think that the Ape of the Hesperian domain will fall short in his calculations of starving us out. The wheat will yield well, and that, too, of the best quality. Oats will make an average crop. Corn has a fine appearance, though it was injured some by the drought. The continual rains of the last few weeks will make a fine corn crop yet. We should praise the bestower of all good for these, His manifestations of approbation on our cause. Pure.
