From Norfolk.
Various Departures — camp cookery — soup — personal Items — drowned sailor — a patriotic young man — shooting at long Range — Charitable fund.
[Special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Capt. Milligan, the signal officer, publishes a notice that whenever a flag of truce steamer leaves for Old Point, it will be indicated by a white flag at headquarters. One was a float to the breeze some time yesterday.
The question of a serviceable change in the rations and fare of the soldiers is beginning to be mooted. Whatever is most wholesome with only the simple cookery that can be given in the hurried movements of a camp, is best for the soldier's use. A good, honest pot is the most easily managed utensil of the impedimenta of an army, and it would not require a Soyer or a Delmonico to prepare a digestible meal in one. The French theory: "C'est la soupe que fait le soldar," is worthy of full experiment among our volunteers. Good soup can almost always be made with slight skill; but other cookery depends entirely on talent, time, place, and circumstance.
The friends of Wm. H. Parker, Esq., our faithful and vigilant Inspector-General, under the inspection laws of Virginia, are delighted to see him upon the streets again, after a desperate shake from the warrior's worst foe — protracted sickness. Mr. Parker was in the earlier brushes in Western Virginia, with his personal friend, General Wise; but undue exposure in the campaign brought on a severe attack of disease, which has nearly cost him his life. The services of Mr. P. in the blocking of Norfolk harbor, with the Yankee ships at the Gosport Navy-Yard, are well remembered.
The dangerous condition of Gen. Wise is melancholy intelligence for his numerous friends and admirers in this vicinity. A part from his being the representative from Princess Anne in the Convention, and his high political distinctions, the chivalric spirit which he has shown in the war, and his attractive personal bearing towards those who know him, have endeared him to thousands of our people. It is to be hoped that his valuable life will be spared for many years of service to his country.
Captain Fentress, of the Princess Anne Cavalry, in his last report to headquarters, states that the body of a drowned man was found on the coast, last Monday, about five miles south of Cape Henry light-house. It was dressed in a sailor uniform; and he supposes that the man belonged to the schooner which was in company with the Orion lately wrecked on her way to Hatteras.
The Day Book, of this morning, states that Mrs. Margaret Carr applied for, and obtained from the War Department at Richmond, a passport for herself and family to go North. Her son, (Abraham Brown,) whose name was on the certificate, was very indignant when the fact was made known to him. He peremptorily refuses to leave the South, and has requested the editor to state that the pass was obtained without his knowledge or consent. His patriotism is worthy of commendation.
The different Generals at Old Point, from General Wool down, have wasted a good deal of money, from time to time, in powder and ball experiments from the Rip Raps, and with long guns, at Sewell's Point. I would not like to foot their bill of waste for fifteen thousand dollars. Yesterday, the Federals were at it again, throwing shells in the same direction; but it proved a bootless business, as most of the missiles failed of their mark by something like a mile. One might as well ‘"be a dog and bay the moon,"’ as to practice futilities of this empty sort.
The Ladies' Aid Society again acknowledge the receipt of a bonus, in the shape of $500, as the net proceeds of a concert, given by the amateur minstrels of Company F and the Independent Greys, (both of them Norfolk companies,) assisted by the Georgia Regimental Band, for the benefit of the families of needy volunteers. More will yet come from like efforts for the same good cause.
