New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-11-07
The Coming RattIes

The war correspondent of the Savannah Repub-
lican furnishes the following brief and solderlike
address of Col. Thomas, of the 18th Georgia Regi
ment, to the men of his command, in anticipation
of an early battle on the line of the Potomac:
.Soldiers-The appearances surrounding Us in
dicate we will have a fight in a few days-perhaps
in one day. We have been mistaken so often,
however, that will not venture to prophecy with
perfect certainty.
I. like yourselves have never been in battle. It
will be novel sensation to me as to you But by
inquiry among those who have seen and felt it, l
have learned something that perhaps would be
useful and interesting to you. The great object
our enemies seem to have in view is to invent some
means or find some plan by which they can kill US
without being hurt themselves If we adopt some
method to circumvent this single feature OF their
tactics, they helpless, and we have them Mt our
mercy. The sole thing, therefore, necessary is to
90 up close. We are told some of the rifles you
have in your hands will kill man half mile.
Don't you believe it; it is all stulf. NO gun VIII
hit man three hundred yards with any certainty.
You 90 up within hundred yards or less, and then
your ularkmanship will tell Get close to them,
stand firm aim well, and not single regiment they
| have will stand before you five minutes
| But their artery-their terrible big guns-we
hear they have two hundred of the finest pieces Of
artillery in the world. Well, hope it is true-we
want the guns-we are entitled to thenl-we know
how to use them, and they dont-and Providence
never intended that fine cannon nor anything else
should be held by those who understood not their
use After diligent inquiry, can hear OF but one
| single man on our side killed by their cannon at
the battle of Manassas Plains. Providence fought
! with us at Manassas. He will fight with us again
| if we are brave. He loves valor, and He loves q
valiant soldier. Il will help US, but He will not
| drop cannon down to us out of the skies. He e&.
poets to help us by putting it into the hearts OF
our enemies to bring cannon IN our reach, and then
| He expects us to take them.
| Another marked feature of the tight, if we gel
into one you will find to be the whistllng of the
| shells. Our enemies have succeeded admirably II
| constructing harmless instrument, Which makes
| curious and unpleasant noise, and has this won
| derful pecuarity, it seems to be coming stralgh
| at every man who hears it. Now, we know it cam
be coming at but one man, or, at most, TWO ahc
the truth is it is coming at nobody. Yon have
nothing to do but to pay close attention to youl
hind sight and the whstlings of the shells will
after a little become rather small matter IN the
great drama you acting. The man who hears
the thunder is never struck by the lightning. The
great implement of death in war you hold in you
hands-the musket and the bayonet-and you
| enemies have none better or more terrible. ,s
Another feature of the fight will be the falling
of the killed and wounded. It is trying thing II
a man to see his friends fall side by side, and ou
first impulse is to carry them to the rear. But, re
| member the best way to save your wounded frien
is not for five or six to leave the ranks, and thu
| weaken and break your line. This will insure hi
destruction and your own by the trampling an
| bayonets of your enemies. Your wounded friend
OuSHt 10 Ut Ill Tile rear, Jou ouSue w pe pt
tween them and the foe. Now, the plainest an
most effectual way'to do this is to close up you
ranks and advance on the enemy.
Soldiers, you fight for your liberty, your cour
try, your wives and your children. You cannc
afford to be defeated. Your fate would be chew
ers of wood and drawers of water II to an enem
you abhor. Your enemies are bought with prlc
fifty dollars per head bounty and large pay il
duce them to enter the ranks to destroy yor
rights. Can you yield to such foe? With on
powerful blow let us crush them, and return HON
| to our families and friends .-