The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-12

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HxAporAsrERs JoaHsToN's ARMr,
WrsrnEs1gR. Va. JULY .. 81.

WIscHBslER. Va, July 9, 81
sr,tre 10 write news, au old habit of mine,
has come over Inc this morning, 80 have con
eInced to siveyonr readers the Dsaent o. .i
the he ,aiu arr tiers OF Gen. Johns .on's army,
as picked up by private In the army.
We'll. you have heard from reliable gentie-
,nsnu-news carriers I'm these tiues are al
waxs .reiiabIe." according to the papers-
now Johnston whipped Pat.ersons wnoie
army, when the armies were seven miles
au.rt-all abont the ankees crossing the 70.
,omac; but you didn't hear how calamity SsO
land some of them sick,) of Dol. Harper
FIFTH Virginia Regiment repuised 600 OF the
enemy three times, and kept them back Two
and a half hours, feat even General JACK
son WAS surprised at Lieut.: Col. Hartman
counted 20 d. I'D bodies of the enemy carried eff
the field in blankets, as he ordered the
r, giment to retire. Some OF the companies
fired 40 rounds, coolly and de libeI ately. Gen
omen Just from HagerstOU and Ma tinsbu G
say thai The enemy have buried l7S, and their
wounded aud killed must have been 800.
Capt Pendleion's ARTILLERY fired one round
through and through the whole CT the enemy e
colu mn, killing great number Lieut.-Coi.
Hartman, CT Augusta, acted with tho greatest
GOODNESS and bravery, AS did Col. Harper and
the whole regiment. Gen. Jackson was as
cool as a cucumber, writing orders, on b is
horse, while The balls few around him
like hail. That was all the fight. Our men
retired ia good order, losing only two and
taking five prise ners from the enemy. Pat
ieison's lying dispatch to Washington
makes it. out thai he gained tremendous
victory but, bah Yankees can't help lying
il is born in them and nourished by edu tation.
Our forces here were oILered out as coon as
the news OF the enemy's movements reached
us On Tuesday, July ID. That evening they
marched to Bunkers Hill, twelve miles, and
camped until the following moruing, when
they marched TO Darksvilie, six mics, aud
took q position to meet the Yankees, who
we're reported to be approaching with 80 900
men, but who We're sEugiy quartered III Mar
tinsburg.
Our troops were frequently draw up In or
der of battle, and always "fell in" as Jcyfuily
as the bridegroom hastens to the wedding;
but each alarm proved false. Once cur pick
cts were fired on, and all thought the ght ~
he nd, but tho enemy dared not approach,
though double our numbers. The enemy en-
trenched themselves at MaTtinsburg, and our
troops were eager 10 attack them, uncarln2
for odds; but Gen. J Johnston held them back
So, there was no fight, though we offered bat
tls 10 double our numbers tour days.
On Sunday, the lin, Gen. Johnston issued
a proclamation to the army, i'll which lie said
he knew it to be he desire of his command u
marth upon the enemy and drive them froai
MartinsbuTg he had no doubt that the at
Tempt would be successful, but the loss OF lite
wonld be grea ter than the object to be gained
would warrant. He lad for four days offered
oal tie 10 ine enemy, greatly superior III 1orce,
but the enemy declined, and there was ne
prospect of an attack. He concluded by
hoping, aud knowing, his brave command
would see the justice OF his movements and
obey his orders promptly, as they had always
done. The proclamation, Of which give only
the u bs lance gave pretty general satisfaction,
but il was with SD hearts that our gallant
boys came back to old quarters here, which
they did Sunday evening last.
Inc men stood the march and sleeping In
the open air, without tents, timely, and but
fe W are sick from 1t. Hundreds OF the sicz,
with imprudent bravery, deserted The hospi
tails and went out to join in the fight. Thus
ended this expedition 10 whip Patterson, and
various are The opinions OF 1t. All thlnk
J ohL ston acted prudentiy, but all regret
that we had 10 fight. Ana here we are sta
toned, all around this place, i'll what posi-
lions and ia what NUN beers it is not policy to
state.
The Yankee prisoners-some sixty-work
daily in the trenches" They are hard
locking set, but work we'll. They say the
first bread they got to eat since leaving home
was here. Old Abe fed them on spoiled her
rings and wurmy sea crackers. They COM
plsin greatly OF the heat say they were 60
iug home on the Ash, as their time was out,
and they will never fight against the South.
What liars they are Gen. Carson has TIE
militia out They are generally hue looking
men, and most of them have been armed -
TIE 35th Regiment, under Col. Robert Bald
win, is rapidly becoming perfectly organized
and vel, drilled. lie is ntriug in his exer-
tons to make them good soldiers, and deserves
great credit
The army here is going to "fall back no
fA1har without tight. Voices not loud, but
dee D, proclaim it. Sou therners from Georgia,
Mississippi ard Alabama, kentuckians, Ma
~ lauders and Eirginiana, are not going TO
leave the kind, the generous, the beautiful H.
dies of Winchester, who have exhaus tel every
device In Kindness to them, while sick or we'll,
to the mercies of old Abe'S miniOns, without i,
fight. The soldiers now in the hospitals re-
ce:Ve every attention from the Citizens, eSpe-
cially the ladies. Some of the sick are in pri-
hn u
and sons. The sick are generally improving,
but it is evident there have been too many
Young M. u. I" provided for' at the expense
Of the poor soldiers life. This should De RENE
died BY having a strict examination of all
surgeons, and reducing some hundreds to the
ranks and musket-
Six Sisters of Charity are here nursing the
sick, from Emmettsburg, Pa, and untirng in
their endeaVors 10 make the SICK soldier lot
eIdurabie.
The Kentuckians, the Maryland Eue, and
some Virginia companies. are without tents,
and it is a shame that they are NOT provided
by the Government. 1t would save valuab G
lives and have many more soldiers ready for
action by providing for their comfort. Can't
you stir the question 8 iittle7
The troops of this command are splendid!y
drilled, and very little complaint Is made, Il
any. of their conduct. They are gentlemen
and act as such.
Cant Il plan be fixed to give us better
bread Suppose requisition Is uiadS for a III
the good BAKERS IN the army, then one Tor
bricklayers. Bricks are plenty, ovens are soon
put up, and the bakers are numerous enough
10 give us an abundance of eatable bread -
acquisitions are made for carpenters and
blacksmiths. Are not our diges lions as wor-
thy OF "rPqusi ion" as horses hOofs and
wagon wheels BY stirring this matter up
and having this plan adopted, you will help
to promote both the health and efficiency OF
the service.
But my letter is too long The enemy, it is
Iumored. are approaching. Their pickets are
at our late camp, (Darksville.) 10 miles from
this place. 1t is said lie is 80, 900 strong. Let
them come We are ready for anything but
the everlasting "fall back"
COL Coleman, who was hurt by thu explo-
sion Of the artillery wagon, is rapidly re-
covering, and will get well. All quiet here,
and nothing but drill, forever drill. All pray
for one grand fight. BOOMERANG.