Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-11-28
eurpsnt Gapirs,
A PlTHY SPEECH.

sensible address, delivered by Col.
!, Thomas, of the 18th Regiment
Georgia Volunteers, on the morn
ing of the 18th October, at the
Camp, near Centreville, Va:
Soldiers: The appearances sur
rounding us indicate 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 prophesy with perfect
certainty.
! [, like yourselves, have never
been in battle. 1t will be as nov
el Il sensation to me as to YOU
But by inquiry among those who
have seen and felt it, | have learn
ed 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 to find some plan, by
which they can kill us without
hurt to themselves. If we adopt
some method to circumvent this
single feature of their tactics, they
are helpless, and we have them at
our mercy. The sole thing, there
fore, necessary is to 60 up close
I'VE are told some OF the rifles in
their hands will Kill a man half
mile. Don't you believe it, it is
all stuff. No gun will kill a man
that Ear, and if it would, no one
Ican hit a man three hundred yards
with any certainty. You so up
within q hundred yards or less,
and then your craftsmanship viii
tell. Get close to them, stand
firm, aim well, and not a single
regiment viii stand before you five
minutes. ,.
But their artillery-their terri
J bic 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 them-we
know how to use them and they
don n't-and Providence never. In
/ tended that the fine cannon nor
anything else, should be held by
those who understand not their
use. After diligent inquiry, lean
hear Of but one single man on our
side killed by their cannon at the
battle of Manassas Plains. Prov
idence fought with us at Manassas.
He will fight with us again if we
are brave. he loves valor, and he
loves a valiant soldier. He will
help us, but lie will not drop can
mon down to us from the skies
lie expects to help us by putting
it into the hearts of enemies to
bring cannon in our reach, and
there EIe expects US TO take them'
+ Another marked feature of the
fight, if we get into one, you will
find to be the whistling of the
shells. Our enemies have sue
ceeded admirably in constructing
a harmless instrument, which
makes a curious and unpleasant
noise, and it has this wonderful pc
culiarity; it seems to be coming
straight at every man who hears
it. Now, we know it can't bt
coming at but one man, or at mosi
two; and the truth is, it is coming
at melody. You have nothing tc
do but pay close attention to your
hind sight, and the whistling of
shells viii, after little become
rather small matter in the grant
drama you are acting. The maj
who hears thunder is never struck
by lightning. The great imple
.ment of war you hold in youl
/ hands--the mnsket and the bay
!. onet-and your enemies have none
better OF more terrible.
Another feature of the fighi
will be she fallingo the killed ano
wounded. It's a trying thing TO:
man to see his friends fall side by
side, and our first impulse is tt
carry them to the rear. But re
member, the best way to save YOU
/ wounded friend is not for four o.
five to leave ranks, and thus weak
en- and break your line. This vii
insure his destruction and YOU