Year: 1861

The war correspondent of the Savannah Repub-
lican, furnishes the following brief and soldierike
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:


address Of COL Thomas to the 18th Regiment Geor-


gia Volunteers after the Morning Drill on the


18th October, 1861, ut the Camp near CentreOilLe


SOLDIERS: The appearances surrounding us ind-
cate we will have fight in few days-perhaps in
one day. We have been mistaken SO often however
that will not venture to prophesy with perfect GER
tainty.


J. like yourselves, have never been in battle. 1t
will be novel sensation to Inc as to you. But by
inquiry among those who have seen and felt it, |
havelearned something that perhaps would be useful
and interesting to you. The great object our enc
mics seem to have in view, is to invent some means
to find some plan by which they can kill us with
out being hurt the lseves. five adopt some method
to circumyent this single feature of their tactics,
they are hopeless, and We have them at our mercy.
The sole thing therefore, necessary is to go up close
We are told some of the rifles in your hands will
kill man half mile Don't you believe it. is all
stuff. Nog gun will kill man that far, and if they
could, no one can hit man three hundred yards
with any certainty. You go up within a hundred
yards less and then your craftsmanship will tell
Get close to them, stand firm, aim well and not
single regiment they have will stand before you five
minutes.


But their artillery-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 them-we know
how to use them, and they don't-and Providence
never intended that fine cannon, nor ANYTHING ese
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 ManaSsa Plains. Providence fought with
us at Manassas. He will fight with again if we
are brave. He loves valor, and He loves valiant
soldier. He Sil help US, but He will not drop
non down to out of the skies. lie expects to
help by putting it into the hearts of our enemies
to bring cannon in our reach, and there He expects
us to take them. .....-


into one, you will find to be the whistling of the
shells Our enemies have succeeded admirably in
constructing harmless instrument which makes


curious and unpleasant noise, and it has this
derful peculiarity; it to be coming straight
at every man who hears it. Now, we know it can't
be coming at but one man, or, at most two; and
the truth *, it is coming at nobody. You have
nothing to do but to pay close attention to your
hind sight, and the whstling Of the shells will, after
little, become rather a small matter in the grand
drama you acting. The man who hears thun-
der is never struck by the lightning. The great
implement of death in you hold in your hands
the musket and the bayonet-aud your enemies
have none better or more terrible ..-.-. .
Another feature of the fight will be the falling OF
the killed and wounded. Ii is trying thing to a
man to see his friends fall side by SIDE and first
impulse is to carry them to the But remem-
ber the best way to your wounded friend is
not for five six to leave the ranks, and thus wea
ken and break your line This will insure his de-
structon and your own by the trampling and bayo-
nets of your enemies. Your wounded friends ought
to be in the rear and you ought to be between them
and the foe. Now, the painest and most effectual
way to do this, is to close up your ranks and ad'
vance on the enemy.


Soldiers, you fight for your liberty, your country
your wives and your children. You cannot afford
to be defeated Your fate would be "hewers OF
wood and drawers of water" to an enemy you ab
hor. Your enemies are bought with prce-fifty
dollars per head bounty and large pay induce them
| yield to such foe? With one powerful blow let us
crush them, and return home to our families and
| friends. -.- ...y -. a-a