Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
the Thomas Artillery — a long march under adverse circumstance — the part taken at the Batter of Manassas.
Thomas Artillery, Wm. Qrs., Jan. 14.
In my last communication I stated some things, inadvertently, which might give aid to McClellan, and you suppressed it. I thought of my error before I saw it in print, and was glad to find that it was not published.
I think it due to the Dispatch that the public should be informed of the fact that it is as earnestly avoiding the publication of improper matter as any paper in the country.
In my last I said I would tell the citizens of Richmond what our company has done since it enlisted.
It marched from Winchester to Manassas Junction, a distance of near ninety miles, on foot, in the two days and nighs preceding the battle of the 21st, with nothing to eat, under a scorching sun by day and terrific thunder-storms at night, sleeping only two out of twenty-four hours, fording the Shenandoah river, and crossing the Blue Ridge mountains. The infantry took the cars at Piedmont, but we, with other artillery of Gen. Johnston's command, footed it the whole way. That is one thing we have done Now another.
We went into the battle of Manassas the morning after the march with empty stomach and aching legs, and nothing to eat even then. We went in while the battle was at its highest pitch, while regiments of wounded were coming off and reporting that we were whipped; we went into such a position that every one said not one of us could come out alive we held that position for six long hours in a broiling sun and a stiffing smoke, and awful danger, loading and firing incessantly, without a drop of water to cool our cracking tongues, until the Yankee Zouaves were within fifty yards of our pieces and the batteries on each side of us had fallen back. And, for three weeks after wards; we lived in a muddy old field, without any tents which we would not have had yet, had we not stolen some out of the railroad cars.
But we have done a more wonderful thing than this. We have not sought or received a single newspaper puff since the battle, but have stood bravely and silently and seen other men get the praise of our exertions on that memorable day, who ran from the field under false pretences as we were going on it.
Telegraph.
