Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
Letter from a volunteer.
Camp Ashland. June 20th, 1861.
In one of your late numbers there appeared a communication from the county of Amelia, written by one calling himself ‘"Frederick."’ This correspondent spoke of the number of men sent from that county to the service of the country, and mentioned in terms of enology four gentlemen who had each sent four sons to that service.
In his commendation of Amelia, (my own county,) I heartily join.
She contributed liberally and promptly, and that too, of her best men. But the point in which I beg to take issue with your correspondent is that paragraph in which he speaks of the four gentlemen who contribute so many soldiers from their own firesides.
Each of them, he says, sends four.
Now, I do not desire in the least do diminish the meed of praise that is due these gentlemen for the noble offering they make at the altar of their country's good; but let justice be done, though the heavens fall.
Cannot every reader recall to mind more than one instance in which a single household has sent more than four (4) of its members to the service ? I know several families within the narrow limits of Amelia from whom every male member is gone to fight the battles of the country.
Then, why should these gentlemen designated by ‘"Frederick."’ worthy as they are of our grateful praise, be so prominently held up as the noblest contributors of all ?
Justice. 