Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
from Tom's Brook.
Tom's Brook, Shenandoah Co., June 18
Our company, the ‘"Shenandoah Riflemen,"’ left for Winchester this morning.
They number between sixty and seventy men, all of whom are quite expert with the gun, and good marksmen.
We venture to say that no company in the Valley is composed of better fighting material than this, and if they are favored with an opportunity, will make sad havoc of the Yankee hirelings.
It is worthly of note that there are eleven Crabills in this company, six of them the sons of David Crabill, Esq., one of the oldest residents of this place.
There are also five Readys.
We think a premium should be awarded to that father who can muster the most sons into service to fight the battles of the South defend the soil or Virginia, and repel Northern invaders.
Previous to the departure of the company, the Rev. J. A. Snyder delivered the boys a sermon, the text of which we find in Isaiah, 43rd chapter, 6th verse, and Samuel, 17th chapter, 45th verse, being as follows: ‘"I will say to the North-give up, and to the South keep not back; thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts."’ From this text, the minister clearly elucidated that we have both God and justice upon our side in this war; that victory is not always to the strong, but to the just, and at the same time, beseeching them not to give their friends good by with tears in their eyes, expecting to be killed; but, on the contrary, they should depart with bright faces and courageous hearts, determined to kill somebody else; after the close of the sermon, it being on Tuesday, the parson reminded the ladies that the soldiers at the Ferry had plenty of bread, but nothing to "grease it with.
Whereupon, the patriotic women came forward and quickly raised several hundred pounds of butter.
Capt. Sam Myers' company of Guerillas passed down the Valley on Saturday for Winchester.
They hall from the neighborhood of Zion's Church, in this county, and number about seventy men. Another company of Guerillas is being raised in the upper end of the county, with Dr. A. R. Meem as captain.
S. 