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The Richmond Sharp-Sheeters.

--Their Gallant Conduct in Action — Terrible Suffering — Safety of Capt. Tempkins and his Command.


Franklin, Pendleton County, Va., July 23, 1861.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:--Having just been in your valuable paper a Northern account of the engagements at Laurel Hill, and knowing them to be deliberate falsehoods, I hasten to correct them, and do justice, in part, to our noble boys who participated in them. Fortunately, I was in the camp, (on business with the Commissary's Department,) and can speak ‘"by the book."’

On Sunday morning, 7th instant, intelligence was received at headquarters that the enemy, some 6000 strong, were advancing slowly, but steadily, on our pickets. Gen. Garnett, who placed the most implicit confidence in the 1st Georgia Regiment, ordered Col. Ramsay to take his command and occupy the hills this side of Beelington, which order was faithfully executed. During the day, or rather until this regiment was relieved by the 23d Regiment, Col. Tallaferro, some slight firing was kept up, but with little effect, only one Yankee having been killed. At or about three o'clock, the 23d Regiment was ordered to relieve the Georgia Regiment; the regiment, as far as I could ascertain from the members, were posted along the sides of the hill, behind logs, some five hundred yards from the enemy. The Richmond Sharp-Shooters, from your city, were thrown forward as skirmishers, some 300 yards in advance of the regiment, who were held as a reserve. From the time the company was posted until 7 o'clock, these gallant and heroic boys — for boys they evidently are — kept up an unabated fire on the Yankees, who were not over 300 yards distant, and such was the effect of their fire that the enemy dare not come from under cover to carry back their dead. I heard Capt. Tompkins say that some of the members saw one of their men kill no less than seven of the Indiana Regiment. The engagement lasted about four hours, during which time the loss was of Yankees some thirty-eight, certain; our side, one--a young Sharp-Shooter. The conflict was ably managed by the company officers, and too much praise cannot be given to that noble young man, Capt. Tompkins, for the solicitude and devotion paid the security of his men. But for the able manner in which his command were deployed, their loss must have been heavy. He is evidently an officer of superior abilities, and worthy to hold a position much higher than his present one, though he has cause to be proud of the boys, who seem devotedly attached to him, and as one of them was heard to say in the Commissary's Department, ‘"there is not a man in the company who would not willingly lay down his life for that boy. He is our all, and should he quit the service or be killed, good bye, Sharp-Shooters. There is not a dozen men who would not desert or obtain discharges."’

Captains Tompkins and Sargent, and Lieutenants Ludeman and Baber, arrived in this place yesterday, having been separated from the Army in that disgraceful retreat of Saturday, 13th. From their statements, they must have suffered terribly, having been from Thursday until Sunday, 14th, without anything to eat except two small crackers each. They got within half a mile of the ‘"Red House"’ in Maryland, where were stationed about 3,000 of the enemy, before they knew it. They took to the ‘"laurel,"’ and laid for two days and nights within fifty yards of the Yankee pickets, afraid to draw a long breath or stir a limb. On Tuesday they took to the mountain without guides or roads, and made their way to within eight miles of the Pennsylvania line, where they met a friend, who advised them to stay a day or so at his house, which kind invitation they took advantage of. After resting two or three days, they commenced their march for Petersburg, Hardy county, which they reached Tuesday night, having been three days and two nights on the route, without rest and with little or nothing to eat. You can well imagine what they have endured when I tell you that they had to chew mint, catnip, Tansey, and berries, to prevent starvation; but they are now among friends. They have just left here, pushing for their camp, which they expect to reach at dark. It is at McDowell, Highland county, distance 33 miles, which, with the 30 miles made by them yesterday, will be good traveling.

My sole object in writing this was to correct the false statements copied into your paper, which I feared would not be done so as to do justice to ‘"those boys;"’ and being on the ground I had ample opportunities to get at the truth. Private Samuel Brickret, of the R. S. S., passed through here yesterday. He had been a prisoner, but effected his escape, and is ere this with his company. He is a brave boy, I think. Justice.


Monterey, July 27th 1861.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:--I have seen in different papers notices of meritorious conduct of officers and men engaged in the battle of Rich Mountain, but none deserve more credit for brave and soldierly conduct than Lieuts. Brown and Reger, and Dr. Cabell, of the Upshur Greys. They fought bravely during the battle, and after the order to retreat was given continued fighting until almost surrounded by the enemy, and then slowly retired, firing as they retreated.

Hardy Blue.


Manassas, July 26, 1861.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:--Your correspondent, ‘"D. G. D."’ in his statement of the battle of the 21st, at Bull's Run, (Stone Bridge.) says that the 4th South Carolina and Wheat's Louisiana Battalion opened the ball. I think he is mistaken. It was the 4th Alabama and 2d Mississippi Regiments, and they sustained the shock for one solid hour of the entire force of the enemy. I hope the correction will be made, and that men who fought so bravely may receive their due.

An Alabamian.

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