The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-24
Cen poIk,s First General Order.

Gen. Leonidas Polk arrived in Memphis on the tn
inst and took command Of his division immediately
The following is his first general order to has troops;
HEADQUARTERS DIVISION No. .,
Memphis July l3, 1861
GENERAL ORDER No. Having been assigned to
the charge of the defence of that part OF the valley OF
the Mississippi hCh is embraced within the boundaries
of division No 2, hereby assume command. All 9TH
duty within the limits will report accordingly
In assuming this very grave responsibility the general
in command is constrained to declare his deep and long
settled conviction that the war i'll which we are engaged
is not warranted by or any necessity, Poh
ical social of existing CONDITION, but that IL Is
indeensible and of unpslaileed atrocty Weave pro-
tested and dc protest that all we desire to be let Alone
to repGse ia quetness under own vine and our own
fig tree We have sought and only sought, the uhdiS-
urbed enjoyment of the inherent and the lndeteasoe
right OF setgoyenment right which treemen can
never relnqush and which none but tvantS could ever
seek to wrest from Those with whom we have been
lately associated in the bonds of pretended traternal
regard have wished and endeavored to deprive US OF
this great brthright American treemen. Nor Is
this all They have sought to deprive US OF TINS mes
Unable right by nereiless war, which can attain no
other possible end than the ruin OF fortunes and the de-
strueOn of lives for the sUbugstion of christian free
men is out of the question.
A which has thus no motive except lust or hate,
and no Object except ruin and devastation, under the
shallow pretcnse of restoration of the Unlon Is surely
a against heaven as well as agast earth. OF
practced an attempt to restore union of minds
and hearts, and Wills like that which once existed IN
North America, by the rayages of fire and sword are
asSuredly among the prodlgious As sure as there
Is righteous ruler of the universe, such war must end
in disaster to those by whomt was naugurated and by
whom prosecuted with circumstances of barbar
ty which it was fondy believed would never more dis
grace the annals of ciyilised people Numbers may be
against u.s. but the battle is not always to the strong
Justice will triumph And an earnest OF this triumph
already behold in the mighty uprising OF the whole
southern heart. Almost as this great section
to the rescue resolved perish rather than yield
to the oppresso who in the Of freedom yet under
the prime inspiration OF an nfdc horde seeks to reduce
eight millions OF treemen to AFFECT bondage and sublec-
ton All ages and all conditions united III the one
grand and holy purpose OF rolling back the desolatng
tides of INVASION and of restoring the people OF the
south that peace independence and right of sefgovcrn-
mcnt to which they by nature and natures God as
justly entitled those who seek thus ruthleSsy to
slave them.
The general in command having the strongest conf
deuce in the intelligence and rmness of purpose OF
those belonging to his department. enjons upon them
the maintenance of a calm patient persistent and I'M
daunted determination resist the invasonu all hazards
and to the last extremity, 1t comes bringing with it a
contempt for constitutional liberty, and the whitening
influence of the intdelty OF New England and Germany
combined Its success would deprive us OF future.
The best men among our invaders opposed the course
they are pursuing at the first but they have been
borne and swept into the wake Of the prevailing current
and now under the promptings of their fears, the
delusion Of some iolarous reverence due to fayore
symbol active any in instigaug this unnatural
unchristian and cruel war
Our protest, which we here soemuy repeat in the
face Of the cjvilised world have been hitherto unheed
ed. We are left alone under God the resources OF
our own minds and our own hearts the resources OF
cur manhood
Upon his knowing as he does those whom he adj
dressed well those with whom you cooperating
throughout the SOUTH the general in command feels
may rely with unwayering confidence Let every man
then throughout the land himself in the most eff
fcctive MANNER and hold hmscin readiness to support
the combined resistance. cause which has for its OBJ
ect nothing les, than The security OF liberty and the
preservation Of the purity Of religious TRUTH is the
Of heaven, aud may well challenge the homage and
service of the patriot and the christian In God is
trust LEONIDAS POLK.
Major-General p A. c. S, commanding.