Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-07-24
THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DIVISION-GENE-
IS RAEPOLK TAKES COMMAND.
y GENERAL ORDER NO. l..
a. "a HEADQUARTERS Division No. 81

& N * GENERAL eORDEh NO. l..
a. 81 Headquarters Dicision No. 81
Is Memphis. July IS, 1861.
Having been assigned to the charge of the defence
of that part of the valley of the Mississippi which is
embraced within the boundaries Of Division No. q
hereby assume command All officers on duty with
in 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 in
which we are engaged is one not warranted by rea-
son. or any necessity political or social of our ex-
listing condition. but that it is ndefensible and OF
UNPARALLELED atrocity. We have protested, and do
protest. that all we desire is to belet alone to repose
in quietness under our own vine and our own hg
tree We have sought, and only sought, the undis-
turbed enjoyment Of the inherent and the indefeas
bic right of selfgovernmentar right which freemen
can never relinqush, and which none but tyrants
could ever seek to wrest from us. Those with whom
we have been lately associated in the bonds Of pre-
tended fraternal regard have wished and endeavored
to deprive us of our great birth-right as American
freemen Nor is this all. They have sought to de-
prive us of this inestmable right by merciless war;
which can attain no other possible end than the ruin
of fortunes and the destruction of lives; for the SUBJ
jugaton of Christian feemen is out of the question
war which has thus no motive except lust or hate
and no obectexcept ruin and devastation, under the
shallow pretence of restoration of the Union, is
surely against heaven, well as war against
EARTH OF all the absurdties enacted of all the
hypocrises ever practised, an attempt to restore
union of minds and hearts and WILL like that which
once existed in North America, by the ravages of
fire and sword are assuredly among the most prodi-
gious As sure as there is righteous Ruler OF the
universe, such war must end in disaster to those
by whom it was inaugurated and by whom it is
now prosecuted with circumstances of barbarlty,
which it was fondly believed would never more dis
grace the annals of civilized people Numbers may
be against us, but the battle is not always to the
strong. Justice will triumph. And an earnest of
this triumph we already behold in tie mighty up
rising of the whole Southern heart. Almost as one
man this great section comes to the rescue resolved
to perish rather than yield to the oppressor who in
the name of freedom yet under the prime inspira-
ton of infdel horde, seeks to reduce eight mil
lions of freemen to AFFECT bondage and subsection
All ages and all conditions are united in the one
grand and holy purpose of rolling back the desola-
ting tides of invasion and Of restoring to the people
Of the South that peace, independence and right Of
selfgovernment to which they are by nature and
natures God as justly entitled as those who seek
thus ruthlessly to ensave them.
The General in command having the strongest
confidence in the intelligence and 6rmness Of pur-
pose of those belonging to his department. enJoins
upon them the maintenance of a CALM patient, per-
sstent and undaunted determination to resist the
invasion at all hazards and to the last extremity. 1t
comes bringing WIN IL contempt lot coiistIuoai
liberty and the whitening influence of the nfdelity
of New England and Germany combined. Its sue
cess would deprive US Of future.
The best men among our invaders opposed the
course they pursuing at the first but they have
been oyerborne and swept into the wake Of the pre-
vang current and now under the promptings of
their fears the deusion of some idolarous rever
ence due to a favorite symbol, as active as any
in instigating this unnatural unchrisan and cruel
war
Our protests, which we here solemnly repeat in
the face Of the civilized world have been hitherto
UNDECIDED. We are left alone, under God, to tbe
resources of our own minds and our own hearts-to
the resources of our manhood.
Knowing. as he does those whom he addresses,
well as those with whom they are cooperating
throughout the South, the General in command feels
he may rely upon them with unwavering confidence.
Let every man. then, Throughout. the land arm him
self in the most effective manner and hold himself
in readiness to support the combined resistance. A
cause which has for its object nothing less than the
security Of civil liberty and the preservation Of the
purity of religious TRUTH is the Of heaven, and
may well challenge the homage and service of the
patriot and Christian.
In God is our trust
LEONIDAS POLK,
Major General P. A. c. S., commanding.