Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-08-08
LETTER FROM GEN. RosENCRANs.

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LETTER FROM GEN. ROsENCRANs.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commeical]
49,. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF MISSISSIPPI
'@.' July Goth, 1862.
Nv fellow citizens will excuse few words
addressed to them through your columns on
a.1 THE PRESENT NATIONAL CRISIS.
Z Southern conspirators and traitors AFRO,
gantly despiscd our friendship. We told
them we would maintain, at all hazards, the
constitutional rights Of the South, holding
them MS sacred as our own. They cared
nauyht for this, and adopted "rule or ruin
for their motto. They have driven us into
this cruel waraganst people whose interests
and ours arc common, and compelled us to
fight our own brethren in defense Of our laws
and liberties.
For more than year we have been en-
gagged in this struggle, into which an arrogant
aud dictatorial slave oligarchy has driven a
free, happy and peaceful people, fighting for
the rights of all. With true bravery and in
vincible patience eur citizen soldiers have
stood on this ground to the present moment,
against violators Of the laws of war and hui
manity. Remaining true to their principles,
they have said by words and actions to their
fellow citizens in the South, we fight for
common rights five win, you win. If the
government is maintained, you will dwell un-
der its protecting shadow as freely as We
And there we stand, and thus we sag to- day.
But If the Ccn(ederates prevail, farewell
peace and safety to us; farewell freedom,
forever. Their principles and leaders are
known to u.s. 1hoy cheated us, crying out
no coercion holding out false hopes and de-
ceitful assurances of friendly regard, while,
assassin like, they were preparing to destroy
our government and reduce us to anarchy or
servitudc The past years experience rem
dcrs it certain that if they triumph, blood
and desolatiOn, fire and sword, or arbitrary
subsection to their will, awaits every white
man who has manhood enough to dislike
their system of slavery, tolcrable only as a
cruel necessity, bat as a principle hateful
10 God and man. ...-.
They will omit no means, honest or dis
honest, to insure success. disappearing,
caluinniatng Our motives Yidculing our hon
est efforts to mitigate the horrors of war, and
inHaning the passions of the populace by low
epithets--are among the milder and more or
binary means resorted to by this pseudo
" chiyalryt" the mcancst aristocracy that ever
stood at the read of civilized society.
They now force peaceful citizens of the
United States into their ranks, on the grounds
of an allegiance set up by themselves against
that which the people owe to a lawful and
lust Government With the heel of military
tlespotism on the Aecks of PROSTATE people,
they hunt them from their homes under a
relentless conscription, and drive them be-
fore their cavalry, or force them to become
outlaws or guerrillas. They hold men who
have served their time out, and if they can
not be coerccd into remaining in the service,
shoot them. If the poor fellows try to get
away, they hunt them with guerrilla bands
Of cavalry, and in some instances, have used
blood hounds fol that purpose
Thas, by CONSUMPTION and detention, they
fill their thinned ranks and keep up their
forces. Such arc the men and means against
which we have to combat.
Under these circumstances, do not hest
tate to say that life and liberty depend upon
the wisdom, yigor and promptitude of the &C
ton of the people of the loyal States.
II What they ought to do is, first, to MI up
promptly tho oil regiments TO their maximum
strength. This is the only way to get cxpe-
rienced soldiers in time to answer the purpose.
Men who 60 into these regiments will have
hardy, experienced officers, who know how
to care for and instruct them, and have much
better prospects for comfort, health and hon
or, than in regiments wholly new.
Is Caution the people, for the sake Of all they
hold dear, not TO disregard this recommends
ton.
The utmost promptness will barely suffice
to put US beyond the reach of such disasters
as have occurred elsewhere, and the nation
life or death lies in the issue. ...
Second The greatest care should be taksn,
after this has been done, to gire those mho 90
into new regiments good officers.
Those towards and skulks, old grannies
fogies and good -for-nothings of every class
and grade, whs have left or been driven from
the service, and are hanging around for pro-
motion, should be carefully excluded from
the service. Their name is legion, their cx.
cuses for leaving as various. Sick wives
dying parents, and dead babies must cover
the face of the country, judging by the letters
of such which come to headquarters.
{ Beware Of them. The capture Of regi
ment, the loss Of battle, or the country's
disgrace by an incompetent or worthless Of
iicer. can hardly be atoned for by the appoint
ing power. &a
Ihird-Let the officers for the new regi
ments be taken from those tried, approved
aud now in the field. This will give promo
ton to the meritorious now in the service.
FouIth-IIst the motto in every mouth ane
every mind be: DO schat you do aceU, bu
ADORE all do IL quickly. a
1888 a- VS.. ROSENCaASs,