The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-06
Letter from Gen. Ros.cr.ns.

Prom the Cincinnati Commercal.I
HEAI0UAzIKRs ARM TEE MISSISSIPPI,
July rs 81.
My tellsw citizens viii excuse few words
addressed to them through your columns on
the present national crisis:
Southern conspirators and traitors arrogant
ly despise our friendship. We told them We
would maintain, at all costs and hazards, the
Constitutional rights of the South, holding
them as sacred as our own. They cared
nsught for this, and adopted "rule or ruin"
for their motto. They have driven US into
this cruel war against q people whose interests
and ours are common, and compelled us to
fight our own brethren in defense of our laws
and liberties.
For more than year we have been engaged
in this struggle, into which an arrogant and
dictatorial slave oligarchy hiss driven a free,
happy and peaceful people, fighting for the
rights of all. With true bravery and invinci-
bic patience our citizen soldiers have stood on
this ground to the present moment against
violators OF the laws of war and humanity
Remaining true to their principles, they have
said by words and actions to their felow-citi-
zens in the South we fight for common rights.
If we win, you win. If the government is
maintained, you will dwell under its protecting
shadow as freely as we. And there we stand,
snd thus we say to-day.
peace and safety to US: farewell freedom, for
ever Their principles and leaders are known
to US. They cheated US, crying out no coer-
cion; holding out false hopes and deceitful as
surances of friendly regard, while, assassin-li like,
they were preparing to destroy our govern
ment and reduce US to anarchy or servitude.
The past years experience renders it certain
that if they triumph, blood and desolation,
fire and sword, or arbitrary subsection to their
will NH
hood enough to dislike their system of slavery,
tolerable only as cruel necessity, but as a
principle, hateful to God and man.
They will omit no means, honest or dis
honest, to insure success. disappearing,
eliminating our motives, ridiculing our hon
est efforts to mitigate the horrors of war, and
inhaming the passions of the populace by low
epilhets-are among the milder and more or
binary means resorted to by this pseudo
"ehivalry," the meanest aristocracy that ever
stood at the head of civilized society.
They now force peaceful citizens of the Uni
ted States into their ranks, on the grounds of
an allegiance set up by themselves against that
which the people owe to a lawful and just
Government. With the heel of military des-
potism on the necks of PROSTATE people, they
hunt them from their homes under a relentless
CONSUMPTION, and drive them before their cav
airy, or force them to become outlaws or guer-
rillas. They hold men who have served their
time out, and if they cannot be coerced 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 bloodhounds for that
purpose.
Thus, by CONSUMPTION and detention, they
fill their thinned ranks and keep up their
forces. Such are the men and means against
| which we have to combat.
Under these circumstances, do not hesitate
to say that life and liberty depend upon the
wisdom, vigor and promptitude of the action
of~he people of the loyal States.
What they ought to do is, first, to fill up
promptly the old regiments to their n1a1in.asna
strength. This is the only way to get expert
enced soldiers in time to answer the purpose
Men who go 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 honor
| than in res iments wholly new.
Caution the people for the sake of all they
hold dear, not to disregard this Iecommen-
dation.
The utmost promptness will barely suffice
to put US beyound the reach Of such disasters
as have occurred elsewhere, and the nations
| life or death lies in the issue
Second-The greatest care should be taken,
after this has been dsne to giUe those s0ho 90 into
netO regiments good officers.
Those towards and skulks, old grannies, TO-
| gies, and good for-nothings of every class and
| grade, who have left or been driven from the
| service and are hanging around for protection,
should be carefully excluded from the service.
Their name is legion, their excuses for leav-
ing as various. Sick wives, dying parents and
dead babies, must cover the face of the coun-
| try, judging by the letters of such which come
| to headquarters.
Beware of them. The capture of a regiment,
the loss of battle, or the country's disgrace
by an incompetent or worthless officer, can
hardly be atoned for by the appointing
| power.
Third-Let the officers for the new regi-
| nnents be taken from those tried, approved,
and now in the field. This will give promo
ton to the meritorious now in the service.
Fourth-Let the motto in every mind be
Do lchGt you do yell bat above all, do it
quickly. w. s. RosEcRANs.
| From Hilton Head.