Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-08
CAST AWAY GLOOM AND DEsPON-
n

OEN1A
1t is the peculiar characteristic of some minds,
says the Chattanooga Rebel, to be unduly elated
with success, and to become in the same ratio
respondent at any reverse. This is not the
proper spirit to cherish during this war. We
must reasonably expect to meet with reverses,
amounting sometimes to serious disasters, and
again, we will be cheered with brilliant victories.
No war of the magnitude of this, ever occurred
in which there were not alternate victories and
defeats. Moderation in victory and a resolute
determination in the hour of defeat, should be
cultivated by us al. Everything we have is at
stake-our independence, honor, property, the
security of our families, are all involved in this
struggle, and by the blessing of God, we are
sure to come out victorious if We will perse-
we're to the end. With the Confederates there
can be no such word as fail. The Lincoln
government may abandon this war at any
time. It's own interests and the cause Of hui
mainly require it to do so and that speedily.
But with US the case is different. We must cen
tinus the war until our independence and our
rights are secured. We are not suffering as
mach now, as our ancestors did in their war for
independence. Though our soldiers are in
many instances, badly clothed and not very
well fed, their condition is much better than
was that of the soldiers of the revolution
Though cur country is in many places overTun
and may be more SO, yet it is not so much so as
were the colonies in that war. The British held
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Richmond,
and Charleston, and had extended their con
quests over many of the then colonies. The
British then, like the Yankees now, plundered
and desolated the country, stole negroes and
committed many outrsges, though not to SO
great an extent as the Lincoln savages are
now doing in some places. There is nothing in
the present aspect of affairs to discourage US.
We ave not done so well in the West as we
had = right to expect, but We will never gain
anything by mourning over past mistakes. Let
us 60 30 work to remedy them. What have we
not accomplished that we had a right to expect,
with the exception of the failure Of the Kentucky
expedition, and even in that we gained two i'm
pOrtant victories over the enemy. Twice our
army met the enemy in superior numbers and
twice gained the victory. In Virginia every
thing has been done that we had q just ground
to hope for. We have not overrun Psnnsylva-
mia and New York, as some in their wild enthu-
siasm anticipated in September, but our army
has done all that men could do, situated as they
were.
The idea of conquering the North and over
running their country is a wild scheme, which
never viii be realised and which we have ne
reason to expect. Where men are anything
like equal it requires twice as many troops to
conquer and to bold a country as it does to de-
fend. Let the Yankees come with their six
hundred thousand new levies, and, although
they may possibly Overrun portions of cur
country for the tins being and do much dam
age to individuals, yet their new army, like
their old, will melt away and they will be re-
CURED to call for more troops if the war con-
Let US husband our resources, econo-
mize in regard to our men, fight at every posi-
sible advantage, call out if necessary, our full
and they will be again defeated. So
soon as they learn that we are determined never
to yield they viii feel more inclined to peace.
Any disposition to submit, any manifestation of
gloom or dependency only serves to encourage
their hopes of our ~subjugatiOn and tends to
the war. There are causes at work
we cannot elaborate in this article which
will make the Lincoln government come to
if we manifest the same determination we
heretofore exhibited and meet with any
thing like the same success. We consider the
independence of the Confederstes an accom-
fact, though it may require as it has al
aaady required. the blood Of our bravest and
best to secure its acknowledgment. Our
and kinsmen who have fallen in this
var will be held in history as the heroes of a
uccessful revolution, and not the criminals of
defeated rebellion. Trusting in the mercy of
rod, and relying upon the strong arm of His
Dower, we must and will succeed.