Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-25
LETTER RRom VIRGINIA.

H-Spiyit Of The MeH-ESprit dU Corps, etc, etc.
LEEsBURG, January 10, 1862.
EDITORS APPEAL: Gen. Johnston, with a wis
dom which has characterized all his acts as chief
in command of the army of the Potomac, has
issued an edict of late against those who have
foolishly been in the habit of writing imporlan
military matters for the perusal of the public
and. although l am none of those who injudi-
ciOusly NEEDLE with matters with which I am
supposed to know little, and to say less, or
have written to you of details inexpedient
to pen or publish, 1 cannot but fully and
heartily indorse such an act Of the general,
fully cognizant as 1 am of the pernicious
effects which hasty and indsCreet correspondence
has had upon the intentions or movements of
our officers. Yigilant as we may be and have
been to screen from the enemy our strength,
position or resources, it annot be denied that
." snakes in the grass " are yet in our midst, and
lose no opportunity to transmit to the foe what
ever of aid or comfort may be CLEANED from the
" scribblings of those who ineautiOusly speak
of that which, after thought, should teach them
to withhold from the mass, whose chief idea
and desire seems to be to crafty an idle and
criminal curiosity. Until Of late, I could scarcely
peruse a sheet of any kind without being panied
to see elaborate lines devoted to subjects which,
as good citizens or soldiers, it should have been
their aim and desire to conceal; and despite the
entreaties and commands of BeaUregaTd, still
the papers teemed with facts, figures and general
data, for which our enemy would cheerfUlly have
given his finger ends. Persisting in then fault,
! unthinking penmen have unconsciously tabooed
even those who, while they maintain death
like silence on things of secrecy and mo-
ment, have, nevertheless, continued to amuse,
Eedify or interest those for whom they write,
with the full concurrence, consent, and ap-
prevail also of the greatest disciplinarians
or martinets in the army. Disposed as our
army is. It's the hight Of criminality to
detail of ought which might pa, S the lines !"
vet rest assured by one who has ever written
truly, that naught exists, or is doing, in the
whole army, but just as our best friends could
desire, or as the greatest military genius of the
world could plan or determine.
But apart from every line Of +" preparation" "
- expectation" ssferee,' . "eaTth-wOTks,' "arms-
ment," there exists a topic with us, of which a
gifted and graceful pen could eloquently and
enthusiastically discourse, viz: the almost Unan-
imOus enlistment of the twelve months voluh-
| LeGIS IL q luTLueI bbIH bl bhU years. VI lOI bu5
war Responding to their c~ountry's cause,
these brave and heroic men rushed to the front
in the first moment of preparation and danger.
Drilled necessarily to a pitch Of great efficiency
and excellence, they have won the esteem, ad-
miration and confidence of all having the honor
to command. In sunshine or in storm, laying
on their arms, or battling in death-stuggle
with foes on the heather, these gallant spirits
have done all that mortals could accomplish,
| 81 ,s4b 1aeIo. of bo~of5pa ,,,ra~aI1alad IN c4arv
have borne our fame and fortunes high above
reproach, dishonor, or blemish, and blazoned
our name and nation to the astonishment and
| admiration of all the world. Tried and proved
by every hardship and danger flesh is heir to
hastily parting with all the earth holds dear
the twelve months volunteers smile upon the
past, and responsive to the faintest whisper ito
remain, enlist again, almost to a man, to serve
their country through veal or woe, to live or
die with the fortunes of their flag. l know not
what the spirit is with those enrolled
upon the border, but viii those from
the cotton States, re-enlstment has, for
a long time, been a foregone desire, conclu-
sion, and almOst accomplished fact. An
mated with a spirit burning with enthusiasm,
southern youth soon to disband organizations
which have already, this early in the war,
won for themselves regulations or names to
adOrn the historic page, and rather than resign
| Wti-liCus GuStJ NNupoho AZ bHC httlu u otuT
ers, will carry them, as Of yore, through fire and
smoke, while a foeman remains to challenge
them on their native soil Compulsory legisla-
tive acts, mOoted or legalized to enforce r~e-enlist-
ment, are as unnecessary as they are offensive
Southern volunteers cannot and will not brook
the breath of suspicion upon their patriotism or
future action. The same cause and the sam
necessity for which they were originally enrolled,
exists at this moment in ten-fold force and de-
gree, and It's as unnecessary, as it certainly is
highly insulting, for any village magnate to
rise in legislative assembly las in virginia. to
propose laws for enforcing the further service Of
twelve months volunteers. For what have we
left father, mother, sweetheart, or wife9 For
what endured heat, cold, ~privation and danger ?
Are not the same hiTelings living that would dis
honor and enslaYe us7 Have they not like
locusts swarmed upon our coasts, and laid in
waste the beauty of our homes Have not our
cities been laid in ashes from the incendiary
torch, and has not, nay IS not, the direst cunning
and ingenuity employed for our sUbjugation or
slaughter ? Then, Uhy should fear exist for cur
future action, or speculation incaUtiously dis
turb the tranquility aud unanimity Of patriotic
purpose, and ascertain which originated and
selfsustains our unalloyed and undenied resolve
to serve the South as long as a purpose exists 2
No, sir, there cannot be, nor is there, any ques-
tiOn of the action of our volunteers, for future
service. Already are companies Il ~dregiments
recognizing for the war, and the only fear is,
that the hundreds and thousands who inpatient
" wait for arms in the South, will have no OPP
p%ortunity to exhibit that valor and fire, which
their brethren have already shown before them
on the tented field.
With every care which fathers could show to
children, the Cabinet and commanders are doing
all things that wisdom can suggest for our wei
fare and comfort. Embarrassed as they un-
I IL 4 - III. IL -.~sE - II -
of the Cabinet or field, the gallant volunteer re-
ceives at their hands all the attention which
common sense can prompt, or solicitude insti-
gate and despite the cOmparatiyep poverty which
surrounds our infant COnfederacy, and notwith-
standing the ill-timed complaints Of ~senseless
grUmblers, it connOt be questioned or denied that
That the labors of our chiefs aretuly appreciated,
and the little done for our ease, discipline and
comfort receives its full appreciation and valua-
ton at the hands Of a high-toned and chivalrie
soldierY.
Yet spontaneous though re-enlistment is, and
without the slightest necessity existing for
speeches or harrangues to further it, a spirit of
pride or esprit du corps exists, which, commend
abb. though it be, is oftentimes ludicrous in
many features. Companies and regiments are
Jealous of their laurels-SObriguetS bestowed
through weary service are now still more highly
cherished-snd the anxiety displayed to win
historic lame, or lmmoTtahZe, by heroism, tine
name of town or hamlet, assume proportions so
purtentious, that the veriest dTummer-boy swells
to the importance of man and vows to remain
with his regiment forever! Give the mLskets,
drums and colors to the care of strangers tear
off the number from our caps, and relapse into
idleness at hOme-to hear of the deeds of others,
and useless ourselvesl HNo, never, is the
thought and expression of all with whom / con
verse. " Shall the 18th and 18th go home in
May, and forever lose their name in song or
story leave others to reap what we have
s0wnl +" says an enthusiastic youth. "No, this
must never be - and without warning or pre-
mise my friend produces a newspaper, and with
pardonable pride reads the following mention of
bis regiment (:
A correspondent of the Lynchburg Republican
writing from Gross Roads. in Berkeley cnnntv-