Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-30
Address Of Adiutant.aeneral oOpeIand
llosroN. Mass, MAY 20, lsO2.

lIOsTON, Mass, May %, 1852
10 TnE Mas on MASSACHUSETTS, Have
Won heard the news? Have you heard that
il Massachusetts General, and the Sons OF
Massachusetts, the brave I'd Regiment, have
been driven out of Virginia by All enemy
that only ten days ago was nearly PROSTATE
before rs
You have dreamed that this war was
drawing speedily to u close, that we were
conuueTing and possessing this country You
have seen the enemy falling back before us
at all points. For three months Gen Banks
has been working at every disadvantage to
reclaim to us the lovely valley OF Virginia
TO strengthen those who are for us, and TO
suhdue and govern our enemies. Three
weeks ago to-day he was, with 10000 men,
at llarrisonburg, 100 miles from his present
position, holding 10000 of the enemy ut bay,
ready in one day more to move suddenly ON
their flank and crush them.
Fremont was ready TO occupy Staunton,
whence 10000 men would have rushed vic
torious upon Richmond The day for the
movement to commence our death-knell was
sounded 10000 men We're ordered from
him for Mcdowell to protect Washington,
and Banks, with G0UO, sent back so miles TO
| Strasbnre-a little handful of men TO face
10000 Slowly we fell back, and most re-
luelantly, disputing the road with the enc
my, conscious of the great emergency, but
ready to die to protect the people who had
learned to trust in us-with the enormous
duty Of protecting railroad 10 miles long,
between Strasbnrg and Manassas, and the
great Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Cumhered with the sick and baggage Of
the 10000 ordered away, with IL train of
wagons seven miles long, which had been
necessary for us, who were on no lines of
railroad, or no nayigable rivers TO furnish
our supplies, we have slowly yielded to the
force of circumstances. was sent to
Washington and Baltimore to ask for aid,
meagerly and tardily granted because our
Lroops are nearly all in the field, and this
morning we have the sad knowledge that
this three months of labor of the extent of
which you cannot conceive, is undone; that
humiiated sorrowful, but courageous and
earnest still, we have been compelled to re-
turn TO Maryland, TO leave tratorOus men
, and stony hearted women exultant over the
r sad sight They have seen, as they hoped,
the backs Of the Yankees.
Do YOU wonder that under all these dis
l advantages Maior-Gen. Banks, with his
: handful of 5000 men, has bad to retreat be-
=. fore $4,000 of the enemy?
. Is it strange that he is driven back =
/, What could have been expected Thank
n God the disaster is no worse. Thank God
/. that your ID Regiment is still left to fight
b for the flag But for Gods sake realize the
|, position. When our army marches victor
1t ious through an enemy's country, they go like
n Christian warriors, seeking to relieve The
d wounded enemies they meet, to restore con
8, iidence in the trembling women and children
y in the towns and hamlets and scattered farm
houses, rebuilding bridges and restoring t.
O. the people the comforts and security q
II civilized life.
Q, The enemy follow our trail like hell
lu hounds. At Balls Bluff they shot prisoner
~ -, in cold blood At Bull Run they cut th
W heads oil dead men-here shooting from be
M hind fences, bayoneting the sick and wounC
cy ed by the wayside, and making it their boas
'c that they killed Yankee. An unscrupu
he Gus enemy will lose no opportunity lt
treachery and outrage.
at They will cross the Potomac River, exul
as ant and reckless of all consequences. I,
nd their cause is desperate, and knowing th
id, they must ultimately fall, they burn to wrea
Ter on our friends the outrages they have
nj falsely and inhumanly attributed to us.
wit Men of Massachusetts forget your trad
ce, and business which will be of no value
SIX this enemy is not destroyed. The han
the that hold the pen, the ruler and the hamm
an'' were made in these days for better thing
III, Seize the musket and sabre and respond
ovi. the cry of the wounded and dying, VINO Il
o', ~ III tho enemy's bloody hands.
10 Come to rescue Gen. Banks and the 5
ous' cond Massachusetts, Regiment one of
,ary noblest and most earnest you have sent o
sct speak to you with fervor, because l ha
YER been in the enemy's country nearly ye
the | have helped To suhdne and relieve.
nler know the fendishness of our foe. h'
en- seen how noble have been your efforts, Q
y Of how eagerly you have responded to the Il
paid Iner calls for troops. Once more let
the urge upon you to rally quickly for the hol
ssue Of the State, for the lives of those you lo
may a blow struck quickly and surely now
70 retrieve all loss. Every man who goes
pre- once is better than two when the neees
Ser is past Let.me carry back to the suffer
~ aG, ;n troops the assurance that you are com
pmn. in your might.
'mp nar r.. MORRIS C0PELANl
or r. a Assistant Adjutant General 10 Major-G
this Banks.