Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-03-07
Special Message of JEFF. Davis.
He - Asfomisiled at the Magnitude
Of the War.

To Me Senate and House Of Representa-
tires Of tie Confederate States:
Since the message at the last session of
: the Provisional Congress, events have de
monstrated that the Government had at 9.
tempted more than it had power success
fully TO achieve. Hence, in the effort to
protect, by our arms, the whole territory
Of the Confederate States, seaboard and
inland, W. have been so exposed as re-
Gently to encounter serious disasters.
When the Contederacy was formed, the
States composing it were, in the peculiar
character oi their pursuits, and a mis-
placed confidence in their former assoei.
ciates, TO great extent destitute OF means
for prosecution oil the war on 50 gigantic
scale as that to which it has attained.
The workshops and artisans were main
/ ly 10 b. found in the Northern States, and
one Of the first duties wlliel devolved upon
this Government was to establish the
ssary manufacturers, and in the mean
time to obtain b. purchase from abroad,
as far as practicable, whatever was requi-
site fos the public defence. No efforts
have been spared to effect both these
ends and though the results have not
equalled our hopes, it is believed that au
impartial judgment will, upon full inves-
tigation, award to the various departments
Of the Government the credit Of having
done all which human power or foresight
enabled them to accomplish. The valor
and devotion Of the people have not only
sustained the efforts Of the Government,
but have gone to supply ita Deficiencies.
The active state Of military prepara-
tions among the nations of Europe in
April last, the date when our agents first
went abroad, intcrposed unavoidable de-
lays in the procurement Of arms and the
want of a navy has greatly impeded our
efforts to import military supplies Of all
sorts.
have hoped for several days to re-
ceive the reports relative tc our discom-
future at Roanoke Island, and Fort
Donclson. They have not reached me,
and | am therefore unable to communi-
cate to you such information of past events
and consequences resulting from them, as
would enable nlc to make recommenda-
tons founded upon the changed condition
which they have produced Enough is
known OF the surrender Of Roanoke Is
land to make us feel that it was deeply
humilating, however imperfect may have
been the preparations for defence. The
hope is still entertained that our reported
losses at Fort Donelson have been greatly
exaggerated. hasmuch as I am not only
unwilling but unable to believe that a
large army Of our people have surrender
ed without a desperate effort to cut their
way through the investing forces, what
ever may have been their number, and to
make q junction with other divisions of
the army, hut i'll the absence of that ex-
act information which can only be afforded
by official reports, it would be premature
to pass Judgment and my own is reserv-
ed, as | trust yours viii be, until that in-
formation is received. In the meantime,
strenuous efforts have been made to throw
forward rciu!oreements to the armies at
positions threatened and cannot doubt,
the dlsappo.ntmants We have borne, by
moving the people to still greater exer-
tons, will spec hIy secure results more ac-
cordant with or just expectations, and
l., favorable to our cause as those which
marked the early periods Of the war
The policy of cnlistments for short
terms, against which | have stea1iy con-
tended from the commencement Of the
war, has, ii my ju lgmeut, contributed, in
no immlterial degree, to recent rcverses
,t-i,f 4h h44t .t,ll
renders it difficult to furnish yoa an ac-
curatc statement OF the army. When
the war first broke out. many Of our peo-
pie could, with difficulty, be persuaded
that ii would be long or serious. 1t was
not deemed possible that anything so in
sane as persistent attempt to subjugate
these State could be made, still less that
the illusion could 50 far prevail as TO give
the war tn vast proportions which it has
assumed IT. people, incrcdulous of u
long war, werc, naturally, averse to long
eaIistments, and the early legislation OF
Congress rendered it impractcable to OBJ
tain volunteers for 4 greater period than
twelve months, Now that it has become
probable that the war will be continued
through series Of years, our high-spirit-
I'd and gallant soldiers. while generally
re-enistln., are, from the fact of having
entered the service for short time, COM
PEELED, in many instances, to go home to
make necessary arrangements for their
families dnring their prolonged absence
The quota for new regiments for the war,
called from the different States, are in
rapid progress Of organization. The
whole body Of new levies and rc-enlisted
men will probably be ready in three
ranks within the next thirty days. but ia
the meantime 1t is exceedingly difficult to
give an accurate statement of the number
Of our forces i'll the field They may in
general terms be stated at four hundred
regiments of infantry, with proportionaie
forces Of cavalry and artillery, the de.
tails Of which will be shown by the re-
port of the Secretary of War
deem 1t proper to advert to the fact
that the process { furoughs and re-en-
listments in progress for the last month
mad 50 far disorgluizcd and wrecked our
forces as to impair our ability for success
tu defence but | hereby congratulate