American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-02-22
Our ReYerses.

u Last week closed amidst the rejoicings OF
our friends over the splendid victory which,
s APP to that time, we had achieved over the
ii enemy at Fort Donelson. The news at that
U time was of the most cheering character We
4 had repuIsed the enemy repeatedly during a
Il continued assault of three days, and had at
length g driven him back with cold steel
more than g mile-had captured over one
Il thousand prisoners. and gained a more bril-
liant victory than that of Manassas" Bat
q on Monday morning the telegraph brought
aus the unwelcome and depressing news
sthat during Saturday night the enemy had
been reinforced by twenty thousand troops,
augmenting his force to seventy thousand,
and we had been compelled to surrender the
Fort. Since then the wires have been bur
dcned with the most unwelcome intelligence.
II The news that Nashville had been surrender
4 ed and Columbus was to be abandoned, fol-
lowed in quick succession, leaving the South
ern heart with scarcely loop wherein to
hang hope for the success of our arms in
the West.
The news of these reyerses, instead of pro-
ducing dependency, should urge us to in
creased activity and zeal in behalf of our holy
cause. 1t should inspire every man with the
determination to give his good right arm to
the defence of his country, and never to yield
TO the vandal horde of the North while one
crimson drop courses through his veins. The
time has now arrived when a universal cali
to arms has become necessary. The naughty
and insoIent foe, flushed with successive vic
tories, is pressing upon us on every hand.
Conscious of their superior numbers, they
calculate confidently on defeating rs at every
point and subduing to their will and their
mercy. But, thrice armed is he who hath
his quarrel just" and, relying upon the JUS
tice Of our cause ard trusting in the God of
battles, let US, despite our Numerical inferi-
ortv. meet the enemy every where, and win
for ourselves independence, or find honorable
graves. We have a cause that shoul9 nerve
1he'heart of the most timid and put a weapon
in the hands of even the weakest. We are
fighting for all that freemen hold dear; for
liberty, dependence-our homes, our affairs,
our household gods-our property, our very
existence as ration and as men. If con-
qucred, what are we to expect from the vic
IOfibNS anu arrogant Zoe Z lie m2Y spare
our lives but he will rob US of our means
he viii grind US with taxation to pay the
vast debt incurred incur conquest. lie will
coniscate much of our property, and what
is left in our possession viii only serve to
raise money to g'ut the rapacity of the vic
tors. Our slaves may be taken from US, and
will be, unless interest proves paramount to
vengeance, and we are permitted to keep them
that the products of their toll may enrich orr
masters. Our wives and sisters and children
will be subjected to insults and outrages
which we, unarmed and helpless, viii be
alike incapable of ayerting or avenging. This
is faint sketch of the probable destiny of
the South, if subjugated.
But we cannot be subjugated if we are
but true TO ourselves 1t only requires a levy
in mass of every able-bodied citizen to con-
stitute force which the Hessians will find
TO be unconquerable- We need bat the unan-
imous display of valor, enthusiasm, and stern
determination TO rePel the invading horde
Let every man capable of bearing arms raj
ly to the rescue of his country. In THE hour
fperil, of impending danger,
He who daes is bastard
He who doubts is damned"
s