Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-03-06


ye win ether honors in defence of our rights and ~ VIII
c4cee of our country. Just
GID.p. PILLOW, Brig. Gen. C.sA
nj sage OF President jefferson Davis.
To The Senate and House of Representatives
of the Confederate Stotss
In obedience to the constitutional provision reopi
The Presdest from time to time to give to the Connre
Information OF the state of the Conederacy and rpo
mend to their consideration such measures az bo ~
judge necessary and expedient, have TO communio.
that since my message at the last session of the D.
visional Congress, events have DEMONSTRATED that ~
Government had attempted more than it had novas
successfully to achieve Hence, in the effort to nro
by arms, the whole of the territory of the Conf5
rate States, seaboard and inland we have been 50 o
posed as recently to encounter serious disasters WIZ
the Confederacy was formed, the States composing;
were by the peculiar character Of their pursuits ana
mis- placed confidence in their former associates ~
great extent destitute of the for the prosqcn
of the war on so gigantic scale as that which if b
attained he workshops and artisans were mainIv ~
be found in the Northern States; and one of the S
duties which devolved upon this Government was to-
ablish the necessary manufactures, and in the moo
time to obtain, by purchase from abroad as far as nr
tcGhe, whatever was required for the public defense
effort has been spared to effect both these ends o,a
though the results have not equaed our hopes sha
ieved that an impartial Judgment will upon full inva
tgation award to the various departments of the Co
eminent credit for having done all which human now
and foresight enabled them to accomplish.
The valOr and devotion of tie people have rot orI
sustained the efforts OF the Government but have GONE
far to supply its deficiencies.
The active state of military preparations among III.
nations OF Europe in April last, the date when opr
agents first went abroad, nerposed unavoidable DELAYS
In the procurement of arms and the want OF navy has
greatly impeded cur efforts to import military supplies
OF all sorts.
have hoped Tor several days to receive official re-
ports IN relation our discontinue at Roanoke Island
anTfh o folI EDr+T ..ol-o
reached me, and am, therefore, unable to communicate
to you such information Of those events and the coDsp
Quences resulting from them, as would enable me 10
make recommendations founded upon the changed con-
dltlon which they have produced Enough is known of
the surrender at Roanoke Island to make feel thai
was deeply bumiating, however imperfect may have
been the preparations for defense The hope is stie
eraiDed that reported losses at Fort Doneson have
been greatly exaggerated, lnasmucb as | not only
unwilling but unable to believe that large army Of
people have surrendered without desperate effort
to cutther way through investing forces whatever NAV
have been tier DumberS and to endeavor TO make a
junction with other divisions of the army. But in the
absence, OF that exact Information which can only be
afforded by official reports, it would be premature to
pass Judgment and my own is reserved trust yours
will be, until that information is received Ia the mean
time strenuous Efforts have been made to throw forward
renorcements to the armies at the positions threatened
and cannot doubt that the bitter disappointment we
have borne by nervng the people to still greater
tlons, will speedily results accordant with
our just expectation and favorable to q.
those which marked the earlier period of The war.
The reports of the Secretaries of War and the Navy
will exhibit the Of for the conduct OF the
war which we have teen enabled to accumulate notwh
standing. the very serious difficulties against which we
have cOntended.
They afford the cheering hope that our resources,
limited as they were at the beginning of the contest will
during its progress become developed to such an extent
fully to future wants. The nOlicv
ment tof short terms against which have steadily con-
tended from the commencement of the war has, in my
Judgment, contributed in immeteria degree to the
recent reverses which have suffered and even now
render it difficult to furnish you accurate statement
of the army. When the first broke cut many Of
our people could with difficulty be persuaded that it
would be long or serious.
1t not deemed possible that anything so insaneas
persistent attempt to subjugae these States could be
made still less that the deusiOn would so far prevail
as TO give to the war the vast proportions which it las
assumed. The people, incredulous of long war, were
naturally averse long enliS ents aud the early ega
ton ct Congress rendered it impracticable to obtain
volunteers for greater period than twelve months
low that 1t has become probable that the war will be
through series years. high spirited and gallant
soldiers, while generally reenisng, are from the fact
OF having entered the service for short term compelled
in many instances to go home to make the necessary
arrangement for their families during their prolonged
absence
The quotas OF new regiments for the war; called for
from the different States in rapid progress of organ
i2ation The whole body of new leves and reeni8ted
men will probably be ready in the ranks within the next
thirty days But, IN the mean time, it is exceedingly
difficult to give accurate statement of the number of
our forces in the field They may in general terms be
stated at four hundred regiments of infantry with
proportonate force of cavalry and artillery the details
OF which will be SHOWN by the report of the Secretary
OF War. deem it proper to advert to the fact that
the process OF burroughs and reenstment in progress
Tor the last month had so far dSorganzad and weaken
ed our forces as to impair ability for successful de-
Ience but heartily congratulate you that this evil,
WHICH had foreseen and poWeress to prevent may
now be said to be substantially at end and that
shall not again during the be exposed to seeing
strength diminished by this fruitful cause of disaster
short enlisments.
The people of the Confederate States being prnci-
pay engaged in agricultural pursuits unprovdd
at the commencement Of hOstilities with ships, ship
yards materials for ship building, or skilled mechanics
and seamen in sufficient numbers to make the prompt
creation OF navy practicable task If the requr
ed appropriations had been made for the purpose Not
withstanding very limited resources however the
report of the Secretary will exhibit to you satisaco
~ progress IL preparation, and certainty of early com
petlon of vessels of number and class on which we
may confidently rely for contesng the vaunted control
OF the enemy for our waters.
The financial system devised by the wisdom Of your
predecessors has proved adequate to supplying all the
wants OF the government Notwithstanding the unexpec
ted and very large increase of expenditures resulting
from the great augmentation in the necessary means
defence The report of the Secretary Of tire Treasury
will exhibit the gratifying fact that we nave 10 floating
debt that the credit of the Government is unirpad
and that the total expenditure of the Government for
the year. has been in round numbers one hundred and
seventy millions of dollars less than one-tbrd of the
sum wasted by the enemy, in his vain effort to conquer
Uses than the value OF single article Of export
the cotton crop of the year.
The report Of the Postmaster General, will show tie