Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-29
VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS.
To The Editor Of the Wig:

VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS.
To The Editor of the Wig:
Il Vas the fortune Of the writer in bis boyhood days.
TO know and converse With old Revolutionary patriot
who fought for Liberty on the ll,ody plains Of Mon
mouth, Trenton, Guiliord and Kings Mountain. II vas
from him be learned how virgisia sires deserved
and secured the liberties, which rpinciped mob are
nov striving to vrsst from Without tents, without
shoes, often without food, ard ofensr in rage which
only half covered their bra~ny limbs these pi,riots,
with mansled and bleeding feet and barred heads the
Of armies evesy field, and secured for Viz
ginis the name Of Mother of States, Statesmen ard
Wsrriorl They left their homes and children in the
care Of faithful wives, who babe them 20 with wipg
hearts, and often for years heard no tidngs from onos
home. No sordid calculations OF gain entered into
their estimate Of Liberty. No question to Who should
commA or what pay would be received troubled their
patriot sous No intrguss for cfics, Efforts to shUn
labor and toll grumbiBg for uroughs, no lettering
around home TO evade the service were known Ihose
days No one, because he had been lasyer, or
chant gentleman, thought that he could only exhibit
his patriotism by being Commissary. Captain ar
termaster No because he had the appella,ion Of
"Doctor" considered IL bis peculiar preroga to be
placed in easy birth, where be might butcher aud
| ssy patriots than the enemy. But the highest
ambition Of all was, to endeavor to deserve reward and
not to secure it by artifce
Those were the days which tried mems souls, and,
thank God but few in Old Virginia we're found wanting
No dwelling dyspepics, no hobbing rheumstcs, no
skinned shin or crooked cdpples deaf and blind
Samsons we're born a. that period IN day an hour
But with pectaces crutches and wooden legs were
TO shoulder their arms a. VirgniAs ca and rush
to battle. No clustering braggart remained at home be-
cause he had no Enfeld, Maynard, or Sharp.s rife
| bat With old fintock gun, powderhorn, and a few
home made shot, they rushed to meet the foe. where
danger was greatest Aud when the conflict was over
and victory won they returned to their homes wihsut
cent Of money suit Of clothes, and received their
highest reward in the Gpproviugs Of their conscience
the blessings of God and the congratulations and graft
tude of neighbors and ireL H. This Ia faint picture
of the Old Dominion In her fire: struggle for iudepen
| deuce.
But some remained At home-sbst was their bis.or,
Let the old warrior tell They hoo:ed at by the
women and boys, they we're ected from society, they
denied all Offices of honor, profit or trust, they
lived despised and died unregretted' And In msny in
stances TO this day, their Children and childrens CHI
dre have bear The sin and reproach CT the cowars
Of their fathers 1t falls to their lot to gather
around warrior SIRE ard hang in breathess sus
pense upon the burning words which tell Of noble deeds
and bloody battles. But with do~ncist faces and hum
bled tones they made confess that their fathers
either stunned the fight altogether, or else after
t~elvemonh service returned to their homes TO live in
ngorious ease while their neghbors aud friends vera
breaspg and rains and battle storms 70 set tie
calls of bleeding Liberty
What status do the Of Virginia occupy In this the
second struggle for Independence From every State
in the old Union, and from every OF the service
they have come aid their old mother On every bat
tef from Sumter 10 Leesbury they have mot worth
lily sustained the honor Of the aud of all her pa
trots Missouri to-day most delights honor two wtr
| thy cons Of Virginia, Price and Thompson. Though
their degeneration in mind body and morrill, had been
boldly affirmed, and their easy sutJugaiien claimed by
Yankee papers, Rich Mountain, Carnisx Greenbrier,
Allegheny, Boil Run, Manassas Big Bethel, Lsesburg,
and as many bloody fields attest the bsseness Of
the charges end their proves in arms. A; yirgtiss
call 70 900 of her sons rushed to the field mary Of
whom have enrolled their high upon the scroll of
fame Aud be il eaid to their honor though they have
suffered many and prvatoas, those who Lase
done the most the most ready to rr.enis-xhls of
the few who refuse scarcely has the enemy or
heard the rattle of his mukstry But these brave men
feel that 1t Is unjust do all the work. and reap no mere
advantages than those who remain ct home, fearing ~
face the foe or lose chanc, of turning renny or
making dime. But let me assure you, brave yolur-
teer that you have already secured what such men can
never resp-the love- gratitude and confidence Of your
country. While every true daughter OF Virginia Who
| has husband BROTHER or son, Who and will not
serve his country in this hour Of need must truly de-
spse him in her hesrt-for she would sooner be the
cidoy Of brave volunteer than thewiie Of such era
| venly spirit.
That there are thousands who remain home to make
money to secure ease, under the plea Of arms egs ~
feet cut o. broken in childhood being Oversrers M
Frs pos,masters, public woTks-sDd oilers iitm
pure cow.rdiee, everybody knows. But there Ia large
class who have not volunteered because Of tho depend
ant condition of their fames-.ith this class all mt Il
sympath,1, while all muss pity shun and d.spse he
oher. To the patriot poor man, would cay word in
! conclusion.
Thousands in this State, and many thousands more
from other States have boldly gone forth to meet the
enemy leaving their families in helpless condition a.
yours, many thousand miles away. l. will, am sure,
DO only necessary inform you that the sacrifices you
q III make By enstng at ones will not be-cOmparabs to
the Losses you viii sustain by delay The Northern Van
das, goaded to madness by DISAPPOINTMENT and defeat
aud driven to desperation by the accumulation OF
debt the like Of which the woif has SEEN Rave
determined in the few weeks TO crush liberties
aud reduce to state Of servile saage. VIII YOU
be found wanting in this great ibis fnsl struggle? Tie
signs Of the times porend rapidly approaching er.s
upon the issues Of which depend our veal woe, hr
untold agee to cone. Let the patriot Of virgia
throw themselves into the deadly breach and stand Is
wall Of FIRE upon our eountrys ranpsrls, TO hui
the Northern hordes. II we hold our own for
months more, our freedom is securel. IT, by SUPP,
we 81 lf.r our arms to be takon 10 that time with,
| disna.ar the atIngRla may not clnie La tHeuI4