Southern shield., 1862-02-08
From the Little Rock (, -ette. MAJOR-GENERALEARL VAN DOpF,c GALL FOR SOLDIERS.

Our readers are already ava,, .f tba lact that uen- Earl Van Dorn has been as 1 signed the command west of the N;.:1s;nni
 we were at hrst ot the impression tbat there was separate military department ', made of Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Kanaas and the Indian country, but that was mistake ten. Van Dorn commands in that nortion of Gen. Johnston's Department on Ifs side of the Mississippi and will probabIv .Ili he made into separate department bef6re a
 Gen: Van Dorn entered the arnv IS T Ca det at West Point in 1858, where Io 'o rradu- ated and was appointed Breyet Second Lieutenant Tn the 7th Infantry on inc lst July, l642; Tn March l847, he vas made a First Lieutenant and aid to Gen p. F. Smith; Tn lS48-49 he was Actinr Assis- tant Adjutant General to his BTs3de-he was breyetted twice in Mexico h7 oalIant and merltorlous conduct--frst. q hroret Can sain for the baStle of Cero Gordo~sacond a brevet Major in the battles of Con,.oros and Churubusco. He acted with dis.inr,5isbed galantry at the battles of Chapufanpc and the City of Mexico, and was ygaandoJ at the latter battle on the 18th of SInton,Ler l847. As a Dragon Officer NIor Van Dorn performed active and honIsh1o ser- vice in the old Army from the c5se of tbe Mexican War until the secessiin of the State of Mississippi from the oI Tni1n. when he resigned and was appoinbd Iv tbc Convention a Bridadier-GeneraI, 4 dn ,I;s- sissippi forces. On the organizaLn of AVA Confederate Government at MJtgome,.y President Davis appointed Gen. yan D1rn 2 Colonel in the Confederate arny AM sant him to Texas, where, by his dt- x,-.;sbad si>in, zeai, anu gaii'e'fe,-y, dt tIh nt'iA' 3i the Texans, he soon cieared tbe saii of Texas of all of the Federal troops. Cul Van Dlrn was first promoted to q Brigaler. and after wards to a Maior-Geaa,aI and assigned command under Gen. Bsanre.ard at Man assas, from which place Ne has been ordered to the command on this side ol inc Missis- sippi, and given charge of the war in Missouri Though s6nlIul and prudent. he is yet gallant and iashing officer. whose career has been characterized by the rapidi- tv and the success Of lis movements. It would be di.hctllt to Gota better man to take charge of our forces in Missouri. and we feel certain that every man who loves lis country will d. ali in his power to aid the General in the very important and arduous work he has undertaken; for upon his success depends the fate of both Missouri anti Arkansas.
 Preparatory to taking his command, Gen. Van Darn came to this place for inc pur- pose of cunterring with the Military au- thor;tes of the State The result of his conference with the Governor was entirely satisfactory. A procianationist to be issued calling for ten thousand men to rndezvous at P1cahortas. Any man is authorized to raise company, and have immediate trans- portaton to the place of general rendezvous. | So sooQ as ten companies arrive aregiment will ba organized and an election held for i field officers. lfvoluuteers arm themselves. | they will be received for twelve mgnths. If unarmcd they will be received ad armed i and equipped by the Coniederab Govern mon-, and mustered into the srvice for l three yclrs-rcceiving bounty fifty doll lar in advance, which will be ofbeneft to their families until they draw thei first paw.
 Now is the time for all to unite md work IS one man, prompted by one mid for the | purpose of getting an army at beahontas for Gen. Van Dorm. The most n)lnentous crisis the country has ever knwn is im- pending. One thing of two must edonc:- Gen. Van D0rn must invade Msouri. or the Federal forces in that State VI invade Arkansas, and the fall of the eae ern part of the State and of the city of denphis, will be the natural and ineyitale c0nse- | qucnces. This is no false alarm-no appeal to tre fears of tue people--no V of wolf when there is no wolf-hut it isl serious and d solemn appeal to our citize soldiery to rally to the defence of their coatry and contribute, each man his mite, tvards re- polling the invader and protectinnis home from devastation and ruin. This%n1 time
 fe+ a"i%yi"s, or dobotiag tl.9 iaty or
 the policy of this or that meaUt for the
 benefit of the country. The qukun is not -how shall the affairs of the buntry be
 managed, but shall we have a Imtry? or
 ingIoriouSly give it up to the e Ihy? The
 question is not-shall this or tlit man con
 trol? but whether like craven lizards, we
 will abandon our right Of self Ecrnmeut,
 give uP our property, anG be be the de- graded minions of Lincolu's de sm? To these questions let every Ln answer as 5ecomcs a patriot and E Bier. Let | every man who is capable of dols military 1 duty promptly offer his servE Eas to Gen.
 Van Dorn. Let those who are teapabc of doing soldiers duty, to the extt of their influence. ability, and means, issst those who are able, in getting readI6r service immediately. The successful tence of the country depends upon it! Tk honor of your families depends upon it
 Soldiers Your country ca you! Let every soldier-natriot go. Let derv one that hears the call 9. Let every of who would de.end his country go. Let eytrv one who would inscribc his name on thdr1ll of fame go. .Wh5sooyer will let him ga Let every woman in the land withhold thhpproval of her smiles from the man who capable of doing duty as a soldier and dos not go.- Stand not upon the. order of tour going but GO AT oNCEn'