Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-03-16
Address Of Gen. D. Fl. Hill.
HEADoK's GoLDsBoRn, y. c.,
February Goth. 1868.

The undersigned has been placed in charge
of the troops in North Carolina. In assum-
ing command, he. would address a few words
of exhortation to his forces:
SOLDIERS Your brutal and indignant en-
envy is putting forth efforts uneaampled in
the history of the world. Having failed to
subjugate you, he is maddened with the
thirst for vengenance, and is pushing forward
his foreign mercenasies to plumber your prop.
erty and lay waste. your homes. But bis
maraudng hosts have been so often beaten,
and baffied, that they are now discouraged.
and demoralizrd. Should you be atle to
check them everywhere for The. next sixty
days, the. three hundred thousand whose.
time expires in May, will not r~e-enlist. and
the WaT Will end before July. Should the
! sc5undrels however gain a substantial success
at any one point, the war will be prolonged
during the entire administration of Lincoln.
It becomes a solemn duty then, to labor and
to hgHt during the next two months as we
have never done before. We must make
the war unpopular with the mercenary van
dals Of the North, by harrassing and snnoy-
ing them. " We must cut down to six feet by
two. the dimensions of the farms which these
plunderers propose to appropriate. You will
naTe to- endure more hardships, and to fight
more desperate battles than you would have
0No1 W Jun lin piOPOAIy niICd. o"A
, cities, towns and villages, are full of young
land able bodied skulkers, wear ng the sem
blance of men, who have lodged from the
battlefield under the pI DIVISIONS OF the ex-
emption bill. The scorn of the fair SEX, and
the contempt af all honorable men, have not
been able to drive these cowardly miscreants
, into the ranks. So long as they can fatten
? upon the miseries of the country, and shelter
their worthless earcasses from Yankee bull
lets, they are insensible to- shame. But q
, day of retribution awaits these abortions of
humanity. Their own descendants will exc
!, crate their memory when the finger Of
4 scorn is pointed, and the tAnnt is un-
uttered, "he IS the son, or great grand son, Of
an exempt and ertortiOner."
; Do your full duty, Soldiers, and leave those
= bathrooms and villains to the eXecration of
posterity. All commanding officers are here
. by enjoined to furnish the names Of officers
- and men, who distinguish themselves In
= pitched battles and skirmishes. Those SO
y distinguishing themselves will be recommen.
- ded for promotion, and their names published
W In the principal papers of their respective
'e States.
y The Infantry have to bear the brunt of ev
~ cry battle, and to endure special hardships
e. in every campaign. The post of danger and
at suffering is the post Of honor. IF our liberty
ie be ever won, 10 will be due mainly to the
ia idomitable pluck and sturdy endurance o
IA our heroic Infantry.
De The Confederate ARTILLERY has behaves
lie most nobly, and the wonder is, that with.in
ferior guns and ammunition, it has been adj,
e to cope successfully with the splendid arma
&c ment of the enemy. It has been a mistake
however, to contend with the Yankee Arti'
'm lery. Reserve your fire, as at Fredericks
u burg, for the masses of Infantry, and do no
o withdraw your guns jus; when they are be
III coming effective. It is glorious to, lose gun
ny fighting them to,the' last. 1t is disgracefr
~ to save them by retiring early from the hgh
The Cavalry constitute the eyes and cal
- Of the army. The safety Of the entire con
gu mand depends upon their vigilance, and th
zen faithfuluessoftheir reports. The officers an
en- men who permit themselves to be SURPRISE
deserve to die, and the Commanding Gener
uu will spare no efforts to secure them their d
ees serts. Almost equally criminal are the scout
the who through fright, bring in wild and sens
Ine tional reports. They will be court martisl'
nat for cowardice.
IT, Many opportunities will be afforded to Il
Cavalry to harass the enemy, cut off
al supplies, drive in his pickets g.. Those wi
ana have never been in battle, will thus be en-
bied to enjoy the novel sensation of liEtenil
10 to the sound of hostile shot and she'll, a.
ION those who have listened a great way off, "
.ees be allowed to come some miles fearer, al
Dor, co,,,arot ho co,cat;or caftcad hu the d;eta
ave c.nno,.do u;tb thor nraapcod Lv tho rat
ugh of mnsketrv
n n u5rr Na;or Gonar.,