The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-03-19
A Patriotic Address.
HEApoRs. 3D DIV, ifrn ARMY CoRPs,
MEMPHIS, TENN, Feby. II, 1868.

| vents me from appearing amonSst you,
as has been my custom, and is my desire.
! 1t is for this cause l deem it my duty TO
| communicate with you now, and give you
the assurance. that your General still
| maintains unshaken confidence in your
patriotism, devotion, and in the ultimate
success of our glorious cause.
! | am aware that influences OF the most
discouraging and reasonable character,
we'll calculated and designed to render
you dissatisfied, have recently been brought
to bear upon some of You by professed
| friends. Newspapers, containing ireasona-
BE articles, arttully falsifying the public
| sentiment at your homes, have been cir
culated in your camps. Intriguing po-
litical tricksters, demagogues, and time
servers, whose corrupt deeds are but
faint reflex Of thelr. more corrupt hearts,
seem determined to drive our people on
to anarchy and destruction. They have
| hoped, by magnifying the reverse of cur
arms, basely misrepresenting the conduct
and slandering the character of our sol
diers in the field, and boldly denouncine
| the acts of the constituted authorities of
| the Government as unconstitutional usur-
pations, to produce general decentralization
in the army, and thereby reap their
| political reward weaken the cause we
have espoused, and aid those arch trait
ors Of the South to dismcmber our
mighty Republic and trail in the dust the
eulblem Of our National unity, and great
ness and glory. Let NE remind you, ny
| countrymcn, that we are Soldiers Of the
! FED&RAL UNION, armed for the preser.
! e IL TT OK
/ and tie maintenance Of its Laws and
Authority. Upon your faithfulness and
devotion, heroism and gallantry depend
its perpetuity. Tous has been committed
! this sacred inheritance. baptized in the
blood Of our fathers. We are Soldiers Of
| a Government that has always blessed us
with prosperity and happiness.
It has given to every American citizen
the largest freedom and the most perfect
aequality Of rights and privileges. 1t has
afforded us security in person and property
and blessed Us until, under its benefcent
influence, we were the proudest Nation on
earth.
We should be united in our efforts to
! put down rebellion, that now, like an
earthquake, rocks the Nation from State
10 State from centre TO circumference, and
threatens to engulph us all in one common
| ruin, the horrors of which no pen can
| portray. We have solemny sworn to bear
true faith to this Government, preserve its
| Constitution and defend its glorious flag
against all its enemies and opposeTs. 10
our hands has been committed the liberties,
the Prosperity and Happiness of future
generations Shall We betray such
| ~ t-,l
achievements be dimmed and tarnlshed by
hesitation, d;sccrd and dissention, whilst
armed traitors menace you In front and
unarmed traitors intrigue against you in
the rear? We are 10 20 way responsible
for any action of the Civil Authorities
We constitute the Military arm Of the
Government: That the Civil power is
threatened and attempted to be paraiyzed
is the reason tor resort to the Military
power 70 aid the Civil authorities (n9t
10 oppose or obstruct) in the exercise OF
their authority is our Office, aud shall we
forget this duty, and stop to wrangle and
dispute over this or that political act Or
measure, whilst the country is bleeding at
every pore whilst fearful wall Of
anguish, wrung from the heart Of a dis
tracted people, is borne upon every breeze
ard widows and orphans are appealing 10
us to avenge the loss of their loved ones who
have fallen by our side in defence of TIE
old blood stained Banner, and whilst the
Temple of Liberty itselfis being shaken
to its very centre by the ruthless blows of
Traitors, who have desecrated our flag
obstructed our national highways, destroy
ed our peace, desolated our ffesides, and
draped thousands Of homes in mourning
Let us stand firm at our posts of duty
and of honor, yielding cheerful obedi-
ence to all orders from our superior, untrl
by cur united efforts, the Stars and Stripes
shall be planted in every city, town and
hamlet OF the Rebellious States. We can
then return to our homes and through the
ballot box peacefully redress all our wrongs
if any we have.
Whilst [ rely upon you with confidence
and pride, / blush to confess that recent
ly some of those who were once our COM
rades in arms have so far forg Ctten their
honor, their oaths and their country, as
to shaDefully desert us, and skulkingly
make their way to their homes, where
like cuiprits, they dare not look an
honest man In the face. Disgrace
and ignomy IF they escape the penalty
Of the law will not only follow them to
their dishonored graves, but will stamp
their names and. lineage with infamy to
the latest generation. The scorn and
contempt of every true man will ever fol-
low these base men who, forgetful of their
oaths, have, like cowardly spaniels,
deserted their comrades in arms in the
face of the foe, and their country in the
hour of its greatest peril Every true