Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-02-27
HEADQUARTERS N. w. BRIGADE, )
PROVISIONAL ARMY G. STATES.
MARCH. 1st 1863 \

HEADQUARTERS N. W. BRIGADE, )
PROVISIONAL ARMY G. STATES
MARCH, 1st 1868
To the Loyal and Patriotic Young Hen Of
North Western Fisytaia:
Some Of the most honored of the gifted
and distinguished men Of your oppressed
section of our beloved Virginia men whose
wisdom and.patriotism you and your fathers.
in years gone by, delighted to honor with
the highest political and personal trust and
confidence men whose pure character, ex-
allied personal worth. high intellectual en-
dowments and devotion to your rights and
interests endeared them to the patriotic
people Of the North Vest have addressed
you some words of wise cogasel and friend
ly sympathy for your encouragement and
support under the trials you have been
called upon to endure; and they have en-
trusted lhe with the pleasant Office Of COM
munlcating them to you through such chan
nels as opportunity may present
AS Virginian-a Western Virginian
by birth, education, association and inter-
est-a soldier from choice in the hottest war
ever waged by any people in defence OF
home and country, Of civil liberty, and con
stitutional right-as your fellos0 cstii2en Of a
grand old Commonwealth renowned for her
past glories, sublime in her present heroism
and sacrifices, and offering an Immortality
of fame and honor in her future to all her
sons even the humblest, and to the reno
test generation whose names shall appear
upon the rolls of her flal protectors and
defenders in this time of her peril and her
sure triumph. / beg to add few words
to what has been SO eloquentIy said by
these distinguished gentlemen.
I desire and intend that in spite Of the
mercenary hirelings who are ''lording it,
over your hitherto peaceful homes plum
dering, robbing and numbering unarmed
citizens-in spite Of the contemplate farce
of State Government, enacted at Wheel
ing by few corrupt and traitorous cross
road and village demagogues, fit represen-
tativcs Of the infamy, and agents Of the i'm
potent malice Of the chattering Ape who
rules the hour at Washington-this address
Of your old neighbors aud friends shall find
its way to every loyal freside in the North
West I need not ask you to read what
these friends have written. Your respect
for them will induce you to do that You
will reflect upon what they have said
will circulate it amongst your neighbors-
you will discuss at your fresides, the facts
SO candidly and gravely stated, and weigh
we'll the arguments SO cogently urged upon
your considerations You will review the
history Of the past two years, and contrast
the motives and actions of these gentlemen
with the motives and actions of the traitors
who have sold themselves, and tried to sell
you and your eountry.
You have enjoyed ri two years Of Yam
kce rule, ard know how to appreciate its
blessings! 1t is now IN your power to
throw off the yoke, assert your manhood.
and finally drive your oppressors from a
soil their presence dishorers. Follow the
example of the gallant thousands who are
ia our armies from the North West Come
out and join them as comrades in arms.
Share, before it is too late, the glory Of be-
ing soldier in the same sacred cause in
which your own great cocntryman5 "Stone
wall'' Jackson, has won the admiration Of
the civilized world, and consecrated forever
the land that gave him birth-tlle North
West The surviving heroes of the 25th
and 31st Virginia Regiments, whose vic
torous shout has mingled with the roar of
battle on nearly every field where Virginia's
sons have vindicatod her honor, will vel
come with joyful hearts, to place in their
now historic ranks, the friends and neigh
bors they left behind whom the first clarion
note of war csIied them to the field More
than thousand brave men who have joined
this command from the mountains and the
Valleys of the North West, since the last
summers sun shone upon their homes, IN
vite YOU to come and with manly courage
resolve that you will be free.
The Yankee nation has solemnly, III the
face Of Heaven ana before contemptuous
World, confessed its inability to conquer ps,
and calls upon the negro race to lnflict
towards vengeance upon a foe it dares no
longer confront in equal manly combat.
No other portion of cur country is more
likely to be invaded by the negro Regi
ments Of Ohio and Pennsylvania, than your
own section. Your would be rulers al
Wheeling have indicated their approval Of
the controlling idea of the North that ne
gro is better than white man-that to Sc
cure freedom to four millions of negroes,
eight millions Of white people may be en-
shaved, or butchered. This is now unde-
niably war for the negro. The white men
Of the South are to be compelled, if the
North can accomplish it, to acknowledge
the negro as their social and political
equals, and this work will be commenced
in your part of tire country because there
arc willing Instruments to engage in it now
exercising a temporary local government
over you. Will you submit to It? | an
swer for the vast majority No a thousand
times No! Can you successfully resist it !?
| answer Yes! if you will initiate the ex-
ample of your brave countrymen now il
arms against the tyrants who are attempting
this awful crime against God and nature.
We are resisting it and our tinal triumph is
not distant. Join us in the sacred cause
and share the glory of its success Hest
tate or refuse and shame will mantle your
cheeks when in coming years your free
children ask you if you were a soldier in
the holy war of their deliyerance. Join US
twos, threes or BY companies
Join us, and I will put arms in your hands,
and by Gods blessing few months will
witness the independence Of our whole
country and your Triumphant retarn to your
then peaceful and happy homes, freed alike
from the presence of domestic traitors and