Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-13
TO THE soLDIERs OF THE CONFEDERATE
NIATEN.

After than ~" Of warfare scarcely equaied In
the humber magnitude and fearful o. s battles
ia winch your Gnd ouds have illustrated yeur
country AID attracted not only gratitude at home bat admit alton
cad ysur continue gsie which
uuph inevitable Unauly esLed stir their
cesse they insg1e that mOrary que spirit
sske your determination and they gathering hs-vy
fer geue !avsiio0 10 the vain hope tat by despe
rate eGert SUCCESS may ~ length be reached.
Their mas1.1t rage aims at nohsg Ie, than the s1er
destroy what they cannot pignde They propose IS lac spells Of
victory that homes shall be partoned among the Erecne
The design inc serve 5sGrrecioa AID g the hres
Of nsrm whenever they reach homes and they
missing indulgence Of the Whist passions The price Of achery
Conscious teir inability prevail by legitimate
Of power the who rule In Warrington refuse even TO
confer on the subject Of putting an end 70 outrsges Which dis
according . the usages Of civilization.
Feowcizens, alternative Is you but victory sufJu
gaoo slavery and utter rua yourselves your
your connty The victory within your reach Yu need but
that those who are called to the ssd by every motive
that the human heart should promptly repair TO the
foe and thus strengthen the armies OF the oonfederacY
ensure The absent from their posts would
present in the Geld suffice 70 create numerical equality between
force and that of the ayadand when with approach
equa y have failed be victorious believe that
but Of these absent acuated by unwlngne to
their country but TINT many oun1 d5cu 70 resist the
temptation Of ~ TO thtr homes and the Low ones from whom
they have been long separated That others tempo
ray attention their AFFAIRS with the intention Of returning and
then have shrunk from the consequences OF their violation CT
duty that Others again have lei their post rom mere
and des o. chsnge, each quneng the upbradgs Of his Co.'S
science
have no inhaence en- the general result
These and other hough far ess dgracefu than The
deSe syod DANGER escape from the sacrifices rqdr
Oy psos nevertheless geyOus faus, ana place The
CT beloved county, and Of yhsg held dear
have been called and have yet report
for duty who have Sbsented themfeYCs fro s pos
sufficient IN nuube. TO secure vcty In the Struggle
depending
call you, them my ccunJ 70 hasten 10 your camps,
In Obedience 10 the dictates honor md Of cuv aad
those yo have sbseDtsd ihcys without leave, vino have
remained absent beyond the period allowed by the uloU
rePFr Ehou jy to their alive commands and DO hero.
BY decTe that gGSDt general pardon and amne 70 all c
SuG within the Conederscy, abent whou. leave,
who Shall viii, Inc east possible Gey, return 70 their proper
posts dny, but will be received for oeserter
beyond twenty after the first publication OF this procsma
ton 10 the state In which the absentee be the date OF he
publication This amnesty AID pardon sha extend to al who
hGve accused WHO have been convicted ard under
gcng seaence absence without leave desIt excepting
ony lhose Wh1 hsve teen twice convicted II deser1n.
Finally conjuTe my countryvCmLnihe wives, mothers, sis
and daughters a the COnderacyto their all powerful
influence In aid Of this call 10 add GROWING sacrifice 10 ose
Which their pat om mas freely AID constantly offered
their county al ard TO take THAI who service
tie d h III be sheltered 81 home from TIE disgrace having
deserted cir duty TO their families 10 their country and TO their
God
l Given usder my hand and the Seal of the Confede-
SEAL States, Hchmond this s day Of August the
49, year Of Lord thousand eight hundred and sixty
three. JEFFEks0N DAVIS.
by the President:
p BENJAMIN,
uS-tau9O cre.ary Of State.
O..