Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-03-11

Editors ChTOnicls:-You are aware ] SUI
pose. of the base attempts of politics
demagogues at home to induce soldier
in the army to leave the flag they hav
followed to the field and sneak off to thei
homes, to be branded through life a
1tsserters
The evil in some regiments since W
elme here has been an alarming one an
has caused our Division Commander t.
issue the following address to his soldiers
1t needs no comments.
Yours Respectfully,
E. C. DOWNS, Capt.
HEADQUARTERS. 3D DIVISION,
18th Army Corps,
| MEMPHIS, Tenn, February II, 1868.
! Jfy Fello.e Soldiers Debility from re
cent illness, has prevented and still pre-
vents me from appearing amongst you, a
has been my custom, and Is my desire
1t is for his cause deem it my duty t
communicate with you now, and give yol
the assurance that your General still
maintains mistaken confidence in you
patriotism, devotion, and in the ultimat
success of our glorious cause.
am aware that influences of the mos
discouraging and reasonable character
well calculated and designed to rende
you dissatisfied, have recently beel
brought to bear upon some OF you by
professed friends. Newspapers, contain
ing reasonable articles, artfully falsifyin!
the public sentiment at your homes, have
been circulated in your Camps. Intrigu
ing political tricksters, demagogues, anC
time-servers, whose corrupt deeds are but
a faint reflex of their more corrupt
! hearts, seem determined to drive our peo-
pie on to anarchy and destruction. They
have hoped, by magnifying the reyerses
of our arms, basely misrepresenting the
conduct and slandering the character oi
our soldiers in the field, and boldly de.
nOuncing the acts of the constituted au'
thorilies of the Government as unconsti-
tutional usurpations, to produce general
decentralization in the army. and thereby
reap their political reward, weaken the
cause we have espOused, and aid those
arch traitors of the South to dlsmember
our mighty Republic and trail in the dust
the emblem of our National unity, great
ness and glory. Let me remind you, my
countrymen, that We are Soldiers of the
FEDERAL UNION, armed for the preserve
ton of the FEDERAL CONSTITUTION and the
Upon your faithfulness and devotion,
heroism and gallantry depend its perpe-
tuity. To US has been committed this sa-
cred inheritance, baptized in the blood OF
our fathers. We are Soldiers of a Gov
ernment that has always blessed US with
prosperity and happiness.
1t has given to every American citizen
the largest freedom and the most perfect
equality of rights and privileges. 1t has
afforded US security in person and proper
ty, and blessed US until, under its bene-
fieent influence, we were the proudest
Nation on earth.
We should be united in our efforts to
put down a rebellion, that now, like an
earthquake, rocks the Nation from State
TO 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 solemnly
sworn to bear true faith to this Govern
ment, preserve its Constitution and de-
fend its glorious flag against all its enc
mics and opposers. To our hands has
been committed the Liberties, the Pros
peFity and Happiness of future genera
tions. Shall we betray such a trust
Shall the brilliance of your past achieve
ments be dimmed and tarnished by hesi-
sation, diseord and dissension, whilst
armed traitors menace you in front and
unarmed traitors intrigue against you IN
the rear? We are in no 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 paralized,
is the reason for resort to the Military
Power. To aid the Civil authorities mot
to oppose or obstruct) in the exercise OF
their authority is our office, and 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 an
guish. wrung from the heart of a distract
ed people, is borne upon every breeze,
and widows and orphans are appealing to
US to ayenge the loss of their loved ones
who have fallen by our side IN defence OF
the old blood stained Banner, and whilst
the Temple of Liberty itself is being sha-
ken to its very centre by the ruthless
blows OF Traitors, who have desecrated
our Flag-obstructed our national high
ways, destroyed our peace, desolated our
fresides, 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 superiors, un-
til by our 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, l blush to confess that recently
some of those who were once our com
rades in arms have so far forgotten their
honor, their oaths and their country, as
to shamefully desert US, and skulklngly
make their way to their homes, where
like culprits, they dare not look an hon
est man in the face. Disgrace and lgno-
miny Gf they escape the penalty OF the
Iawl will not only follow them to their
graves, but will stamp their
names and lineage with infamy to the
latest generation. The scorn and con-
tempt of every true man will ever follow
those base men who, forgetful OF their
oaths, have, like cowardly spaniels, desert
ed their comrades in arms in the face OF
the foe, and their country in the hour OF
its greatest peril. Every true-hearted
mother or father, brother, sister or wife,
will spurn the coward who could thus
not only disgrace himself, but his name
and kindred. An indellible stamp OF IN
fanny should be branded upon his cheek,
that all who look upon his vile counte-
nance may feel for him the contempt his
cowardice merits. Could l believe that
such conduct found either justification or
excuse in your hearts, or that you would
for a moment falter in our glorious pur-
pose of saving the Nation from threaten
ed wreck and hopeless ruin, would
invoke from Deity as the greatest boon,
common grave to save US from such infa-
my and disgrace.
The day is not far distant when traitors
and towards, North and South, will cover
before the indignation of an outraged peo-
ple MARCH BRAvELY ONWARD Nerve
YOUR strong arms to the task of overthrow