Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-07
TO THE SOLDIERs OF TAE CONFEDERATE

After than two years Of warfare scarcely equaed In
the number msgDuie and fearful Carnage o. D battles war
fare which your courage and foude have Illustrated your
country and attracted not only gratitude al home but adi atom
abr ad ysur enemies continue ggle in which Anal t
uph be inevitable Unsuly Glazed with their recent sue
hey Dsg1e that temporary queD yoe Prt
fer general nvasio In The vain hope that by despe-
rats effort success may at length be reaches
You knoS we my countymen what they by sue
Their malignant rage aims nothing les than the exer.
mia on OF yourselves, and cisen. They seek 10
victory that your mes Nh be paTSnsd among he
whose a-ocous crues have stamped nfamy on their Vern
The nee seryie Hsurrecon and liz the hres
Of inc End asm whenever they can reach your homes and they
de6au ne inferior race hitherto doee and contenea ~ pro
missing indulgence Of toe vst passions as the pe OF eachery
Conscious OF cir inability prevail by legitimate warfare not
daring make peace lest they hould b. hu led from their seats
Of power the who DOW rule IN Washington refuse even
confer the subject Ct putting end 70 outrages winch DIS
according T. the usIf Is OF ciyi iEaion.
Feow.czens no Alternative is left you but victory sufju.
CATION slavery and he utter ru Of yourselves your families and
your county The etory within your reach need out
stretch forth hauds to crap t. For this and al that ne
most or ia nd Sy TIER low in front o: the
foe thus Srengtt the the oonfederacY 70
Tie absent from their posts would If
present. In the field suffice 70 create Numerical equality between
force tae when with any approach
tqua y failed be vc'otou? believe that
their COUNTRY ' but t anny SSvs Oun It dca resist hs
tempta OF tir homes and the Low from whom
they have bean long separated that others have le smPo
ray attention their Affair with the Intention OF returning and
then have hrnk from the consequences OF their violation Of
duty that others have left their post rom mere res snes
and desire Of change each qunieng the Undertakings Of his
persuRding himself hat his Individual services could
have influence the general result.
These other although far less dsgraceu than The
danger, from the sacrifices requr
by rosm) are eheSs gieyGus faults and place The
Of beloved country and OF eve hsg we hold DEAR
in immin peril repeat that the who duty 10
Their county, have been called out and have not report
duIy who sbsened them elves from their posts,
sufficient In number victory In the struggle nov
depending
cal you then, my countymen TO hasten to camps
Obedience the dictates honor and OF dut7,
those Who Sbseu ed themselves with leave who have
remained absent the period allowed BY thei urough 10
repair without delay their ye Commands and do here
by declare that grant general pardon and amnesty ~ all OH
and within the Uoneieracy absent without leave,
who shall with he possible delay return to their proper
posts Of duty but viii be received any deserter
beyond twenty days afr the first publication OF this proosms
ton In the State IN WHICH the absentee be hs date The
Puca ion. This and pardoa Iha extend to al who
been accused who have bsen convicted and under
going without Geseron, excepting
ony those who bern twice convicted Of desercn.
Finally conure my couurywcmen-the wives 'theIs, hI
and dsugers the Con'ederacyto their alpowerfu
influence in t cs aid GROWING sac tho.e
Viii their patriotism has RELY and constantly nered
their counys Sed take that who SERVES
deserted telr duty their families to their ry and their
God.
l Given under my hand, and the Seal cf the Coufede
SEAL States Richmond, this LIST day Of August in the
- year our Lord thousand eight hundred and sixty
three JEFFERSON DAVIS.
By the President:
J. P. BENJAMIN,
auS-tau2O S cretary Of State.
az The papers throughout the Confederate States
quesed II the above proclamation at the earliest moment
and twenty days thereafter send their bills the Private
o he