The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-02-26
THE VOICE OF PATRIOTISM.
GENERAL JOHN 4. LOGAN TO HIS
FELLOW SOLDIERS.
HEADQURTERs, Sd DIVISION,
18th ARMY CORPS,


My FelJoac Soldiers: r
Debility from recent illness has pre-
vented and still prevents me from ap-
pearing amongst you, as has been my
custom, and is my desire. 1t is for this
cause deem it my duty to communicate
with you now, and give you the assur-
ance that your General still maintains
mistaken 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,
well calculated and designed to render
you dissatisfied, have recently been
brought to bear upon some of you by
professed friends. Newspapers, contain
ing reasonable articles, artfully falsify-
ing the public sentiment at your homes,
have been circulated at your camps
Intriguing political tricksters, dema-
gogues, and time-servers, whose corrupt
deeds are but faint inhex of their more
corrupt hearts, seem determined to drive
, our people on to anarchy and destruc-
ton. They have hoped, by magnifying
the reverses of our arms, basely misrep-
resenting the conduct and slandering the
character of our soldiers in the field, and
boldly denouncing the acts of the consti-
tuted authorities of the Government as
unconstitutional 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
dismember our mighty republic and trail
in the dust the emolem of our national
unity, greatness and glory. Let me re-
mind you. my countrymen, that we are
the preservation of the Federal Constitu-
ton, and the maintenance of its laws and
authority Upon your faithfulness and
devotion, heroism and gallantry, depend
its perpetuity To US has been commit
ted this sacred inheritance, baptized in
the blood of our fathers We are SOL
diers of Government that has always
blessed US with prosperity and happi-
ness.
1t has given to every American citizen
the largest freedom, and the most perfect
equality of rights and privileges 1t has
afforded US security i'll person and prop
erty, and blessed US, until. under its
benefcent influence, we were the proud
est 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 center 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
perity 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-
tation, discord, 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 para
lyzed, is the reason for the resort to
military power. To aid the civil author
tiles (not 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 on this or that
political act or measure whilst the coun-
try is bleeding at every pore, whilst a
fearful wall of anguish, wrung from the
heart of a distracted people, is borne
upon every breeze, and widows and
orphans are appealing to us to avenge
the loss of their loved ones who have
fallen by our side in defense of its old
blood-stained banner, and whilst the
Temple of Liberty itself is being shaken
to the very center by the ruthless blows
of traitors, who have desecrated our flag,
obstructed our national highways, de-
stroyed our peace, desolated our fire.
sides, 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,
until 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
our wrongs, if any we have
Whilst rely upon you with confidence