Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-08-25
TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE CONFED-
EIlATE STATES.


equalled in the number, magnitude and fearful
carnage of its oattles-a warfare in which your
courage and fcrtitude have illustrated your coun
try and attracted NOT only gratitude at home, but
admiration abroad-your enemies continue
struggle in which our final triumph must be In
evitable. Unduly elated with their recent sue
cesses, they imagine that temporary reverses
can quell your pirit or shake your determine
ton, and they are now gathering heavy masses
for general invasion in the vain hope that by
desperate eff ,rt success may at length be
reached
You know too well, my countrymen, what they
mean by success Their malignant rage aims at
nothlng less than the determination of yourselves,
your wives and children. They seek to destroy
what they cannot plunder. They propose as the
spolls OF victory that your homes shall be partl-
toned among the wretches whose atrocious cru
elites have stamped infamy oD their Govern
ment. They design to ncite servile insurrec-
ton and light. the fires of incendiarism whenever
they can reach your homes, and they debauch
the inferior race, hitherto docile and contented,
by promising indulgence of the yiest passions as
the price of treachery. Conscious of their in
ability to prevail by legitimate warfare, not dar
ing to make peace lest they should be hurled
from their seats Of power, the men who now rule
IN Washington refuse even to confer on the
subject of putting an end to outrages which dis
grace eur age, o. to listen to suggestion for
conducting the war according TO the usages OF
civilization.
Fellow-citizens, no alternative is left you but
victory, or subjugation, slavery, and the utter
ruin of yourselves, your families, and your
country. The victory is within your reach
You need but stretch forthyour hands to grasp it.
For this and all that is necessary is that those
who are called to the field by every motive that
can move the human heart, should promptly re-
pair to the post of duty, should stand by their
comrades now in front of the foe, and thus
so strengthen tho armies of the Confedesacy as
to ensure success. The men now absent from
their posts would, if present in the field, ssufice
to create numerical equality between our force
and that OF the ipYaders-and when with any
approach to such equality have we failed to be
victorionsl I believe that but few OF those aD |
sent are actuated by unwiHingness to serve their
country; but that many have found 1t difficult to |
resist the temptation OF visit TO their noInes
and the loved ones from whom they have been
so long separated; that others have left for fefn
porary attention to their affairs with the nten- +
ton of returning, and then have shrunk from the /
consequences of bheir violation OF duty that
others again have left their posts from mere
restlessness and desire of change, each qnleting
the upbraidings OF his conscience, by persuadlng
himself that his Individual services could have
no influence on the general result. THESE and
other canses (although far less aisgraceful than
the desire to AVOID danger, or to escape from
the sa acrifices required by patriotism,) are, new
grievous faults, and place the cause of
our beloved country, and of everything we hold
lear, in imminent peril. 1repeat, that the men
Who now owe duty to their country, VINO nave
,eea called out and who have not yet reported
or dnty. or who have absented themselves from
heir posts, are sufficient in number to secure US
INN
call on YOU then, my countrymen, to hasten
o your camps, in obedience to the dictates OF
lonor and of duty, and summon those who have
,bsented themselves without leave, or who have
remained absent beyond the period allowed by
their furloughs, to repair, without delay, 10 tnelr
commands; and l do hereby declare
hat / grant general pardon and amnesty to all
officers and men within the Contederacy, now
absent without leave, who shall, with the least
possible delay, return to their proper posts OF
luty but no excuse will be received for any
lelay beyond twenty days after the first publica-
ton of this proclamation in the state in which
The absentee may be at the date OF the pnDlioa-
ton. This amnesty and pardon shall extend to
all who have been accused of or who have
been convicted and are undergoing sentence
for. absence without leave or desertion, except
ing only those who have been twice convicted of
1esertion.
Finally, / conjure my countrywomen-tne
wives, mothers, sisters anu uau9ntefS-oi Suo
Confederacy, to use their all-powerful influence
in aid of this call, to add one crowning sacrifice
to those which their patriotism has SO freely
and constantly offered on their country's altar,
and to take care that none who owe service In
the field shall be sheltered at home, from the
disgrace of having deserted their duty to their
families, to their country, and TO their God.
{ ~1 Given under my hand, and the seal
SEAL. lof the Confederate States, at Rich
Smond, this 1st day OF August, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and sixty three.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
By the President:
J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of State.