Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-10
TO the Soldiers of the ~Confederat. eta.es.

n,ge sf its BATTLES; a warfare in which yoar COURAGE
anu fol titude have illustrated your country and At
tracted Not only gratitude at lone, but admiration
abroad your cuemies continue a struggle in which
our final triumph must be Inevitable. Gnduiy clated
with their recent successes, they inrngine that tempo
rary reverses can quell your spirit or shake your de-
sos for a general invasion, in the vain hope hat by
desperate effort, success may at length bercacaed.
You know. TOO well, my country meii, what they
mean by success. Their malignant rage aims { moth
ing less than the determination of yourselves, your
wives, and children. They seek To q. 81. on what
they cannot plumber. They propose as the spells of
victory, that your homes shall be partitioned among
the wretches whose atrocious crueltIes have stanna5
infany ON their Government. They design to incite
scrvile insurrection and light the fires of incendiar.
ism wherever they can reach your homes. aud thsv
debauch the inferior race, hitherto docilc and content
sd, by promiSihg indulgence of the viiest passion, as
the price ottfrachery. Concious of their Inability TO
prevail by legitimate warfare, not daring to make
peace lest they should be hurled from their seats of
power, the mrH who now rule in Washinyrullre refuse
even to confer on the.subject of putin. All end To
outrages which disgrace our age, or to listen taa sug-
gestion for conducting the war according to the usages
of civilization.
Fellow citizens, no alternative is left you INT yicto.
ry or suhjugation, slavery and the utter ruin of your
selves, your family and your country. The victory ia
within your reach. You need but stretch forth yenr
hands to grasp it. For this end, all that is nscessa-
ry is. that those who are called to the field by every
motive that can move the human heart, should prompt
lyrepair to the post Of duty. should stand ~ their
cemr idrT now in front OF the foe, and thus so strensth-
en- tAc armies of the Confederacy al TO ensure success.
The n.1 now absent from their postwould, if present
tsset,t 2 f $500 49, s Ss sssf saS = rsasrszsnsSw nsn
be victorious believe thai bat few of those absent
are actuated by unwillngness to serve their country:
hut that many have found 1t difficult to resist the
temptation of a. visit to Their homes and the LOVED
ones from whom they have been so long separated !:
that Others have left for tcrnl,orary attention to their
affairs, with the intention Of Returning, and then have
shruhk from the cons quencee Of their violation of
duty that others, again, have lett their post fer mere
restlessness and desire oil change, each ouietinp the
upbraidlnss or his conscience, by persuading himself
that his individual service could nave nc, influence on
the general aesult.
These e other causes (although far less disgraca-
full than = Etesire TO avoid dtnger, or to escape from
the AaCrilGS REQUIRED DV DatrJutiaml1ra
grleVous faults. and place the cause Of our beloved
country. and OF everything we hold dear. in iminent
peril. / repeat that the men who now owe duty to
their country. who have been called out and have not
yet reported for duty, or who have absented them.
selves from their post, are sufficient in number to. SO
cure us victory IN the struggle now impending.
call on you, then my coutrymen. to hasten tn Won,
camps, in obedience to the dictates of honor and ~
duty, and summon those who have absenIed Them
selves without leave, or who have remained absant
beyond the period allowed by their furlouphs tc
repair without delay to their respective commands.
. and l do hereby dec are that l grant a general mar
dot; and amnesty to all officers and men within thu
J., Confederacy, now absent without leave. who sbaII
post IS Of + duty but SHsi no ez ssusy' viii Vfi0 Be receiver &c iHsdr sd prem. a.1
n delay beyond twenty days after the first publicafioT
e OF this proclamation in the State in which the absen
& tee may be at the date of the publication. This am
: lesty and pardon shall extend to all who have beer
accused, or who have been convicted and are under
going sentence of absence without leave or desertion
except these who have been twice convicted of de
sertion.
Finally, / copjure my countrywomen. the vive,
a mothers, sisters and daughters of the Confederacv-
to use'theiI allpoweriul Influence in aid of this cal
le to add one browning sacrifice to tho.e which thei
patriotism has so freely aud constantly offered a
is their country altar, and to take care that none VIII
is owe service in the field shall be sheltered at HON
is from the disgrace of having deserted their duty ;
ne their families, to their country, and to their God.
ID 1911 Given under my hand, and the Seal Q
l. the Confederate States, at Richmond. thi
= " 1st day OF August in the year flour Lor
i. Que thousand eight hundred and sixty
:, By tho President: J. F. BExsAs1s.
Ell Secretary of Stat