Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-08-18
TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE CONFFD-
ERATE STATES

AFTER more than two years of warfare scarcel,
equalled IN the number, magnitude and fearful
| carnage of its battles-a warfare in which Won
courage and fortitude have illustrated your coun
try and attracted not only gratitude at home, bu
| admiration abroad your enemies continue
struggle in which cur final triumph must be in.
evitable. Unduly elated with their recent sue
cesses, they imagine that temporary reverses
can quel your spirit or shake your determine
tion, and they are now gashering heavy masses
for a, general n7asion in the vain hope that by
desperate effort success may at length be
reached -
You know too we'll, my countrymen, what they
mean by success. Their malignant rage aims at
nothing less than the ex.ernination of yourselves,
your wives and children. TIL seek to destroy
what they cannot plumber. They propose as the
spolls OF victory that your homes shall be part
toned among the Wretches whose atrocious cru
elites have stamped infamy oD their Govern
ment. They design to iHcite servile insurrec-
sion and Light the fires oEinceaaiarism Whenever
they can reach your homes, and they debauch
the Inferior race, hitherto docle and contented,
bv nron .varioAncA af the vilAst naasians
the price of treachery. Conscious Of their in
aDllty to prevail Dy legitimate warfare, not dar-
ing TO make peace lest they should be hurled
from tneif seats of power, the men who now rule
IN Washington refuse even to confer on the
subject OF putting an eld to outrages which dis
grace our age, or to listen to suggestion for
conducting the war according 20 the usages Of
civilization.
FelIoW-cltlzenS, no alternative is left you but
victory, or subjngation, slavery, and the utter
ruin OF yourselves, your families, and your
country. Tho victory is within your reach
You need but stretch forth your 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 rosG of duty, should stand by their
comrades nowEin front of the foe, and thus
SO strengthen the armies of the Confedesacy as
to ensure success. The men now absent from
tileir posts would, If present in tho field ssufce
to create hume rical equality between our force
and that of invaders-and when with any
approach to such equality have we failed to be
victorious believe that but few of those ab-
sent actuated by unwilIingness to serve their
country; but that many have found it dificultto
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 tem-
porary attention to their affairs with the lnten-
ton of returning, and then have shrunk from the
consequences OF their violation of duty; that
others again have left their posts from mere
restlessness and desire of change, each quieting
the upbraidings of hisconscience, by persuadlng
himself that his individual services could have
no influence on the general result. These and
other causes (although far less disgraceful than
the desire to avoid danger, or to escape from
the sacrifices required by patriotism,) are, new
ertheless, grievous faults, and place the of
our beloved country, and Of everything we hold
dear, in Imminent peril. repeat, that the men |
who now owe duty to their country, who have /
been called out and who have not yet reported
for duty, or who have absented themselves from
their posts are sufficient in number to secure US
victory in the struggle now impending. /
call on you, then, my countrymen, to hasten
to your camps, in obedience to the dictates ofI
honor and of duty, and summon those who have
absented themselves without leave, or who have |
rename absent beyond the period allowed byl
their furloughs to repair without delay, to their
respective commands; and do hereby declare
that grant general pardon and amnesty to all /
officers and men within the Confederacy, now
absent without leave, who shall, with the least i
possible delay, return to their proper posts of
duty; but no excuse will be received for any |
delay beyond twenty days after the first publica-
tion of this proclamation IN the State in which |
the absentee may be at the date of the publica- |
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 |
|
Finally, conjure my countrywomen-the the |
wives, mothers, sisters and daughters-of the |
Confederacy, to use their all-powerini Dr. - ,
in aid of this call, to add -sinhuence
to those which ~ ..o crowning sacrifice
ana .aeIr patriotism has so freely
-. constantly offered On their countryss altar,
and TO take care that more who owe service IN
the field shall be sheltered at home, from the
disgrace OF having deserted their duty to fnelr
families, to their country, and to their COD.
Given under my hand, and the seal
J SEAL. of the Confederate States, at Rlch
49, Smond, this lst day Of August, IN 1ne
and sizty-three.
JEFFERSON DAVIS
By the President:
J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary OF state.