Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-08-06
rt,E SOLDIERS OF THE CONFEDERATE
i"


mara than two wears of a warfare scarcely
ia in the number. magnitude and fearful carnage
~, battles a warfare in which your courage and
itude have illustrated your country and attracted
'o, onIv gratitude at home, but admiration abroad
our enemies continue struggle IN Which our nnai
you, must be inevitable. Unduy elated with their
of successes they imagine that temporary reverses
r gnel your spirit shake your determination, and
NV are row gathering heavy masses Tor general In
lu in the vain hope that by desperate effort sue
- NAV at length be reached.
Nou knew too well, my countrymen, what they mean
r scceess Their malignant rage aims at nothing less
,f,r tie determination OF yourselves, your wives and
linen They seek to destroy what they cannot plum
Ter They pr0pcse Gs the sp0is of victory that your
gom. shall be parttioned among the wretches whose
trucous cCueities have stamped inamy on theT gCV-
-nqeut They design to incite serV1le lns1rrection
a. light the fires Of incendiarism whenever they can
reach your homes, and they debauch the inferior race
Hitherto d0cils and cor tented by pTOmis Ig indulgence
~. ne. West passions price of treachery. Con-
.-s7n7 0L their inability to prevail by legitimate war
r- not dering TO make peace lest they should be hur
u EoU their seats of power the men who now rule ID
Washington refuse even TO confer on the sdbJect oil
urtitg 40 end to Ourages which disgrace our age or
70 listen to suggestion for conducting the war accord
.ag to the usagcs of civilization.
Frp1 citizens no alternative is left you but victory
~ ugaon, slavery and the utter ruin OF yourselves
.uur families and your country. The victory is within
Car reach You need but stretch forth your hands to
rr8sp 1t. For this all that is necessary Is that
nose WHO are called to the field by every motive that
.a9 move the human heart, should promptly repair to
The Iast Of duty, should stand by their comrades now
il ont OF the ioe and thus strengthen the armies OF
.ar ont .3eracy as TO ensure success The now
bsr from their posts would if present in the field su
fire 10 create numerical equality between force and
t... # he iIvaders-and when with any approach to
eu.l equality have failed 10 be victorious | be-
7e tnat but few Of those absent are ectuated by
willingness to serve their country but that many have
HI Il difficult 70 resist the temptation of visit to
ii If homes and the loved ones from whom they have
l 80 long separated that others have left for tempo
-rT attention their affairs with the intention of re
t-cuDg, and then have shruGk from the consequences
Of their violation OF duty that Others again LETT their
r from mere Tcstessness and desire of change, each
on.ctug The UPbraidirgs Of his conscience by persua
iug himself that his individual services could have no
If re-ce On the general result.
Th-se and other causes (athough far less disgracefu
than the desire 10 avoid danger, or to escape from the
zaoriccs required By patrotism) are, nevertheless
g..evCU8 faults, and place the Of beloved
country and CT everything we hold dear, in imminent
uetii. I repeat that the who now owe duty to
Hlr county, who have been called out and have not
vat reported for duty who have absented themselves
rom their posts are sufficient in number to secure Us
g..tCrv IN The struggle now impending.
cal. Oh you, then, my c0uutIymen, to hasten to
-cur camps in obedience to the dictates OF honor and
81 duty end summon those who have absented them
selves without leave who have remained absent beyond
tie period allowed by their furlOughs, to repair with
o1J tcv 10 their respective commands, and do here
IL declare that giant general pardon and amnesty
to all olclrs and men within the Conederacy, now alb
sent without leave who SHALL with the least possible de-
Nv return to Lcc proper posts Of duty, but no excuse
viii be received for any delay beyond twenty days after
The first publication of this proclamation in the State
IN which the absentee may be at the date of the publ
cation. This amnesty and pardon shall extend to all
Who have been accused, or who have been convicted
and arc undergoing sentence for absence without leave
- deecoa excepting only those who have been twice
convicted Of assertion.
Finally, couture my country women-the wives,
mothers sisters and daughters OF the Confederacy-to
usa their apowertu Influence in aid of this call, to
ADD one cTownDg sacrifice to those which their patriot
N hes 50 freely and constantly afforded on their coun-
y altar aud to tahe care that none who owe service
IL lie held shall be sheltered at home from the disgrace
having deserted their duty to their families, to their
country, and TO their God.
49, Given under my hand, and the Seal of
SEAL. the Confederate States, at Richmond, this
i~~b LIST day Of August, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and si1ty-three.
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
By tie President:
j. 2. BENJAMIN,
-,.OfSy foSo