, 1863-03-03
Letter from Gen. Ko*ccrAns to
the Indiana Legislatures.

0nE knN134u&k ANf994S1A1AIG&
In response to resolutions Of thanks from
the Indiana Legislature, Gen. Rosccraus has
written the following letter:
HEAp9rAR7zEs DEr'T or THE CcxaEnIASD,l
MuRFHLEsBeRo, Tenn, Feb. IS, 1868. j
GENTLEMEN: In the name Of the officers
and soldiers Of the army Of the Cumberland,
thank you for the resolutions Of congratu-
lation, approval and coincidence you have
sent us on account Of the battle of Stone
River.
A. the call Of constitutional liberty, the
peaceful pursuits, left their homes, and sought
TO qualify themselves to fight for q Govern
mcnt that had cost the blood and treasures Of
two great wars and eighty years Of time to
establish.
For twenty weary months the army has
stood guard to keep the Confederate wolf
from your doors. They know what hunger,
cold, weary marchcs, and painful watchings
1t has cost to preserve our homes from fnya-
sion, and our friends and ncighbors from con
scription; it is therefore doub}y pleasure
to hear these free and cheering words now
from home.
The Inscriptions de.pots in our front call
| us Lincoln hirelings, - and NC hear that this
| calumny has lately been repeated at home, by
| some Of the men whose property and persons
have been kept safe, by our toll and blood,
| from the ruthless banda Of Kirby Smith, Bragg
|
these men talk as If VIC were not citizens, and
speak mockingly Of our patriotism. They
stab In the back the most generous, true
hearted men Of the country, while standing
guard in front Of their doors, and they pro-
long by encouraging the rebels to hope
for divided connscls at our homes.
speak the conviction ct the officers aud
| men of this army, when say that we fight
to secure equal rights TO all, under the Con
stitution and the iaws-we fight in defense Of
our homes and hearths, sure to be invaded, II
ret the power. But We long for peace-wc
prsy for peace; and VIC fight for peace-
not for a di*honorable peace-uQt tor 4 lol-
low truce. We haye once been deceived By
shc CRY Of "No coercion" and Of estate
Rights" and have seen how the rebel leaders
practice in East Tennessee. Missouri, Western
masses Of the South, and are witnesses oI
the E1sehood, calumny and perfdy by which
they have been led to wage war against us
We have seen flags Of truce violated, hospitals
anlbulanccs md bosts bearing. flags, .tirei
upon; nnd our sick and wounded stripped o.
tf1clr blankets, and robbed Of their food ani
medicines; We hare been approached In bat
tie by rebels wearing our uniforms and carry
ing our co1ors.
Alter witnessing their wholesale SANDER 0
us, their pcrfldy and treachcry toward th'
masses Of their own people, and the unfai
and dishonorablc means to which they rcsor
10 gain an advantage, we hare been forced tt
the i1nmoyablc but sad conviction, that tn
leaders of this rebellion arc pertdions, treach
crous, nnscrnpnlous and cruel their leader
never will nor can be peaceablc, or tru
friends and neighboTs. And that, Us Mr
Il Davis has said, they only want the power, no
| the will, to invade and subjugatc us.
: | We should rejoice to see the power Of thes
leaders fall By the hand Of their own people
!, whom they oppress; that people for who's
! | EEn ArrR$ to- 4r5f NJ n1xyy1
t but unless it does thus iii we must DESTROY
or it will destroy our Nation, and our chlldre
l. wtl pass under the yoke Of military despot
ism raised on the sable foundation Of ncgr
. slavery, md the more degrading scryitId
Of the "pooF whites," such as now orc