Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-09-01
THE spIRtT OF THE ARMY.

We havo lately rbeei7ol many iettera ironi
the friends of the soldiers. enclosing letters
from tho army full of all the fire. energy ana
discrimination that has always characterized
those noble defenders of the country. With
them there is neither depression nor despon,
dency-for' depression is coTardice and des:
pondency treason. We have space to-day but
for one extract from letter from an officer in
Gen. Braggs army to his wife:
"You ask me what think about the state
of the war and the country! You Will nave
seen by my letter to ---. think that our
final triumph is inevitable. as the President
saws, and that the VA. will not last longer
than Lincoln's administration. Meanwnhe'
there>xill NO doubt be some very hard fighting
and firmly believe, some glorious victories tol
ns 7 belieye every man of any character in
the army would rather lose every dollar OF
nronertv he possesses, and work the remainder
Of his life as day laborer, than see his coun'
trymen again under the SAME detestable yoke
| with the Yankees.
When men are willing to lay down their
lives, you may confidently predict any sacrifice
on their part, save that..of honor Not so, fear,
with large class of capitalists and SPECTATORS;
thew take the oath to the vile despotism, in the
country temporarily in the enemy's possession
But how transparent is their folly-their crime
Thew will be despised by the Yankees, and u.s.
snredly thoy will earn the eternal contempt OF
all whose opinion is worth regarding among
us. Beggary, beggary before the vile dis
honor of perjury to q sacred cause, and sub
mission to hated despolism.
Who can talk of feilure? Who can brook
the thought that Manassas and Richmond and
fredericksburg are 70 be pprishable names
cited only to mark The folly of temporary
outbreak; that Ire and Jackson shall be rank
ei in history with the brave but unfortunate
chiefs of X, Tendec: that the llic-b.ood OF
eOO, 900 Confederates shall have been poured
out in vain; that all that is good and great Is
to succumb to all that is vile weak aud iSno'
BILE genius and virtue to DC crushed under
thu Juggernaut wheels Of brute physical force.
It is madness-it is want of faith III God
Give me the leader whose battle-cry is Ike
Davis, "victory, final triumph" or like our
immortal Jackson's, Il trust in Cod wish
they would como on.o'
Do you remember that, after the battle OF
jena, when Berlin was in the hands OF Napo-
leon, the Prussian King fugitive, and tr"S-
sia seemed no better than French Province,
Sir James Mcintosh wrote in despair, pro-
found gloom settled over all the foremost
minds in Europe, the colossal power of France
babe fair to strangle every separate nationali-
t7 in its grasp; but old bull.hcadcd Butcher
and q few other brave spirits held fast, and
hoped, and toiled, and fought for better days.
They lived to enter Paris twice in triumph
But I ask you have we come to that yet =
WIZ, what is there yet to try mems souls =
Two garrisons lost by the stupidity of Gen;
eral That is the whole Of it. But we shall
beat them in the next pitched battle, anu
then, perhaps, our poor croakers will take
heart.
am disgustel with the course of the =;
Whatever be its intentions, it is giving aid
and comfort and information to the enemy
But, n importr. the press, with all its blundcrs.
will be found to have played e noble part IN
this war; and God knows VIC have all need T.
be charitable one to another; let us join hands
and drive these Yankees out. Let property
and everything else go to the common cause:
and then, when the good work is done, the
survivors must take good care Of the women
| and children. Who would not he too happy
to take upon himself this labor of love tor the
brave soldier, dead on the field Of hon"rI
have written You a long letter: you must
| be of good cheer.