American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-04-17


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sou ~ 'Ia dbtLs and gratitude a jour
country
A portion n lIis command ha' been
more fortunate flfn lhe rect Thf}
have bod m opportunity 70 agnalze
their devotion a. our glorious cause 10
more active service and w. ihe face ol
The enemy. And know not bow can
better express my appreciation Of their
services than by using the language Of
The Confederate army officers who were
their immediate commanders.
Col Higgins states in general orders,
mississippi should be proud Of ibis Bat.
talon, and us discipline and energy will
rank with the lormosl Of The oldest and
bravcst troops" And the gallant Gen
Lee, 10 whose Brigade they were, in n
communication TO me on the efficiency
Of the State Troops, uses the following
language:
Il am prompted in the expression OF
this belief. by The conduct Of Lieut. Col I
Burgen's Battalion Of State Militia
They are as Efficient as any troops in
my command the first for duly-the
first in the trenches, and under their off.
GERS apparently well satisfied, never leav-
ing without permission"
thank Won. officers and prvates of
the 81 Battalion and those who were
then associated with you, for your sold
'ierly bearing on that occasion, and the
honor you have won for the service and '
The State. / thank your brave com.
mander. 1t. Col. Thomas A. Burgen, c
for the zeal, devotion and energy he has G
displayed. II, in bis short military CA. c
reer he has committed some mistakes ?
md errors. they are doubtless all attrib.
uIabIe TO his patriotic devotion TO the c
service Of his country. These little spots {
do not dim the lustre Of his achieve. 8
ments and he stands before his country, !
his character as q man unblemished and u
his patriotism as a soldier untarnished. p
But, fellow soldiers, | have come be. ?
fore you to day, not only to greet you as a
an honored commander, but to bid you "
farewell. Why 1t has become necessary G
for me TO retire from the service, it is
perhaps sufficient to say, that an honest !"
difference of opinion has arisen between o
the Commander in Chief and myself as
TO the true policy to be pursued in ref. :
prence to our Militia organization. II
When portion of the Militia were y
first called into active service. it was ..
my purpose TO make them in reality !"
what they were in name MINUTE Man '.'
o place them in camps of instruction for III
! short time--to enule them to The dis. !"
'iplne Of the camp and the field and
when the emergency was no longer press 10
ng to return them to their homes with 'e
heir arms and equipments, ready TO take W V.
he field again at moments warning VI
Thus they would constitute an efficient az
eserve for our defence, on an emergcn, III
y, and at the same time materially con.
ribute TO our supplies as part of our
reducing population. This purpose was y,
Indicated in my address TO the troops on ~ -
he 10Th of August last, in which | used ~, ",
be following language. "When you W. y"
ball have accustomed yourselves to the s g.,
uiies OF the camp-when you shall have -,
,ade proper proficiency in ",he school :. ~
{ the soldier" and in such company and W ~
attahon movements as are necessary on ~
he battle field, and when your presence .''
the field may not be actually neces- w.
airy for our defence, you will be returned va