Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-08-26
Address of the President to the Sol
diers of the Confederate States.
A FTER more than two Years Of wa

A FTER more than two years of war
n fare scarcely equaed In the NUMBER masnitude ant
fearful carnage of It's battleS-a warfare in which you
and f.tde have illustrated your country aud At
not only gratitude ut home admiration abroad
your enemies continue struggle In which our bna ui
unph be inevitable. Unduy elated with their recent
successes, they imagine that temporary reverseS can que
your spirit and shake your determination and tcy are now
gathering heavy for general invasion In the vain
hope that by desperate effort success may at length b
reached.
You know too well, my countrymen, what they mean by
Their malignant rage aims nj nothing less thar
the extermna:on Of yourselves, your wives and children
They seek destroy what they cannot plumber iheyp pro
pose the spolS of victory that homes shall be ri-
toned among the wreches whose arocOs crileltles have
stamped infag their Government They design 10 in
cite servie nsuecon and light the fires OF ncendiarSn
whenever they reach homes and they dcbauc the
inferior race, hitherto docle and contented by promising
indulgence Of the vest passions rs the price of reachery
Conscious Of their inability to prevail by legitimate warfare
daring make peace lest cy should be hurled from
their seats of power the men who now rilc In washington
even @ sn our 'S M 10
for conducting the war according to the uSses Of cvlza
ton.
citizens, no alternative Is cft yotut victory
subugaion slavery aud the utter ruin of yourselves, YOU
families and your country. The victory is within youg
reach. You need hut stretch forth your hands TO grasp Il
For this and all that neceSSary Is that those who arc called
10 the field, by every motive that move the human
heart should promptly repair 10 the post ut duty, should
stand by he comrades in front Of the foe, aud thus
strengthen the armies OF the Conecracy rs 10 insure sue
The absent from their posts would ii pre-
in the field suffice TO create numerical equality be
tween force and that of the invaders-and whcn will
any approach such equality, have failed 10 be vcto
ros believe that but few OF those absent actuated
by unwngneS serve their country but that many have
found difficult 10 resist the temptation of viSitto their
homes aud loved from whom they have been so long
separated that Others have e for temporary attention
their affairs with the intention OF returning and then have
shnk from the consequences OF their violation Of duty;
that Others again. have LETT their posts from mere restless
and desire of change, each quietns the npbradng o'
his conscience by persuadns himself that his Individual
service could have no influence the general result
These and other ahOngh tr less disgaceiu than
tho desire avoid danger 10 escape from the sacrifices
required BY parOtiSm nevertheless, grieroS faults.
and place the cause o beloved country. and Of every
thing hold DEAR In imminent peril repeat that tie
who owe duty 10 ri"r country, who have hecn
called and have not rrpgrcd for duty or who have
abSrncd themselves FROM their posts are sufficient In mum
her 10 secure victory In the struggle now impending
call OH yor then, my counymen, 10 hasten 10 your
camps obedience the dictates honor and duty and
those who have abscntcd tc without leave,
who have remained absent beyond the period allowed
by their urougs repair without delay 10 their respect
i've commands and do hereby declare that grant gen.
cal pardon and amnesty 10 all officers and men within the
Confedcracy, absent Without leave. who SHALL with the
least possible delay, return To their proper posts OF duty
h will be received for any delay beyond tvcny
days after The first publication of this proclamation III the
State in which the absentee may be the date of the pub
icaiion. This amnesty and pardon shall extend 10 all who
have been accused who have been convicted and are
undergoing for absence without leave deScrton
excepting only those who have been twice convicted OF de-
sertlon.
Finally, conure my countrywomcn-the wives, moth
Sisters and daughters OF the COnederacyto their
al powerful influence In aid of this CALL 10 add one crown
ing sacrifice those which their patriotism has freely
and constantly offered on their country's altar and TO take
that WHO service In the field shall be shell
tered home from the disgrace of having deserted their
duty their families. their country and TO their God
Given under my hand and the seal of the Confederate
States, Richmond, this first day Of August, in the
H. year Of our Lo.d ono thousand eight hundred and
sixty-threc. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
By the President:
J. p. BENJAMIN, Secretary of State.
IL 81