Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-08-15
Address OF Jcff. DaVis.
BALTIMORE, August 8 /.

:
The american of this evening has
Richmond papers of the 9Th, which con
tain the following address of the Presi-
dent to the soldiers of the Confederate
States
After moro than two years OF war
fare scarcely equalled in the number,
magnitude and carnage of ITS battles, a
warfare in which your courage and forti-
tude have illustrated your country, and
attracted not only gratitude at home but
admiration abroad-your enemy contin-
ues struggle in which your final tri-
umph must be inevitable; unduly elated
with their recent successes, they imagine
that temporary reyerses can quell your
spirits or shake your determination, and
they are now gathering heavy masses for
n general invasion in the vain hope that
by desperate effort, success may at last
be reached.
You know too well my countrymen,
what they mean by success. Then ma
lignant rage aims at nothing less than
the determination of yourselves, your
wives and your children. They seek to
destroy what they cannot plumber. They
propose as the spoils Of victory that your
homes shall be partitioned among wretch
es whose atrocious cruelty has stamped
infamy on their Government. They de-
sign to incite a seryie Instruction and
light the fires of incendiarsm wherever
they can reach your homes, and they
,lebauch an inferior race, heretofore 40
ellie and contented, by promising them
indulgence of the vilest passions as the
price of their treachery.
Conscious of their inability TO prevail
by legitimate warfare, not daring to
make peace lest they should be hurled
from their seats of power, the men who
rule in Washington refuse TO confer on
tho subject OF putting an end to the out
RACES which disgrace our age, or listen
TO a suggestion for eondncting the war
according to the usagcs Of civilization.
FELLOW CITIZENS No alternative is
left you but victory or suLjugation, slav-
cry, and the utter ruin of yourselves,
Your families, and your country.
The victory is within our reach, and
you need but to stretch forth you. hands
TO grasp it. For this, all that is nccssa-
ry is, that those who are called to the
field, by every motive that Kan nerve hu
man hearts, should promptly repair to
he post of duty and stand by their COM
rades, now in front Of the foe, and thus
SO strengthen the army Of the Conleder-
aey as TO ensure success"
Davis then appeals TO those who have
absented themselves from their posts TO
return 10 duty, and declares general par
don and amnesty TO all officers and men
absent withou: leave who shall without
delay return TO their posts, or within
twenty days after the publication of this
proclamation in the State where tie ab-
sentees may be.
This pardon extends to al who have
been accused or convicted and arc under
going sentence for absence without leave
or desertion, except those twice convicted
of desertion.
He then says, finally
q conjure my countrywomen. wives,
mothers, sisters and daughters Of the
Confederacy, to use their all-powerful
influence in all of this call, and TO add
one browning sacrifice to those which
their patriotism has so freely and con-
stanty offered on their country's altar,
and to take care that none who owe SER
vice in the field should be sheltered at
homo from the disgrace of having deser-
ted their duty to their families, their
country and their God"
(Signed,) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
By the President.
J.P. BENJAMIN, Sec'v of State.