Washington telegraph., 1863-08-26

permitted to read letter from this high-toned
and patriotic officer, TO Hon. A. B. Williams
of this place. 1t was never intended for the
public, but we make no excuse for commenting
upon it, and giving extracts. 1t breathes an
earnest tone of devotion to our cause in its
present perils, deep and heartfelt apprecia
tion of our dangers, and solemn appeal. to tn e
people at home, which must have some effect
for good, or we have become as callous a. tbe
neither milestone. The grand burden of it all
Is 'hat our armies must be sustained by the
people at home, or our cause is lost. Arkan-
SLAMS! where is your manhood Each and
every one ask himself the question Look
INTO your own heart and read there whether or
no' you are responsible. Are you devotng all
your thoughts and energies, and means, to
sus'aih our government and our armies, and
'he iainihes of soldier? Or are you trying to
make money? For shame, Quit the latter
ana 10 the former with all your might. Speak
ins Oh tne apathy of the people he says:
ms state of things is what have feared
iroln the beginning. and this is what may de-
ie". our cauSc. The enemy can not suhJugate
US III the held, but our own people can soon do
IL py destroy ag confidence and showing de-
termination not to assist the army. thereby
'emoraIizing it and rendering it inefficient"
Speaking of the sch timents which are exer
cising demoralizing influence upon the SOL
diers, he says ..t-.
They believe that the army alone i striv-
ing for independence. That the pc, pie do not
care one cent which side wins This is n sad
state of things. | may be mistaken | hope
| am. There may be good time coming.
Let it come
Aye, at once too! Remove that cursed
thought from the mind of the soldier. and VIC
are safe. Go in:o the ranks with him those
who can, and let those who yeolly can not. dc
something for the army aud our cause. Any
thing they can do. The tide will turn at once.
and the hordes of invaders will be gradually.
perhaps with the fury of the whirlwird. SWEET
away before the heroic energies of a pcople
who admit no thought nor dream, of aucht bu,
freedom and independence
In another part of his letter of later dat. he
says:
'Conidence is being restored to some ex.ent
III The army, and with proper enei gy on the
part of the officers, and proper support bv the
government and people, all will yet be right.
The time has come when not only the govern
ment, but erery lrdiriaual, should come out and
render what service he can to save our cause.
II 1t was worth the blood and treasure that has
already been expended, it i. surely worth one
more effort to save it. Have the people Of the
South-the bOaste chivalry of the world-tbe
people that would spill the last drop of blood
sooner than submit TO Lincoln's rule-have
they made up their mirds to bend their necks
suhmisslvely to the yoke of slavery? Have
they lost all the prestige of former days. Will
they abandon their hOastel chivalry. which
has ever been the pride of the Southerner. anu
stand as race of poltroons before the civilized
world. And that, too, in a struggle of only a
niue more than two years and when not more
'han third of the men alb G to bear arms have
ever heard gun upon battle field? Shame
upon the race; and | say curses on the man who
Will cry enough before he is hurt, Are We
willing to say our cause is just, but we have
not the courage TO maintain its Forbid it
heaven. better be buried under the ruins of
the government. Better that the race become
extinct. Better tt at the name OF Southerner
and Southern chivalry be stricken from the
English lanyuage! Sooner let the race die
with the cause, and be never known to the
future historian
Amen
Fellow citizensi men and women. these are
The words of true hearted earnest man. which
he is vii ling to seal with his life blood. Heed
them well. If they are foolishness to you, be-
ware. You stanG on the brink of shame.