The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-08-19
Address Of the President to the Sol.
diers of the Confederate States.

Alter more than two years of warfare
scarcely equallcd in the number, magnitude,
and fearful carnage OF its battles a warfae in
which your courage aud foriitude have illustrs-
ted your country and attracted not only graft.
tude at home, but admiration abroad, your
enemies continue a struggle in which our final
triumph must be inevitable. Undnly elated
with their recent successes, they imagine that
temporary rcverses can qusll your spirit OF
shake your determination, and they are now
gathering heavy masses for u genera! nvasiou
in the vain hope that by a desperate effort sue.
cess may st length be reached.
You know too well. my countrvmen, what
they mean by success. Their malignant rage
aims at nothing lees than the e1teymination Of
yourselves, your wives and children. They
seek TO destroy what they cannot plunder.-
They propose as the spoils OF victory that your
homes shall he partitioned among the wrstches
whose ntrocious cruelties have stamped iniamy
on their Government. They design to iucite
servie insurrection and light the fires OF in.
cendiarism whenever they can reach your
homes, aud they debauch the interior race
hitherto docie and contentcd, by promising
indulgence OF the vlest passions As the price
OF treachcry. Conscious Of their inability TO
prevail by legitimate warfare, not daring TO
make peace lest they should be hurled IRON
their seats OF power, the men who now ruIo in
ashiLgtOn refuse even TO confer OH the sub,
ject Of putting an end to outrages which dis.
grace our age, or TO listen " a suggestion for
condus ting the war according 70 the usages Vi
civilization.
Fellow citizens, no alternative IS left you but
victory, or subjugation, slavery and the utter
ruin OF yourselves, your families and your
country. The victory is within your reach
You need but stretch forth your hands to
grasp It For this aud all that 10 necessary Is
that those who are called to the field 10y every
motive that can move the human heart, should
promptly repair " the post OF duty. should
stand by their comrades now ia front of the
Zoe, aud thus 20 strengthen the armies OF the
Coniederacy a. to ensure success The men
no~ absent from tAsir posts would, il present
In the held, suffice ~create numerical equality
between our iOrce and that Of the invaders
and when, with any approach TO such equality,
have We failed u be victorious. I believe
that but few OF those absent are actuated BY
unwiIlingness to serve their country but thst
many have found il difficult To resist the temp
tation Of visit to their homes aud the loved
ones from whom they have been 80 long sepa.
rated that others have left for temporary at.
tentiOn TO their affairs with the intention OF rc,
turning, and then have shrunk from the con.
sequences ot their violation OF duty that 9th,
ers again have left their posts from mere resu
lessness and desire Of change, each quoting
the up0raidings OF has conscience, by persus.
ding himself that his individual services could
have no influence on the general result
These and other Causes (although far less disi
graceful than the desire ~ avoid danger, or 70
escape from the sacrifices required by patriot
ism,) are, nevertheless. grievous faults, and
place the cause Of our beloved country, and OF
every thing We hold dear, IN imminent peril.
repeat that the men who now owe duty TO their
country, who have been called out and have
not yet reported :or duty, or who have Abseu.
ted themselves from their posts, are sufficient
In number 10 secure us victory in the struggle
new impending.
l call on you then, my countrymen, to has.
ten to your camps, in obedience To the dictates
OF honor and OF duty, aud summon those who
have absented themselves without leave, or
who have remained absent beyond the period
allowed by their furioughs, TO repair without
delay to their respective commands, and do
hereby declare that | grant n general pardon
aud amnesty 10 all officers and men within the
Confedc,acy, now absent without leave, who
shall, with the loast possible delay return to
their proper posts Of duty, but no excuse will
be received for any delay beyond twenty days
after the hrst publication OF this proclamation
In the State In wlSch the absentee may bs at