Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-17
A Voica fromthe Army.

Sad md gloomy news is borne t, US from our homes in
North Carolina-news that is calculated to paralize our
strong arms, and cause a blush Of shame to mantle our
weathcr-beaten cheebs-news, which if true, will cause the
finger Of contempt to be point red at us by our comrades in
arms, and rond er us distrustful in the eyes of our leaders.
Can it be possible that any considerable body ofthe sensible,
thinking aud honorable people of the old North State, ever
harbor the thought OF the abandonment of the war-of dis
honorable peace! such Is current camp rum0r. Can 1t be
true that there are any SO lost to all honor and pride, as to
syo wffssiing 10 gTSv u5 ShessEsggio an d7fot the haRed foe OF
the North rule and domineer over us with a rod of iron,
after all our efforts in the field? Are tatre any so faint.hearted
and cowardly as to bend tn Q supplisut knee and ask the
Econ of peace, at the sacrifice of priceless liberty, property,
of honor and pride, and every other attribute of manhood?
Must the blood of our martyr heroes, poured out on so many
bloody fields, be shed in vain; and shall their honored names
90 down to future generations in disgrace and shame p
Must the blood shed on the victorious fields of Manassas,
Shiloh, Williamsburg, the blood-stained fields of Hanover,
and hundreds of other historic struggles 60 for naughtf-
Must the de ad defenders of the battlsnents of Donleson /,
Vicksburg and Port Hudson, be covered with lnfamy p
Shall the bones of our fathers, brothers and sons, bleach
In vain on South Mountain, aud on the hard-fought fields
Of Sharnsburg, Somerset, Perryviila. Murfreesboro' and
Gottvsbuee ? Have we marched through heat and cold and
onSnrad the fatigue of summer and winter campaigns, in
brnper. In thirst,.and in want, only to give up the struggle
when the priceless jewel-Hberty-is nearly obtained?
Snail the thousands who have sickened and died in hospi-
tolls he buried in disgrace and shall the. mangled heroes
wbo have pono home disabled and iimbiess, die in penury
and neglect :? Shall the strong-arnlcd and stout-hearted
of the tens of thousand who now bear our arms and defend
:. .ol ba banished and driven from our land, or live in
J;sorace and chains 2 Shall we give up the noble battle
Aoe that has, for over two yo-rs, waved so proudly
.hrouob 90 many victorious battle-ields. and around which
q glorious and cherished memories cluster els
sooco 40 dear, or life SO sweet" to be purchased at such a
rost . Shall our hitherto proud old rnother State De the
60 r. cripge before the Northern tsIant, and the trst to
- tarms of the murderers of 50 many OF nor cherlsneo
and precious children and must the proud names nei
a ~. have won ON a Thousand battle fields, pale before the
d;srraceful and cowardly acts of those at home ! NO no
~ Whatever the sacrifice. it viii never do to cry Ior
neoca now. There is no peace for US without independence
pa I;hortv and are those at homo ready and willing to beg
S-ans.o at tho sacrifice of this priceless boon ? Ii there
he anv such, they deserve chains ana slavery, ana all ln'
- tbe Northern tyrant can aeap Oh them.
We fear the fainthearted and timii ut nome nave listened
.o the counsels of demagogues-of men who seek TO sell u
20 n Northern foes, to serve the Z own infamous ends
whereby they can obtain place aud power ana bolsfer al
- foIlen fortunes. We caution all such to beware~hoV
- ,orrmur and complain 1t is useless to cry peace
Tho Northern appetite fol. blood il not sppeased There i
.nDaoco for us but in chains and slavery! Every murmur Q
d;scontent that is uttered; every dependent word that i
snoken. tends to paralize our efforts In inc held inspire
.pn6dcnce in the enemy, and adds to the torrent of life
Hood that is daily flowing from thu veins OF the army
- onrmurine and complaining cease. at Eome-1t unwlt
in0ly aids and abets the enemy.
~ ~ stranoe IL is, that it IS those at home on'y-those VIII
= or;oying all the luXurles and comforts OK lite. and ar
o IN the tolls and danger of tia battle feld-who ar
-. = murmur and demand peace. No such spirit &C.
.aotaa tba army, It appreciates the danger to which suci
..s.Ioads Thew know it raises legions OF armed enemies
= oontend against; they know II inspires the enemy Wit
".sEdorce and tends to paraize their own efforts. The
feel that it still further adds to the huSo oun1" Oh
~ nroIonc the struggle for independence. They sigh IA
e.. the Injuries and comforts the 0lscohtended lul
orhome. enis but they are willing chee1fally to stl
snaer bleed and die, if necessary, Tor the saiVaton II u
Confaderacy. They are Determined netSt ~ sHs lp =.
800, ,nt;i omr country is free They loathe and despr
100" rS;ce and slavishness exhibited by the cravei
~ 80 end will show their detestation of the wipe
w%n = misleading the people, when the war is over.