The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1863-08-19
TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE CoNFEDE-
RATE STATES,


RATE STATES.
"A FTER more than two years Of warfare scarce
- ~ equaled in the number, magnitude, and fear
ful carnage of its battles warfare in which your
courage and forliiude have illustrated your country,
and attracted not only gratitude at home, but admit
lion abroad; your enemies continue struggle in |
which our final triumph must be inevitable. Unduiy |
elated with their recent successes they imagine
temporary reverses que your spirit or shake your
determination, and they are nowgahering heavy
ses for general inyasion in the vain hope that, by
desperate effort, cess may at length be reached.
You know too well, my counlrymen, what they
mean by success. Their malignant rage aims al no.
thing less than the determination Of yourselves, your
wives, and children. They seek to destroy what they
cannot plumber. They propose sshe spells Of scto-
ny, that your homes shall be partitoned among the
wretches whose atrocous cruellies have stamped in
fanny on their Government. Their design is TO incte
setvie instruction apd light the fes Of ncendarism
wherever they can reach your homes, and they de-
bauch the inferior race hitherto docile and content
ed. by promising indulgence of the vest passions,
the price OF reachery Conscious Of their inability 10
prevail by legitimate warfare, not daring TO make peace
lest they should be hurled from their seats Of power
the men who now rule in Washington refuse even to
confer on the subject Of putting end to oulrages
which dgace age, or to listen 10 suggestion for
conducting the according 10 the usages Of ciyili-
zation,
Fellow citizens, no alternative is left you bnt vcto-
ry or subugation Slavery andahe utter ruin Of YOUR
selves, your families and your country. The victory
is within your reach. You need but sis,chforh your
hands 10 grasp it. For This end all that is necessary
ii tia, those who are called TO the field by every mo-
tive that can move the human heart, should promp-
~ repair to the post of duty. should stand BY their
comrades now in front Of the foe and thus strength
en- the armies of the Coniederacy as insure success.
The men now absent from their posts would, if pre-
lsenl in the field, suffice 10 create numerical equality
between our forces and that of the invadefs-and
when, with any approach TO such equality. have we
failed to be victorious / believe that but few Of
those absent are acuaisd by unwIlingness to serve
their country; but that many have found il difficult
10 ress the temptation Of o visit to their homes ana
the loved ones fpom whom they had heen so long
paated that others have left Tor temporary attention
to their affairs, with the intention OF reluraing and
then lys.shrenk from the consequences OF their
iaon OF july that others again. have left their posts
IRON mere iesessness and desire Of change, each quiz
enc The upbraidngs Of his conscience bypefsusdlng
himself that his individual services could have no in-
fuence on the general result
Those and other causes (athough far less Disgrace
che sacrifices required BY patriols) ae, nevertheless
prieyous faults, and place the cause Of our beloved
county, and Of everything we hold dear, in imminent
peril / repeat, that the men who now owe duty IL
their county, who have been called out anil have moi
vel reported for duty, or Who have absented them
selves iron their posts, sufficient iE number Sc
tcure Us victory in the struggle now pendhg.
/ call on you, then, my coun,rymen, TO hasten 10
your CAMPS m obedience The dictates Of honor aud
duty, and summon those who nave absenled them
selves WITHOUT leave, or who have remained absent
beyond the period allowed BY their furloughs, 10
pair without delay to their respective commands and
II DO hereby declare that grant general pardon and
amnesty TO al officers aud men within the Confede
lacy, now absent without leave. who shall. with th,
Least possible delay, return 10 their po.ss posts o
duty; but 10 excuse will be received FOR any delay
beyond twenty days after the flst publication Of TIM
proclamation in the State 10 which the absentee ma,
lie az the date Of the publication. This amnesty ans
pardon shall extend 10 all who have been accused
who have been convicted and are undergoing sen
ence FOR absence without leave % drscron, except
ing only those who have been twice convicted Of de
lsertion.
Finally, | eonilre nv country women-ihe wives
mothers, sisters nddaughlets 81 the ConfeJeracy-
10 use their alpoweriu inueace 10 aid Of this cai
10 adJ one GROWING sacrifice II those which .her pa
lriolisn has 30 Freely and constantly Offered On lhe
couRlIys altar and TO take care thai none Who ow
service in tas field ,hal be sheltered al home rom III
disgrace Of having deserted their duty TO their fam
lies, 10 their county, and 10 their God.
, Gren untkr nv hand. and the scsl cfih
-. 2 Confederate States, al Richmond. this u:
nS' day OF August. in the year OF our Lord on
~ thousand eishi hund.ed and siIi,.three.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
b. the President: