The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-10
ADDRESS OF rRE PRESIDENT 10 Tns
ARMY.

The following Is an address Of the Presi-
dent TO the Army:
Soldiers Of tho Armies Qf aAs CbvAtSrots &atss.
In the long and bloody was In which .yosf eoun
Try 10 engaged, you hass aehtszsd many peAls tsf-
smphs. You have won sioEieas Victories over
vastly more numerous hosts. You have eheerfaily
ho,ss pfiva;ions and toll 70 which you were un-
used. You have readily submitted to restrainsts
upon your Individual will, that the citizen might
better perform his duty to the State colder
To all these you have lately added another Triumph
the nobiest Of human conquests--a victory over
yourselves.
As the time drew near when you who hrst en-
tered the service might well have been expected to
claim relief from your arduous labos and restora-
tion to the endearments Of home, you have needed
only the call of your suffering country. Again you
come TO tender your service for the public defence
"a FREE offering which only such patriotism as
yours could make-a triumph worthy of you and
Of the cause to which you are devoted.
would in vain attempt adequately to express
the emotions with which resolved the testimo-
mails of confidence and regard which you have re-
Gently addressed TO me. To some Of those frst
received, separate Acknowledgements were return
cd. But 1t is now apparent that like generous
enthusiasm pervades the whole army, and that the
only exception TO such magnanimous tender Will
be of those who, having originally entered for the
war, cannot display anew their zeal In the public
service. 1t Il, therefore, deemed appropriate and
It Is hoped, will be equally acceptable, to make
general acknowledgment, instead of successive
special responses. Would that II were possible to
render my thanks to you In person, and In the
name of our common country, as well as In my
own, while pressing the hand Of each war-worn
veteran 10 recognize his title love- gratitude,
and admiration.
Soldiers. BY your will (for you and the people
are but one) l have been placed in position
which debars me from sharing your dangers, your
suffsrines, and your privations In the field. With
pride and affection my heart has accompanied you
in every march with soiIcitude 1t has sought To
minister to your every want with exhultation 1t
has marked your every heroic achievement Yet,
never in ths tollsome march, nor in the weary
watch, In the desperate assault, have you rem
ered service % decisive In results In this last
dINplay of the highest qualities OF devotion and
self sacrifce which can adorn the character of the
warrior patriot.
Already the pulse of the WhOe people beats In
unison with yours. Already they comuare your
spontaneous aud unanimous offer of your lives, for
the defence of your country, with the mating and
reluctant service of the mercenaries who are pur-
chased by the enemy at the price OF hlgher Doun-
ties than have hitherto been known in war. AMI
mated by this contrast, they exhibit cheerful con-
fdence and IHOTe resOlute bearing. Even the
,nurmurs of the weak and tiinid, who shrink from
the trials which make stronger aud hTmcr your
noble natures, shamed Into silence by the
spectacle which you present. Your brave battle
cry will ring loud and clear through the land of The
glorious boastInss of their corrupt partIsans and
their pensioned press; and will do justice to the
caiumny by which they seek 10 persuade dsuded
p3ople that you ready to purchase dishonorable
Safaty by degrading submission.
q" Soldiers. The coming spring campaign will open
under auspices vel calculated TO sustain your
hopes. Your resolution needed nothing TO fortify
Il. With ranks replenished undsE the influence Of
your example and by the aid your
who give earnest Of their purpose to add, by legis
latiOn, largely to your strength, you may welcome
the invader with q confidence justified by the
memory Of past victories. On the other hand,
debt, taxation, repetition OF haasy drafts dissen
sions, occasi0ned by the strife for power, by the
pursuit Of the spoils of Office, by the thirst for the
plunder of the public treasury; and above all, the
consciousness of bad cause, must tell With fear
enemy His campaign in 1854 must from the exhaus-
ton OF bis resources both in men aud money, be TAR
less formidable than these of the last two years,
when unimpaired means were used with bOundiess
prOdiRaity, and with results which are suggested
by tins mention of the glorious names Of shiloh
and Pcrrysytlle, and MuFfreesb0To' and Cnicka.
mauga. and the Chickahominy, and Manassas, and
Frederic ksburg, and Charlottesville.
Soldiers! Assured success awaits Us In our holy
struggle for liberty and independence, and for the
preservation Of all that renders life desirable TO
honorable men. When that success shall be reached
to you, your eountys hope and pride, under Divine
Providence, will Il be due The fruits of that sue
cess will not be reaped by you alone; but your
children, and your childrens children In long gen
erati ms 10 come will enjoy blessngs derived from
you that will preserve your memory ever living In
their hearts.
Citisen defenders of the homes, the liberties, and
the altars Of the Coufederacy! That the God whom
we all humbly worship may shield you with HE
Fathery care, and preserve you for safe retsrn to
the peaceful enjoyment Of your friends and the as
suciation Of those you most love, Ii the earnest
prayar of your COmn,ander-in-C Chief.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond. Feb. 9th. 1854.