Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-02-25
JEFF. Davi' Proclamation to the
Rebel Armies.

Soldiers of the Armies Of the Confederate
States:
In the long and bloody war in which
your country is engaged you have achieved
many noble triumphs. You have won
glorious victories over vastly more nu-
merous hosts. You have cheerfully borne
priyations and toll to which you were un-
used. You have readily submitted to re-
straints upon your individual will, that
the citizen might better perform his duty
to the State as a soldier. To all these
you have lately added another triumph
the noblest of human conquests--a victo-
ry over yourselves. As the time drew
when you, who first entered the service,
might well have been expected to claim
relief from your arduous labors and res
toration to the endeaimcnts of home, you
have needed only the call of your suffer-
ing country. Again you come to tender
your service fer the public dcfencc-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 received
the testimonials of confidence and regard
which you have recently addressed 10 me.
To some of those first received scpciate
acknowledgements were returned; but it
is now apparent that II like generous en-
thusiasm pervadcs the whole army. and
that the only exception to such magnan-
imous tender will be of those who, hay
ing originally entered for the wa, can
not display anew their zeal in the public
service 1t is therefore deemed app.npi'i-
ate, and hoped will be equally acceptable,
to make general acknowledgement, in
stead of successive special rcsponscs.-
Would that it were possible to render my
thanks to you in person, and in the name
Of our common country, as well as in nv
own, while pressing the hand of each war
worn veteran to recognize his title to our
love. gratitude and admiration.
soldiers BY your will-for you and
the people are one-l have been placed
in II position which dcbars me from sha-
ring your dangers, your sutitings and
your privations in the field. With pride
and affection my heart has accompanied
you in every march with soliciufe it has
sought to minister to your every want ;
with cXuliation it has marked yaar every
heroic achievement vet never, in the toll
some march, nor in the weary watch, nor
in the desperate assault have you rendered
a service so decisive in results as in the
last display of the highest qualities of de-
votion and self-sacrifice which adorn the
character Of the warrior patriot. Already
the pulse of the whole people beats in
unison with yours; already they compare
your spontaneous and unanimous offer of
, your lives for the defence of your country
the mcrccnaries who a..e purchased by the
enemy at the price of higher bounties
than have been hitherto known in war.
Animated by his contrast, they exhibit
cheerful confidence and more resolute
bearing. Even the murm,rs of the weak
and timd, who shrink from the trials
which make stronger and iirmcr your no.
Bile natures, are shamed into silence by
the spectacle which you present.. Ou:
brave battlc-cry will ring loud and clear
through the land of the cncmy's as well
as our own, will silence the vainglo.ious
boasting of their corrupt partizans and
pensioned press and will do justice to the
calumny by which they seek to persuade
dcludcd people that you are ready to
purchase dishonorablc safety by degrading
submission.
Soldiers-the coming spring campaign
will open under auspices well calculated
to sustain your hopes. Your resolution
needed nothing to fortify it, With ranks
rcplenishcd under the influence of your
!, example, and by the aid of representatives
who give earnest of their purpose 10 add
by legislation largely to your strength,
you may welcome the invader with con-
fdence justified by the memory of past
victories. On the other hand, debt,
taxation, repetition of heavy drafts dis
sensions occasioncd by the strife for pow
er, by the pursuit of the spoils of Office
by the thirst for the plunder of the public
treasury, and, above all the consciousness
of a bad cause must tell with fearful force
upon the overstrained energies 0f the ene-
my. His campaign of 1864 must from
the exhaustion of his resources of men
and money, be far less iormable than
those of the last two years, when unim-
paired means were used with borndless
prodigality, and with result which are
suggested by the mention of Shiloh, Per-
ryville, Murfreeboro' and the Chickaho-
miny, Manassas, Fredericksburg and
Charlottesville.
Solders-assured success awaits us in
our holy struggle for liberty and inde-
pendence, and for the preservation of all
that renders life desirable to honorable
men, when that success shall be reached
to you your country's hope and pride,
under divine Providence, will it be due
The fruits of that success will not be
rcaped by you alone, but your children
and your children's children in long gen.
erations to come will enjoy the blessings
derived from you that will preserve your
memory ever living intheir hearts.
Citizen defenders of the homes, liber-
ties and altars of the Confederacy-That
the God whom we all humbly worship
may shield you with His fatherly care,
and preserve you for safe return to the
peaceful enjoyment of your friends and
the associations of those you most love, is
the earnest prayer of your Commander-in
Chief. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Fun should be cultivated as fine