The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-11
lDDRnsg 81 M le1azDryI1.

(T address d the President d published ~ the
in76rmstion Of the Army.
ls's'.a'lA A., nd : 1 coo, d..;,,.
Soldier. Of he Armies Of tie Confederate SsatSs:
In the long and bloody war In which yoar eoan-
Try e engaged you have achieved many noble TT
vastly more numerous hosts. You have cheerfuily
boene prvaiIOps and toll to which yon were un-
used. You have readily submitted to Testrainsts
upon your individual will, that the citizen might
To all these you have lately added another triumph
the nobiest Of human coDquesls--a victory over
yourselves.
As the time drew near when you who first en-
tered the service might well have been expected to
claim relief from your arduOus labOrS aud restOra-
ton 10 the endearments OF home, you have needed
only the call of your suffering country. Again you
come 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 received the testimo-
malls of confidence and regard which You have re-
Gently addressed to me To some Of those first
received, separate Acknowledgements were return
ed. But 1t is now apparent that like generous
enthusiasm peTvades the whole army land 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. II Is, therefore, deemed appropriate and
IL Is hoped, will be equally acceptable, to make
general acknowledgment, instead of successive
special responses. Would that 1t were possible to
render my thanks to you in person, and in the
name of our common country, as we'll as in my
own, while pressing the hand Of each war worn
veteran to recognize his title to ouriove gratitude,
and admiration.
Soldiers! By your will (for you and the people
are bur One) l have been placed in position
which debars me from sharing your dangers, your
sufferings, and your privations in the field With
pride and affection my heart mas accompanied you
in every march with solciiude 1t has sought Il,
has marked your every heroic achievement. Yet,
never In the tOilsOme march, nor In the weary
waic h, nor In the desperate ASSAULT have you rem
defed a service 80 decisive In results as In this last
display OF the highest qualities of devotion and
sei-sacrifce which can 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, with the hating and
euctaht service of the mercenaries who are pur-
chased by the enemy at the price Of higher boun-
lies than have hitherto been known in war. AMI
mated by this contrast, they exhibit cheerful con-
fidence and IhOre rcsOiute bearing. Even the
murmurs Of the weak and timid, who shrink from
the trials which make stronger and iirmer your
noble natures, are shamed into silence by the
spectacle which you present. Your brave battle
cry will ring loud and clear through the land Of the
enemy, as well as our own; will silence the vain
glorious boastings of their corrupt partisans and
their pensiOned press and will do justice to the
cauDny by which they seek TO persuade deluded
people that you are ready 10 purchase dishonorabic
safety by degrading submission.
Soldiers! The coming spring campaign will open
under auspices well calculated to sustain your
hopes. Your resolution needed nothing 10 fOttify
1t. With ranks repIenished under the influence Of
your example, and by the aid OF your representatives,
who give earnest of their purpose add, by iegis
iatiOn, largely 10 your strength, you may welcome
the invader with Il confidence justified by the
memory of past victories. On the other hand,
debit taxation, repetition of heavy drafts dissen
siOns, accustomed by the strife for power, by the
pursuit Of the spois of Office, by the thirst for the
plumber Of the public treasury; and above all, the
consciousness of bad cause, must tell with fear
fu! force upon the over strained energies of the
His campaign In SO must from The eya,ls-
ton of bis resources both in and money, be far
less formidable than these of the last two years,
when unimpaired means We're used with bOundiess
prOdg3Iity, and with results which are sugges ted
by the mention of the glorious names of Shiloh
and PerIysviiie, and MurffeesboTo' and Cticka-
manga, and the Chickahe miny, and Manassas, and
Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville
Soldiers. Assured success awaits Us in OMr holy
struggle for liberty aud Independence, and for the
preservation of a that rsade.s life desirable to
honorable men. When that success shall be reached
TO you, your Country hope and pride, under Divine
Providence, viii! it be due The fruits of that sue
cess will not be reaped by you alone but your
children, and your ctidrens children In long gen
erat MS TO come, will enjoy blessings derived ffom
you that will preserve your memory ever living in
their hearts.
Citizen defenders of The homes, the liberties, and
the affairs of the C0nfedcracy. That the God whom
we all humbly worship may shield you with his
Fatheriy care, and preserve you for safe retifn to
the peaceful enjoyment OF your friends and the as
ISOLATION of those you most love, is the earnest
prayer Of your COminandef-in-C Chief.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, Feb 9th, 1864. te LOW