Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-11-11
/ Presidents Message


60 The Sraate and Hoase IF Rrprcsenta-
tres of the Confederate States IF Inc
rira:
1t is with satisfaction that / welcome
your presence at an earlier day than that
usual for your session. and with confidence
that invoke the aid of your counsels at
time of suci, public exigency. The cam
paign which was commenced almost sinful
.ansously with your session early In May
tast, and which was still in progress at
your adjournment in the middle of June,
has not yet reached its close. 1t has been
prosecuted on scale and with an energy
heretofore uacquslled. When we revert to
the condition of our country at the incep-
tion Of the operations of the present year,
10 the magnitude Of the preparations made
by the enemy, the number of his forces.
the accumulation of his warlilse supplies
and the prodigality with which his vast re-
sources have been layished in the attempt
TO render success assured when we con-
trast the numbers and means at our dispo-
sal for resistance, and when We eontcm-
plate the results Of struggle apparently
go unequal we cannot fail, while rendering
the full mcel ofleserved praise to our gen
erals and soldiers. to | erceive that Power
higher than man has willed our deliverance.
and gratefully to recognise the protection of
kiad Providence in enabling us success
fully to Withstand the utmost efforts of the
enemy for our subjugation.
At the beginning of the year the State
of Texas was partially in possession Of the
enemy, and large portions Of Louisiana and
Arkansas lay apparently defcnceless. OF
the Federal soldiers who invaded Texas,
none are known to remain. except as pri-
soners of war northwestern Louisiana
alarge and we'll appointed army aided by a
pow, rful feet was repeatedly defeated and
deemed itself fortunate ID finally escaping
with loss of one third of its numbers, q
large part of its military train and many
transports and grrtoats The enemy's oc-
cupation of that State is reduced to the lar
row district commanded by the guns Of his
fleet. Arkansas has been recovered, with
the exception Of a few fortified posts, while
Our fo' ces have penetrated into central Mis-
souri,, aff5rding to our oppressed brethren
in that State an opportunity, of which many
have ayailed themselves. of striking for
liberation from the tyranny to which they
have been subjected.
On the east Of the Mississippi, in spite
Of some rcverscs, we have much cause for
graduation. The enemy hoped to effect,
during the present year. by concentration
ofsforccs. the conquest which he had previ-
ously failed to accomplish by more exten
'ied operations. Compelled, therefore to
withdraw or seriously to weaken the siren
ght of the armies of occupation at different
points, he has afforded us the opportunity
Of recovering possession of extensive dis
srcfs of our territory. Nearly the whole
of northern and western Mississippi, Of
northern Alabama, and of western Tennes-
see are again in our possession and all at
tempts to penetrate from the east line into
the interior Of the Atlantick and Cult States
have been baffle1. On the cnrre ocean
and gulf coast of the Confedraey the whole
success of the enemy, with the enormous
naval resources at his command, has been
limited to the capture of the outer defences
of Mobile Bay.
Ii we now return to the results accom-.
plIshcd by the two great armies. SO conf
IDENTIFY rslied Oh by the invaders as sufficient
TO secure the subversion of our Govern
ment and the sutjection of our people to
foreign domination, We have still greater
cause for devout gratitude to Divine Power.
Ia southwestern Virginia, successive armies
which threatened the capture Of Lynchburg
and Saltville have been routed and driven
out of the country. and portion of Ten
nessee. reconquered by our troops In nor
thern Virginia. extensive districts, former
ly occupied by the enemy. are now free
from their presence. In the lower Valley.
their General, rendered desperate by his in
ability to maintain hostile occupation, has
resorted to the infamous expedient of con-
verting a fruitful land into desert by
burning It's mills, granaries, and home
steads, and destroying the food, standing
crops, live stock and agricultural imple-
ments Of peaceful non-combatants The
main army. after series of defeats 10
which its losses have been enormous, after
attempts by raiding parties to break up our
railroad communications which have re-
suited in the destruction Of large part o.
the cavalry engaged in the work after con
slant repulse of repeated assaults On our
defensive lines, is, with the aid of heavy
reinforcements, but with. it is hoped, wan
ing prospects of further progress in the
design. III engaged in an effort, commenc-
cd more than four months ago, to capture
the town of Petersburg. -
The army of General Sh erman, although
succeeding at tie end of the summer in OBJ
tanning possession of Atlanta. has been una
bic to secure any ultimate advantage from
his success. The same general who, in
FEBRUARY last, marched large army from
VIcksburg TO Meridian with no other result
than being forced to march back again was
able. by the aid Of greatly increased num-
bers and after much delay, to force pas
sage from Chattanooga to Atlanta, only to
be tor the second time compelled to withdraw
on the line of his advance, without obtain
'ng control Of a single mile Of territory be-
you'd The narrow track Of his march, and
without gaining aught beyond the precarious
pos'essian CT a few fortified points in which
he is compelled TO maintain haevy garrisons,
and which arc menaced with recapturo.