Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-01-28
From the Richmond Sentinel. !.
Our Duty.

Our Duty.
The news from the United States is su CHI
as to make plain the path OF duty of our
Government and people. When Virgins
ia first seceeded, a distinguished mem Der
of the Convention, now prominent nern
Der of Congress, in contemplation of the
war which tae Washington Government
had already indicated as its purpose, tele-
graphed to his friends that we must "pre-
pare for the biggest fight that was in us. Z" :
This is eanphatscalty ts'ate aao1o. 1t is worse
than idle 10 stop short OF efforts involving
all our strength and energies. Our resoar
ces must all be brought out. The enemy
flushed with hope, is this day busy mar
shaling and distributing his armies. He
is getting his forces in position to move
at the first Opening Of the campaign. Lin
coin is preparing to tall upon us from all
sides at once. Meade is in Cnlpeper. A
black crowd is gathering under Butler
Wilmington and Charleston are to be
strongly assailed. Grant is to come upon
US from the Mountains. West Virginia
also, is to be the basis OF an advance.
All these movements are organizing, and
the men and material are being placed in
position. Countless steamers are plough
ing the waters, hurryipg to and fro, and
busy with the work OF moving men and
munitions and supplies. The middle q
January is now passed, and but two more
moons will fill their horns before the sou
OF the blue bird will tell the arrival Of
spring. 1t will not be many weeks before
the war IS afoot again.
Can we meet this enemy that comes
against us full of the blacklist designs anc
boasting as did the Philistians in the val
ley OF Elah2 We can. We can confron
him and overthrow him, and, by the bless
ing Of God, we will We have, indeed
no hope but in victory, and every ything te
dread from failure. Onr enemies are &C
tuated bv the spirit of the rapacious rob-
ber and the malignant despot combined
If defeated, we shall be stripped of all ou1
comforts, and We shall be bound will
chains suc ch as make Poland groan in ago
ny of soul. We shall be penniless slaves
We have, therefore, everv motive to make
the bravest fight that ever the world hal
seen, rather than yield the struggle te
eclipse all the records of fortitude and he
rosm which other ages and countries hav,
bequeathed to the human race, as exam
Piles and inspiration to the manly and tn,
free! Leonidas and his Spartans shall
not be braver or more devoted than we.
But while we must be reused as on,
man, and energized as a giant, by the rot
berries, the toriures, and the chains which
our enemies proclaim as their purpose, o
clank in our ears, thank Heaven we ar
not reduced to the necessity of takin&
counsel from mere fury and desperation
We are full able to fight this, our deadl,
and intolerable foe. For three years WI
have withstood his fercest onsets, and VIZ
can do it still. But his new efforts viii
demand new energies on our part, and cal
upon us to show that no zeal for our de
struction can surpass or equal our resolut
purposes to defend our liberties and ou
homes with our last breath sooner thar
yield them. 6l
- For the fight that is before us, this i
the precious hour of preparation. The el
elny are Fastening to the field, they ar
deptoying for the battle. That are ~
dosags There is but one answer TO tn
question, what should we be doing? w,
should De collecting every resource an,
! anmmonlng every energy Of the country
and placing them all at the disposition 6
the eaovernnnent We should thoroughl,
and swiftly gather our whole strength 8