Wilmington journal., 1864-11-03
alADogARrsRs VALLEY D1sTR1cr, |
October ~, 1864.
Soldiers Of the Army Of the VaHey:

[
October ~, 1864. (
Soldiers Of the Army Of the VaHey:
had hoped to have congrst1a, ed yuu on the splen
did victory by you the morniuz OF the o, at
Belle Grove, Cedar Crerk, when you surprised and
routed two cor ps OF SnerdsDs army and drove back
several mills the remsGDg corps, Capturing e'gh'eeu
pic OF artillery thous aud five huodred prisoners,
O numbr OF coi,rs, large gu anty o. small arms, and
nsny wagons and smbuauces with the eniir, camps OF
the routed orps bat have the modification OF
announcing to you that, by your subsequent uiscou
duct, ell the b-nef Of tha: victory lost and
ri1u, dsss:er Incurred. Had you remaned steadf4st
to your duty and your colors the victory would have
Of the ncst brilliant and decisive of the war;
you would have glorioGsy retrieved the reverses at
w Wincheser ard Fishers H and entitled yourselves
to tie admiration ard gratitude OF your ccuntr5 But
many OF you, including some commissioned officers,
yielding to dsgracefu propensity for plunder desert
ed your coors TO appropriate to yourselves the a2an-
doDsd property OF the enemy, and suoNquenty those
Who had previously remained at their posts their
ranks thnn-d the abseuce she punderers when the
enemy late 10 the afternoon with bis Shattered col mns
made feeble effort to retrieve the fortunes of the
day, yielded ree3less panic and ee1 the field 10
fusion, thereby converting splendid vctory1nto dis
Had any respectable number OF you listened 70 the ap
pesls made to you, and mad1 stand, even At the last
moneat the disaster would have heen averted and the
substantial fruits of victory secured but under the in
dread OF beiGg hanked and p-nicssrlckeH terror
Of she enemys cavalry you would listen to no app>a
threat ordsr, and allowed small body Of cavalry to
penetrate to our train, al csly f.. number OF pitces
OF artillery aud wagons, which your disorder lett un-
protected You have thus ebBcured that glorious lame
in col lncon with the gallant mtn Of the army OF
Northern Virginia. who sill remain proudly Fl ant n
the trenches arouCd Richmond and Petersburg. B.
fore you Can again claim them as comrades, you will
have to erase from your escutcheons the bemlshes
which now obscure them and ths you Go il you
will but be true your torm repata ion, your country
and your homes. You #ho have fought at Menass as,
K chmoDd Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Caancellers-
vile, Gettysburg AID frn the Wilderness to the banks
of James River aud especially ycu who were with the
immortal jackson il all bis tflumphs, capable OF
better things.
Arouse yourselves, then, to q seuSe OF your ma2hood
and appreciation of the eacred caue N which you are
engaged! Yield to the mandates OF discipline resolve
10 sand ~ your coloIs 10 futute at all h z-rds, aud
you et retrieve your reputation snd strike ehc-
tive blows for yoar unty and l;s cause. Let every
mau sparn from bim :5e vie punder gathered On the
field of the l9.h, AID let man, whatever his rank,
whether comba ant orr atant, dare exhiolt his
.poiIs OF that day. They will bs bcdges Of hs dishon
o., tie Insignia OF bis disgrace The officer paues
The OF victory place guard suffers
wagon, for bis private use, bad the soldier who
hats to secure fer himself the abapdoned clothing
money OF flying foe, aud they both sell the hoaor OF
the army and the blood Of ther country for peltry
price. He who follows his culoIs i1to the ranks ot
enemy n pursuit Of victory, dslaDlng the miserable
passion for gathering booy, Comes out ct the battle
with his houor untarnished aod although baretooted
and ragged is far more to be enved than be that Is la
deneG with rch spos, gathered 10 the trail OF his vic
tOrlous comrades. Tuere exceptions the
general misconduct on the afternoon OF tue 194h
but would diff ult to specify them oil. Let those
who did :her duty be satisfied With the consciousness
having done it, and tha :1l,r efforts para
lyzad by the misbehaVour OF o',Fs let them be con-
soled, some extsnt, by the rl thai Tue eneDy
has nothing to boast Of Oh his p.t. lie artillery and
wagons taken were not By his v!or. His camps
destroyed, his srny terribly sG efed aud demol
az d. his losses tar heavier Nan ours even 10 p:opor
tion the rls.lve strength of tie arnl g. his pans
materially upeded, ami b. uu.be to pursue by
OF his crippled condition. oUiueEs OF the Army of
tee Valley, do not Rpeuk 10 yo0 in auger wish to
speak Il kndDees though IN sono sly purpose Is 10
show you tie t ats ui!s.otuue aud )oht out
the way 10 avoid similar ure, and Insure
to Success ory De secured by the
orcement and observance of 'h Id disc pine
O6icers whsevor their rank, ouly give Of
des, but set the e1ampe o ooo, lng tneln and the men
must follow that example. Ft soldiers, l am ready
to lead you again In ueeEce oi our COMMON Cause
l appeal 10 you by The remembrance ct the glorious
career In which your bleeding country, the IuiLeG
homes and devastated eos you you the crils
OF anguish which up from tee widows TpnaLs
of your dead comrades the horrors which wait you
all that Is yours The tduTe II your country suhuga
ted and your hopes of freedom for yourselves your
postefl.y reLder cheerful aud willing obedience to
the rues Of oisc pine, and to shoulder your muskct
again with tue determination more turn your
backs upon the Je but to do battle ike Eeu and SOL
dieIs until 'he Jass vlsge OF the footsteps Of bal
batous snd cfut enemies s erased from ire soil iDty
det cEhte, s.d The indepeuda OF uGy firmly
Established. Ii you VIII CO ;Lls aid rtiy uio pc
tectng care OF lu:t aiu n1rc.:ui God ali ~l Dc He
you vii again be shat you were, and will be
proud to leo d you oLce more to battle.
j. a. EARLY, Lieu tenant General.
PROCLAMATION AFPoIsrIso DAY FOR PUB