Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-02-12
The Presidents Address to The Army

il0 PreSfaealJS Ac.sf0SS 10 rae Army
We copy below the admirable address Of
the President to the army. It needs nc
comment but like other articles from his
pen will go straight to the hearts Of The
people.
Soldiers Of the Aauaies eftde Confederate
States
In the long and bloody war in which
your country is engaged, you have achieved
many noble triumphs You have won glo-
rious victories over vastly more numerous
hosts. You have eheerfully borne priva-
tons and toll to which you we're unused,
You have readily suhm{tsed to restraints
1 upon your individual will, that the citizen
might better perform his duty to the State
as a soldier. 10 all these you have lately
added another triumph, the noblest Of hui
man conquests-a victory over yourselves
AS the time drew rear when you who
first entered the service might well lave
been expected to claim relief from your ar
duous labors and restoration to the endear-
monts Of home, you have beeded only the
call of your suffering country Again you
como to tender your service for the puIlic
defenca-a free Offering which only such
patriotism as yours could make-a triumph
worthy of you and Of tue cause to which
you are devoted.
would 10 vain attempt adequately to
express the emotions with which I received
the testimonials of confidence and regard
which you have recently addressed to me.
10 some Of those first received, separate
Acknowledgements Were return ed But it
is now apparent that like generous enthu-
siasm peryades the whole army. and that
the only exception TO such magnanimous
tender will be Of those who, having origi
nally entered for the war cannot display
anew their zeal in the public service. It
is therefore, deemed appropriate. and, it is
hoped, Will be equally acceptable, to make
a general acknoWled cement, instead Of sue
cessive special responses. Would that II
were possible to render my thanks to you
in person, and in the name Of our common
country, as we'll as 10 my own. while press
ing the hand Of each war worn veteran. to
recognize his title to our love, gratitude and
admiration
Soldiers! BY yonr will (for you and the
people are but one,) have been placed in
a position which debars me from sharing
your dangers, your sufferings and your pri-
vations in the field. With pride and af
fiction my heart has accompanied you in
every march with solicitude it has sought
to minister to your every want; with exul-
tation it has marked your every heroic
achievement. Yet, never ia the toilsome
march, nor in the weary watch, nor 10 the
desperate ASA ult, have you rendered ser
vice so decisive in results as ia this last dis
play Of The highest qualities Of de7otion
and self-sacrihce which can adorn the char
acter Of the warrior patriot.
Already the pulse Of the whole people
boats in unsion with yours. Already they
compare your spontaneous and unanimous
offer Of your lives, for the defence of your
country, witE the baltiug and reluctant ser
vice Of the mefeenairies who are purchased
by the enemy at the price Of higher boun-
ties than have hitherto been known in war.
Animated BY this contrast, they exhibit
cheerful confidence aud more resolute bear
ing. Even the murnurs of the weak and
ttn;d, who shrink from the trials which !
make stronger aud frmer your noble ma
lures, are shanled iato silence hy the spec
tacle which you present. Your brave
battle cry will llng loud and clear through
the lana Of the enemy, as well as our own
will silence tie vain glorious boastipgs Ct
their corrupt partizaus and their pensioned
press; and will do justice to the calumny
by whic! they seek TO persuade deluded
people that you are ready to purchase dis
honorable safety by degrading submission.
Soldiers The coming S, RUG campaign
will open under auspices well calculated to
sustain your hopes. Your resolution need
ed nothing to fortify it. With ranks re
pienishea under the inauence Of your ex
ample. aud by the aid Of your representa-
tives, who give earnest Of their purpose to
add, BY Legislation, largely to your strength
you may welcome the invader with conf
dence justified by the memory Of past vic
tories. On other hand, debt, taxation. !
repetition of heavy drafts, disscnsiops, oc
casioned by the strife for power, by the pur-
suit Of the spoils of office, by the thirst for
the plumber Of the public treasury; and
above Ill the consciousness Of bad cause. |
with fearful force upon the over |
strained energies of the enemy. His cam
paIgn y. 2G4 must, from the exhaustion
Of his resources bosn II oleu and money, be
far less formidable than those or . ~, last
two years, when unimpared means were (,
used with boundless prodigality, and with
results which are suggested by the mention
Of the glorious names Of Shiloh and Perrys-
vile, and Murfreesboro' and Chickamauga,
and the Chiekahominy, and Manassas, aud
Fredericksburg and Charlottesville.
Soldiers Assured success awaits us ia
our Loly struggle for liberty and ialepen-
dence, 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 reaped by you alone,
but your children children in long gener-
ations to come will enjoy blessings derived
from you that will preserve your memory
ever living in their hearts
Citizen-defender Of the homes, the liber~
ties and the affairs Of the Confederacy
That the God whom we all humby wor-
ship may shield you with his Fatherly care,
and preserve Won for safe return to the