The daily confederate. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1864-1865, 1864-02-27
For The Confederate.
A Letter to a Conservative Friend.

Feb II, 1867.
DEAR FRIEND: Nothing of mach intere
has transpired since received your last lettt
to break the routine of~our daily duties j
camp. Since the repillse Of the enemy a
Morton's Ford, Of The Rapidan, they have no
made any demonstrations on our lines w
now enjoying the comforts of winter quar-
t>rs, and the troops are in remarkably goot
health.
Rations are ra her short, but our kind friend
at home keep us supplied with luxuries from
their diaries. Hundreds of boxes CONTAINING
provisions Of various kinds are delivered az
Orange g.. II. every evening The weatbe,
is exceedingly cold here but we are generally
we'll supplied with shoes and clothing.
ln-Elew OF the coming spring campaign our
Commanders have adopted a vigorous policy
to get abSentees back to their commands. ana
daily our ranks are being increased and Il
those entrusted with the execution Of the new
military law perform their duties faithfully.
we shall be able to present bold front t, the
Grand Army" that confronts us. 4
The system Of furoughing the troops inau-
gurated by Gen. Lee last August has worked
admirably. Many who bucked on the armor
Of war three years ago. have now for the first
time an opportunity of visiting their homes and
loved ones. There has been scarcely any de-
SertIons since, aud the men return promptly at
ened constitutions, buoyant spirits, and ruldv
cheeks.
Regiment after reg 'ment, and brigade after
brigade Of this army have renewed their vows
at the altar OF liberty, never to submit to the
rule OF government they have renowned II
IS star of good omen, and its cheerful RAYS
shed light upon every dark corner of our Con-
federacy, and revive the sinking hopes of the
tlmid aud desp9nding. This act of unhinchinp
npIr yaul
trotlsm, by battle-scarred veterans of three
long years of blood and suffering, ought TO ST.
fence the dlsgracetul meetings Of some who call
themselves Conservatives" But the discor
dant voice OF such croakers is mingled with the
acclamati0ns of rejoicing, and | am exceeding
~ sorry to class you, once my most intimate
friend among those who do not join in the pa
trlotlc chorus. You will remember that in tho
early part of 1861, you advocated ,car. and de-
nounced those who opposed it while | agreed
with those good and wise men who used every
expedIent to avoid it. have risked my life in
several bloody battles, while you have never
seen a 1--we Yankee unless he was well guarded
II GU sought successfully petty little office to
bmeld you from the enrolling officers CRASH.
you have accumulated wealth, and if you have |
gwen any OF u TO ara the government or 10 sup |
ply the needy families of soldiers around Won
your nelghhors bear false witness against Won. |
our complaints against our "panic stricken
congress" the ineficency and incapacitv of |
'he reading government officials the wicked |
mess and shortcomings of our military leaders.
fhe unJustness and cruelties Of the laws are
many and grevous
IT you did but "know thy self" you would in
many instances find, that it is your own short
S ghtedness that makes you complain Yon
are too selfish and narrowminded to appreciate
the motives and undclftand the difficulties. of
entrusted bo lro
country. Your criticisms and abuses are
generally the offsprinqs Of ignorance. or n
dcSlro to make people believe You know more
than you really do. You say, "this desolatiny
war ought to be stopped, and it can be done
only by negotiation Have you forgotten
tAat every cxpcdont Of negot alton and
pacihcaton, every effort to make compro-
Mise on the part of the South, was essaycd to
save the Union before she drew her sword p
Is II not then symptom of weakness. TO be
for peace, while our enemy's battle
cry Is unconditional submission Our only
nope f"r peace, said President Davis in his
message OF December. 1862, ''is in the vicor Of
our arms" II is in the euemy's power to end !
'I"" bloody strife at any time they are the
aggressive party, and forius to make any over
''gS' alter shedding 50 much precious blood
ana expanding so much priceless treasure ,
| u
or your ieeIlnSs) an act Of cowardice, and )
ne promp'ings of avarice which our own
PERSONAL and national honor. and the remem-
rance OF the uncoffined graves of our slaucb- !
,[c1 conntrymen, outraged infancy, and I
'cpIesS old age. the smouldering ruins of
'"r once happy homesteads, all alike forbid
Is TO pursue such a course.
on further say" That if the Conf deraie ;
'o'ernment don't propose some terms of =
eace, North Carolina will take the matter in !;
and The cold North State" was in !
dr'est when she severed the bond that bound i
ct 10 the old Union in May, 1861, and gave =
8 Pledge OF hdelity 10 her sister States. :
ma 'he lnslnuatlon that she will prove untrue, .
no. so TAR forget her honor as to ask peace Of !
d enemy who has disregarded her most sa- e
red laws, laid waste her territory burnt her s s
WINS to ashes, robbed her citizens of every r
'ecIcs of private property, and in some in :
ances murdered them in cold blood, is foul :,
LOT on her fair name, and reproach upon = :,
or gallant soldiers, which hope You did not y
ltend. Let them subjugate us if they can /. H..
IL nope may sleep my last sleep with =
nose VINO have fallen crushed and bleeding :,
''oer thelr Weopaus, before my native State -
generates so low. and so far loses sight of :,
II ancient prestige and the prowess of her y :,
MS as to ask peace from bruta! and I'M :,
'rlStlan adversary. Her troops have dis = =
avtd sodleriy qualities equal to any in the =
'fld they have illustrated their valor- on :,
any sanguinary fields, and have endured ),
c pEivatons of camp and the tolls of the u
arch Tor three long years still they are un- 4
'mayed, and look not only hopefully but :,
eerfully in the future and although thew :.
separated from home, kindred and friends ~
icy express their determination to fight on.
With willing hand and bold hearts," until
Z" The last armed foe expires"
ri Whenever they hear such sentiments as W
North Carolina taking her matters. into her D,
Vn hands " without the concurrence of her h,