Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-06
Headquarters IN THE FIELD,
1st Brigade of Z. Tenn. Vol. Infantry,
Near KHo1,riUe jan % 1864

you in the field as Assistant Adutant General. 1t
would be more consonant to my feelings to re-
main with You until the arms of those in battle ar
ray against You and your liberties are thrown down
and vour mercies and clemencies invoked by your
enemies but after the lapse of twenty-eight months
of actual service in the field find my health has
failed me, my constitution greatly impaired, and 1
am gradually wasting away. The chances are
against restoration TO health, much so that
have been compelled to leave the army and part
from you at least fol a time; but the loss of my
health and all possessed will not be regretted by
me if / can but live to see this unhOly war ended,
the present rebellion quelled. the constitution, law
sand order restored, the beams of tranquility and
sunshine of peace more flowing and entwlnlnS
themselves around our once happy but now dis
tracted people.
With yOu as brother officers and soldiers through
a period of twenty-five months of the severest pri-
vations active labor, toll and danger my feelings
and relations so far as l know, have been of the
kindest character 1 have never knowingly injured,
deceived msled or oppressed any one, nor have any
wronged me gave me any serious cause of COM
plant-so that in truth and sincerity, l now tendegJ
to you my profound thanks and unceasing gratitude
for the forbearance shown me by all of you. Off
GERS and men You have at all times kindly over
looked such foibes as 1 possessed, as well as my
omissions and errors in the discharge of my duties,
which duties | am sure YOU will agree with me,
have been laborious and ever irksome at times
der all the surrounding circumstances.
Before finally taking leave of you, however on
this OCCASION pardon me for intending upon your
time and consideration a few words Of admoniton,
for assure you they are spoken in good faith and
believed to be for your best interest
No difference how rugged and thorny the road
may be which YOU may have to travel as a band of
brothers and patriots superior to any now living or
that have been engaged in suppressing this rebel
lion, Saving those of your brothers from Tennes
see) cling together as a band of united brethren
even as one man. The morning star of your libcr-
tv has already arisen, and n few heeting
months win bring to your homes and fresides peace
and personal security again.
Your Constitutions Federal and State, may be in
this great vortex of convulsive revolution refined;
but if So it will be like gold taken from the crucbe.
They will be then pure and their constant use
for ages to come will only make your liberties and
Happiness brighter and more refulgent, and then like
proud and glorious patriots and political saints,
you can return to the bosoms of your loved wives,
children and friends, all covered with honor and
possessed of an unspotted national and individual
reputation to hand down to admiring generation,
worthy of all honor and constant imitation
Let me coniure YOU to be at all times Jealous and
watchfa of those who talk to you favorably of the
doctrines of any political party save that of the doc
trnes of the straight unconditional Union party
You will no doubt be often told that should any at
tempt ever be made to interfere with the institution
of slavery You should sundcr the allegiance you
owe to the Government of your fathers, join her
enemies and battle for her overthrow.
Again YOU will be told. / fear that the doctrines
war pocy) of the copperheads of the North are
the true and correct doctrines and should be espous
cd by you. Again, you may be told that conquer
ing army has no right to dictate terms of peace to
vanquiShed foe Beware of all such efforts, and
many others cannot now warn you against, to lead
vou a.tray. All such doctrines coming from what
source they may are more dangerous and hateful
than secession itself They the most baneful
foes to your success, peace and happiness that posi-
Div could intercept your onward march to triumph
and liberty.
Your enemies commenced this war; they made
the question of slavery the pretext-but Southern
ogarchy and negro arstocraCy involving classed
society fostering the wealthy and expressing the
common class of mankind to point even below
that of the slave and all the consequent incidents
were the real objects sought to be attained by them
and now, if the preteXt should turn out to be
the real and closing issues of the war; let it be
Our enemies have none to blame but themselves, for
well has it been said. they whom the Gods intend
to DESTROY thew first make mad 1t would be
difficult task to sustain the principle Of holding in
bondage ignorance and sin by force, the souls and
bodies of one portion Of the human family by an
other portion. Slavery national institution is
unknown to the Federal Government in her organic
law; nor is slavery an essential and indispensable
element in any State Constitution. Strike down
slavery snd all the Governments, State and Federal,
will still exist and all the rights, civil political and
religious, which the p9oplc have ever enjoyed essen-
tial to their peace, prosperity and happiness they
will still po:sess.
Slavery in some of the States may be thought to
be a good thing and convenient institution; but
the State Governments do rest upon slavery but
slavery rather rests upon State sanction and indul
gence and if in doing 50 it corrupts the body poll
tic and endangers our form of government and that
happiness union, peace and prosperity intended to
be vouched safe 20 by fathers it that moment
becomes an ulcer and should be eradicated at once
if not at once rs fast and in prudeata manner as
can be not to destroy seriously inue the body TO
which it has become attached. Our enemies have
wagcd this war without cause They have robbed
your houses and farms they have driven you from
your homes sDd have insulted and murdered some
of your wives, daughters, sons, brothers. relatives
and friends. They have ignored the Federal Con-
stitution and laws in pursuance thereof, and sub
verted State authorities, law and order-the only
to slavery known to the world. You and
your brethren have sacrificed your all for the restor
alton of the Constitution, law and order, and
to say that you conquering patriots, have no
right to dictate the terms of peace, even to the
gradual removal of the avowed cause of all this
Gvi is an insult to your valor and good sense and