Washington telegraph., 1864-02-10

hAAf.-We 90 not set ourselves ur
as as the Censor Of military men or measures
We never assume to lecture any one. We cnrss
me enemies Of our country. We think God will
forgive that If il be a crime. We despise trai
Tors. Our feilow-citizens will not COMPLAIN
oI that. But We have nothing but sympathy v
and forbearnnce for the faults and mistake.
OF those who are battling for our Iudepen.
dence.
There are some things, however, which We
deeply regret, and against which we most ear
nestly remonstrate. We do il ia kinIness and
under the holy sanction of our cause liz i.
for that alone.
Our soldiers in Arkansas are burning With
impatlelce for an advance against the enemy,
who hold our capital and the faire.t portion
q our State. We join them in that from the
bottom of our soul. When the forward or
der is ma de our heart will throb high with
JOY and hope, and the prayers of thousan d. Of
pious men and women will attend our army
and watt them on to victory.
But, soldiers of Arkansas, until that order
- given, depend upon il, that it is not best
FOR the sake Of your bleeding country, do not
murmur nor repne, nor threa en- desertion
The movements of our armies in the ha nds
OIL our Generals. They have but one ,ject-
to conquer the enemy aud force them to a
peace. They are in position to be better in
formed than you are. They are chosen as older
and more experienced than You are. Their
judgment is calmer. They have q wider hed
Of view. Their responsibility is greater. Our
only chance Of success is to support them in
plicitly. An army divided by distracted coun-
sels, and given up only to its passions aud
prejudicss is already conquered. Let u re-
member Jerusalem-whose citizens were torn
by intestine factions whilst the Romans were
at the gates, aud who thus fell an easy prev
We have heard it said that if our army
should fall back farther, many soldiers viii
desert rnd form themselves into euerriilas,
for the purpose Of protecting their homes. We
do not believe they will. We have more con-
hicEce in their patriotism-more opinion Of |
their intelligence. This feeling 80 far IS il
exists, is one Of our deepest regrets. We are
sorry when soldiers Of the South forget thrM-
selves. Such action the part vi great
body of them would destroy the last nope "
any SPECIFY reclamation Of our State a-l
would sadly lrsonE a war, 70 which after al
ID ere would be bat one termination, ami thz, /,
II our Independence
Guerrillas are worse than useless They
can never recover what j. lost IL j. only cur
armies in which We can trust on earth. 4 |
compact, we'll disciplined. unanimous and pa
triotic army, moved by its generals one
body, and obeying with mind. Nhli>s IL
is kept together, wherever it may 90 tempo
rsrily, il ia really ~ any moment Tor q decisive
blow. Washington retreated across the D-a-
ware, and thus recovered Se~ Jersey. Had
those soldiers refused to sbandUn tor season
the country east Of tae Delaware. the Amer
can army would have been IisbALdeI, aad thr
cause would have been lost.
The heavy legions Of the enemy can be net
ouly by compact armies. Compact armies cln
only be sustained by implicit obsIe4cg n.
military SUPERIOR.
The subaltarn officers hold tile cominTs-i1r.-
T.. - C-...>ts-atc States. Upon them d.
pend- in a great measure the morale VI the
soldier. May we not urge them also to reflect
upon tAe high trust committed 10 their care
Il j. not the defence of this county or that,
this State or that IL il the Independence cf
tie CcH.-ivr.cy, which will be followed by th-
liberation of ail tho States and every section.
A peace forced from the enemy on the coasts
vi Tcxa.. W the banks VI the Potomac, N5l.4
loosen thc holi Of the enemy upon every foot OF
land in Arkansas and Missouri. AMI their
armies would float sway. The question j. no
trhcre wc fi4ht. but for ,shqf. State lines vanish
before this thought. lnfu-e your mea with
this lea. They may be thoughtless snl in
pulsiTc. Ynu are looked 20 tor calmer jldg-
mcn,. Never let item suppose that you en-
courage the thought OF sectional defence a the
condition Of loyalty
our army will noi fall back unless il should
be absolutely necessary, an for the good of
the cause. No one can say that there IL such
IN intention. We have Gen. Smiths assur-
ance thai IL i Rot. We believe him to be hon.
rst. We believe We will hold cur present
status nt least for white, and will advance
soon AZ it nisy De pruie.t. We know that our
geneia ais will DO he BEST in their power. If
they cannot, who eau? Certainly not dis
banded soldiers and ii-organized guerrillas.
10 encourage that Is unintentionaly TO ccua
sci submission.
Discipline, obedience, patriotism, unani-
nifty. These are the soldierly virtues that
make armies invinc ible. Remember the light
brigade at Balsklays. when . false order WAS
given.
''Theirs not 10 make reply.
Theirs not to question why,
Theirs but to do or die,
Onward they thunde-edH