The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-01-07
JEFF. DAVIS, MESSAGE.

Congress:
1t is with satisfaction that welcome your
presence at an earlier day than that usual for
your sessions, and with confidence that in
yoke the aid OF your counsel at time of such
public exigency, The campaign which COM
menced almost simultaneously with YOUR
session 10 May last and which was still in
progress at your adjournment in the middle
of June, has not yet reached its close. 1t has
been prosecuted on scale and with an ener-
gy heretofore unequaled. When we revert TO
the condition of our country at the inception
of the operations of the present year, to the
magnitude of the preparations made by the
enemy, the number of his forces, the accumu-
lation OF his warlike supplies, and the prodi-
gality with which his vast resources have been
lavished in his attempt to render success as
sured when We contrast the numbers and
means at ourdisposal Tor resistance, and when
We contemplate the results of struggle appa-
rently SO unequal, we cannot fail, while rem
dering the full NEED of deserved praise to our
generals and soldiers, to perceive that Pow
err higher than man has willed our deliver
ance, and gratefully to recognize the protec-
ton of kind Providence in enabling US to
successfully withstand the utmost efforts of
the enemy for our subjugation.
At the beginning OF the year the State of
Texas was partially in possession of the ene-
my, and large portions of Louisiana and Ar
kansas lay apparently defenseless. OF the
Federal soldiers who invaded Texas, none are
known to remain except as prisoners of war.
In northwestern Louisiana, large and we'll
appointed army, aided by powerful feet,
was repeatedly defeated, and deemed itself
fortunate in finally escaping with loss of
one-third of its numbers, large part of its
military trains, and many transports and gun
boats. The enemys occupation of that State
is reduced to the narrow district commanded
by the guns of his feet. Arkansas has been
recovered with the exception of few fortified
ports, while our forces have penetrated into
Central Missouri, afording to our oppressed
brethren in that State an opportunity of
which many have availed themseves-of
striking for liberation from the tyranny to
which they. have been subjugated.
On the east of the Mississippi, in spite of
some reverses, We have much cause for graf
ulaticn. The enemy hoped to effect during
the present year, by concentration Of forces,
the conquest which he had previously failed
20 accomplish by more extended operations.
Compelled, therefore, to withdraw, or seri-
ously to weaken the strength of the armies
of occupation at different points, he has Of
fered US the opportunity of recovering pos
session of extensive districts of our territory.
Nearly the whole of Northern and Western
Mississippi, of Northern Alabama, and of
Western Tennessee, are again in our posses
sion; and all attempts to penetrate from the
coast line into the interior of the Atlantic
and Gulf States have been baffled. On the
entire ocean and gulf coast of the Confeder-
acy, the whole success of the enemy, with the
enormous naval resources at his command,
have been limited to the capture of the outer
defenses of Mobile Bay.
If we now turn to the results accomplished
by the two great armies, so confidently relied
on by the invaders as sufficient to secure the
subversion OF our Government and the sub
lection our people to foreign domination, we
have still greater cause for devout gratitude
to Divine Power. In southwestern Virginia
successive armies which threatened the cap
ture OF Lynchburg and Salttille have been
ronted and driven out of the country, and
portion of Eastern Tennessee re-conquered
by our troops. In Northern Virginia. extern
sive districts formerly occupied by the enemy
are now free from their presence. In the
lower Valley, their General, rendered desper-
ate by his inability to maintain hostile occu-
patton, has resorted to the infamous expedi-
ent of converting fruitful land into desert
by burning mills, granaries and homesteads,
and destroying the food, standing crops, live
stock, and agricultural implements of peace
full non-combatants. The main army, after
series of defeats, in which its losses have been
enormous; after attempts by raiding parties
to break up our railroad communications
which have resulted in the destruction of a;
large part the cavalry engaged in the work
after constant repulse of repeated assaults>on
our defensive lines, is, with the aid of heavy
reinforcements, but with, it is hoped, waning
of further progress in the design,
still engaged in an effort, commenced more
than four months ago, to capture the town of
Petersburg.
The army of Gen. Sherman, although sac
ceeding at the end of the Summer in obtain
ing possession of Atlanta, has been unable to
secure any ultimate advantage from this sue
cess. The same General who, in February
last, marched alarge army from Vicksburg
to Meridian with no other result than being
forced to march back again, was able, by the
aid of greatly increased numbers, and after
much delay, to force passage from Chatta-
nooga to Atlanta, only to be for the second
time compelled to withdraw on the line of his
advance, without obtaining control of o sin
gle mile of territory beyond the narrow track
of his march, and without gaining aught be-
yond the precarious possession of few for
tilted points in which he is compelled to
maintain heavy rarrisons and which are