Washington telegraph., 1865-04-22


more fortunate and perhaps the less
brave, who were in the rear of the enc
my, took the lead of the retreating enc
my, but before reaching little Escambia
river. the entire command of the enemy
was killed, captured or routed or scatter
ed in the woods. Many are to-day being
captured and brought in.
A Herald dispatch, dated Russellville
the oath, with the cavalry column of
Thomas under Wilson, says: The force
consists of three divisions, and was soon
to be joined by fouth. Its destination
was Selma, Montgomery, and Mobile -
The country so far travelled contains only
old men, women and children and ne
groes. Provisions were plenty and our
forages found no difficulty in obtaining
supplies A few rebels opposed and
skirmished with our advance, but this
was the only opposition met up to the
gath. Many deserters have delivered
themselves up.
1t is reported that this force has ia
ken Selma. No further news from Mo-
bile. The city held out at last accounts.
~ Letters from Camden of the Goth
say there is no additional news.
Some of our citizens reason themselves
into a b, lief that the dispatches and cor
respondence concerning Lees surrender
are all forgery. We had better look
the matter boldly in the face, receive the
shock, and rally from it like men. Let
us exhibit the sublime spectacle eft brave
men, struggling with the storms of fate
with unfaltering courage. Let us excel
the heroism of the Greeks, and Poles,
the Dutch of the Netherlands, our fore
fathers of '76, and the Hungarians. We
are men, not towards and weakliRgs who
succumb to the fret great DISASTER
shall we fall below the heIosn of other
peoples struggling for freedom! Shall
we be counted pusilaiimous in history,
whilst tic names of T-lJ and his follow
ers. are rendered immortal for sublime
courage and patient endurance. Shall
we hereafter read with shame the history
of Bruce and his followers, rallying after
total defeat and achieving yictoryl
! Our soldiers, thank God. receive the
news with equanimity. They are will
ing, we think, 10 stand by their leaders,
aud retrieve our fortunes. 1t depends
upon the officers of the line to encourage
and sustain them, and MAINTAIN strict
discipline If the officers talter, the con-
sequences will be terrible Now is the
time for all to acquit themselves like men
who fear dishonor more than death Shame
upon him who succumos in advance OF
his government
Fellow-citizens we and you, and all
of us, have pledged "our lives, our for
tunes and our sacred honor" Now the
sacrifice is demanded let us show our
selves in earnest, and stand by our gov
ernment to the last. What is the value
of life under the humiliation of forced SUBJ
lection, and the taunts and sneers OF
conquering people, For whom but the
craven has it any charms With subJu-
sea.sa. our fortunes are worthless; and
by yielding, our honor will be tarnished
Let us stand ready to thr all at the
feet OF our own government in our own
cause. If our government decides to
continue the contest We have s millions
of people. backed by the slaves. Our
territory is too large to be occupied and
| garrisoled. All is not lost with 43 oUO
men We have still 100000 In arms
We may maintain the contest until by
foreign Intervention, or our own good
fortune the tide may be turned and ths
God of battles decide for the right. We
must do it or be lost
If our government, on the other hand
decides FOR peace, it will be time enough
to submit-anCLs our duty. We would
oppose guerrilla war conducted by ir-