Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-26
GENERAL FORESTS FAREWELL AID
DRESS TO HIS TROOPS.

Tie address OF General Forrest to his
soldiers announcing General TayloI's sur
render 10 General Candy, is as follows
H,po,Rs FoRREsr's CAVALRY CORPS,
GAINESVILLE, ALA, May 3.
S,ll;,ry. By an agreement made between
lieutenant General Tay Tor, commanding the
Derartment of Alabama, Mississippi and
F.tt Louisiana, and MajOr-General Can0y,
commanding the United States forces, the
troous OF this department have surrendered
1 do not think il proper or necessary AT THIS
time 10 refer TO the causes which have re-
ouced Us 10 this extremity, nor IS II now
,ratter Of material consequence 10 US now
,ucb results were brought about. That we
are beaten is 4 self-eYident fact, an | any
further resistance ON our part would DC
i,stlv REGARDED as the very height oil
,olly and rashneSs. The armies OF Gene
raIs lee and Johnston having surrendered,
Won are the last Of all the troops Of the Con-
tederate States army east Of the hissis-
s,nDi river 10 Law down your arms, The
c,1se Tor which You have so long and
,nsnfllly struggled, and for which you have
b-.yed dangers, endured priyations and Suf-
tsrings ana made so many sacrifices, is to-
dav hopeless. The government which We
sopeht 10 establish and perpstuate Is at an
end. Reason dictates and humanity demands
tbat no more blood be shed. Fully realizing
aud feeling that such is the case, il is your
duty and mine 20 lay down our arms, submit
a. the powers that be, and 10 and IN restoring
ueace and establishing law and order through
ont the land. The terms upon which you
were surrendered are favorable, and should
be satisfactory and acceptable 10 all. They
manifest a spirit of magnanimlty and h0e-
rolifv an the part of the Federal authorities
which should be met on our part by faithful
compliance with all StipulatiOns and cOndi-
ti,ns therein expressed. As your cOmmAn-
der. l sincerely hope that every officer and
soldier OF my command will cheertully obey
The orders given, and carry out in good faith
All the terms of the cartel. Those who ne
glec; the terms aud refuse 70 be pArOled may
assuredly expect, when arrested, 70 be sent
North and imprisoned. Let those who are
absent from their commands, from whatever
cause, report q; once 70 this place or TO
jackson, Mississippi, or if too remote from
either, 10 report 10 the nearest United States
most or garrison for parole. A civil war,
such as you have Just passed through, nStu-
rally engenders = feeling Of luminosity,
hatred and revenge. IL is our duty 10
divest ourselves Of all such feelings, and, as
far as lies in our power TO do so, substitute
friendly feelings towards those with whom We
have so long commended, and so widely
but honesty differed. HeighborhOOd feuds,
personal animOsities, and private differences
should be blOtted out, and when you return
home, a maBly, straightforward course Of
conduct, will secure the respect even Of your
enemies. Whatever your responsibilities
may be to the government, 10 society, or 10
individuals, meet them lie men. The at
tempt 10 establish = separate and indepen-
dent confederation has failed but the con-
sciousness OF having done your duty faith
fully and 20 the end will in some measure re-
nav you for the hardship you have undergone.
In bidding you farewell, rest assured that
Won carry with you my best wishes for your
future welfare and happiness. Without in
apy way referring to the merits Of the cause
in which YOU have been engaged, your cour-
age and determination, as exhibited on many
ard-fought fields, has ELECTED the respect
and admiration Of friends and foes, aud now
eheerfully and gratefully acknowledge my In
debtedness to the officers and men Of my COM
mapd, whose zeal, fidelity and untinching
bravery have been the great source Of my
past success. have never in the held Of
battle sent you where l was unwilling 70 go
myself, nor would I now advise you to =
course which feel myself unwilling to pur-
sue. You have been good soldiers. You can
he good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve
yonr homes and the government to which
Won have surrendered can afford TO be and
will be magnanimous. n. B. FORREST,
Tieutpnant- General