Washington telegraph., 1865-05-03


ing stirring address to the army. we
believe they will stand by him. and. God
willing, we will yet uphold our cause un-
til help may arise. We have everything
to gain by fortitude, courage, discipline
and energy, and nothing to lose:
HEAD QUARTERS Trans Miss. DEPT }
Shreveport, La, April 81, 1865
Soldiers gfhte Trans Mss Army.
The crisis of our revolution is at hand.
Great disaters have overtaken US. The
Army of Northern Virginia, and our
Commander-inChief, are prisoners of
war. With you rests the hopes of our
nation, and upon your action depends the
fate of our people. | appeal to you in
the name Of the cause you have 50 hero
ically maintained in the name of your
fire-sides and families so dear to you,-
in the name Of your bleeding country
whose future is in your hands. Show
;hat you are worthy of your sition in
history. Prove to the world that your
hearts have not failed in the hour of dis
aster, and that at the last moment YOU
viii sustain the holy cause which has
been so gIoriously battlrd for by vsur
brethren east Of the Mississippi
You possess the means of long resist
ing invasion. You have hopes OF succor
from abroad-protract the struggle, and
you viii surely receive the aid Of nations
who already deeply sympathizc with you
Stand by your colors-maintain your
discipline The great resources Of this
Department, its vast extent, the mum
bers, the discipline, and the efficiency
Of tho Army, will secure to our country
terms that a proud people can with hon
or accept, and may, under the Providence
Of God, be the means of checking the
triumph of our enemy and of securing
the dual success Of our cause.
L. KIRBY SMITH,
General.
To our citizens VIC have an earur st
word to say. Do not despair or cease
your efforts whilst our authorities hold
out. Our allegiance is due the Southern
C0nfederacy, and every rIiuciple ofman-
hood prompts us to render it our utmost
services, in its hour of darkest peril. In
the midst Of doubts and anxieties the
path of duty is still clear before US, and
/ by pursuing it we can find the surest
peace Of mind and cannot err. We are 10
butterflies to haunt our patriotism only
in prosperity. We are made Of sterner
stuff. and by acting truly, We will best
secure even the respect CT the enemy.
We earnestly eu'reat our soldiers TO
stand by their co.ars. Now is the time
to Try pure patriotism "as by fire" We
beg yoJ to harbor no th0arht of break
ing up into gue ril.a parties. Uuau,hor-
izeI bands, under no control, and acting
without Commissions, VIII bs "a curse 10
orr friends, and tAe country. All good
men will oppose the system. Tho sol
dirr can oniy serve our cause in organ
izud armies, under strict discipline. Up
on such vest all the hopes ofthe Confed-
cracy When it fails, if such be God :
will, y+l-rc ~ Il be fields Of noble enter
prise oroI - those who do not care 10
r,tarn to the peaceful walks of life. The
world is all before them where til chose"
When released from the obliga ions to
their country, there are laurels growing
in other lands, without rayaging and har-
rassing our own countrymen, who have
already suffered 50 much.
" hatever may be our fate, the APP
/ plause Of history VIII follow the noble
spirits who may have clung closest to
our cause in lis hour Of darkest trial,
whilst little respect Will follow those who
weakly desert, upon the first great calam-
ity. strive for The most euviable record.