Year: 1863

The Richmond Examiner of the 9th instant contains the
following address of Gen Jefferson Davis to the Soldiers
of the Confederate States"


ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE


CONFEDERATE STATES


After more than two years of warfare scarcely equal
led in the number magnitude aud fearful carnage of it's
bates warfare in which your courage and fortitude
have Illustrated country and attracted only gra


ude at home but admiration abroad your enemies conti
nue. struggle in which Dal triumph must be neyi-
table unduly elated with their recent they
imagine that temporary reverses que your spirit
shake your determination, and they gathering
heavy masses for general invasion in the vain hope that
by desperate Effort may at length be reached


You know too well, my countrymen, what they
by success. tn r malignant rage aims at nothing less
than the determination OF yourselves your wives and chill
apen They seek TO destroy what they cannot puuder.
They propose the pos of victory that your houes shall
be parttoned among The wretches whose arocous cruel
ty have stamped iniamy their Government. They de.


gn e nclte sevie ilsurrecton and light the fires of in
cenarsm whenever they reach your homes and they
debauch the Inferior race heretofore doce conened
by promising indulgence Of the vest passions price
OF treachey Conscious of their inability to prevail by
leg Innate warfare not daring to make peace lest they
should be hurled from their seats of power the who
rule IN Washington refuse to confer the sub
ject Of putting end to ourages which disgrace our age
or tn list 10 sugges ion for conducting the accord
ing to the usages OF civilization.


Fell w-czens alternative left you but victory or
subugatou slavery and the utter ruin of yourselves your
families, and your country, The victory within your
reach You need but stretch forth your hands to grasp it.
For this and all that ia that tbose ho arc
called to the held by every motive that The hui
man heart should promptly repair the post of duty
should stand by their comrades in front of the foe
and thus so strengthen the armies of the a
10 ensure success The men absent from their posts
would, II present in the field suffice to create numerical
equality between force and that Of the and
when with any approach to such equality have failed
10 be victorious believe that bur few of those absent
are actuhted by unwlDgness to their counry but
that many have found difficult to resist the temptation
OF visit to their homes and the loved from whom
they have been so long separated that others left for
temporary attent their affairs with the intention of
returning and then have shrunk tho consequences of
their violation OF duty that Others again. have left their
posts 'rem mere re-essnes and drsre Of change such
quoting the upbradugs of bis conscience by D. rsnadnp
himself that his individual services could have influence
on the general result


These and other (although far less dscraoefI
than the desire to avoid danger to escape the se
required by pariosm) ars nevertheless prieyos ants
place tie Of beloved country ind NJ every
thing we hold dear, 10 imminent peril repeat that the
men who low owe duty to their country who have been
called out and have yet for utv or who haze
aosented themselves from their posts are suti eisnt in
nupoi 70 secure victory 10 the struggle impending
pJ You lleni my countrymen to hasten to your
h ooedehce To the dictates of honor and of duty,
and summon those who have themselves without
eave or VINO have remained alb ent beyond the period al
~ 'ne luroughs to repair without delay to their
respective commands and do hereby declare that grant
general pardon and amnesty all officers and with
h the Coniederacy now absent without leave who shall
eae least possible delay return to their proper posts
OF duty but no will be received for any delay
yond twenty days after the first publication Of this prooa
NATION IN the State in which the absentee may be at the
oats OF this publication. THIS amnesty and pardon shall
extend to all who have been accused who have been
convicted and undergoing sentence for absence with
out leave or deserton excepting only those who have been
twice convicted Of deserting.


Finally, Iconjure my country the wives mothers
sisters ard daughters of the Conederacyo use their
apowerfu influence in aid OF this CALL add one crown
ing sacrifice to those which their patriotism has freely
and constantly offered their countrys altar and take
care that none who service n the field shall be shell
tered at home from the dgrace Of having deserted their
duty to their families to their country and their God


Given under my hand and the seal Of the Confedcrate
States at Richmond this first day Of August n the year
Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sxyhrec


JEFFERSON DAVIS


BY the President:


J.P BENJAMIN Secretary Of State,