Year: 1861




Gen. Leonidas Polk arrived in Memphis on the
llth inst, and took command of his division i'm,
mediately The following is his first general or
der to his troopss


Memphis, July IS, 1861. 5


Genera, Order No. Having been assigned
to the charge of the defense of that part of the
valley of the Mississippi which IS embraced within
the boundaries of Division No. 2, hereby assume
ceaamand. All officers on duty within the limits
will report accordingly.


In assuming this very grave responsibility, the
general in command is constrained to declare ms
deep and long settled conviction, that the war III
wlich we are engaged is one not warranted ny
reason or any necessity, political or social OF our
existing condition, but that it is indetenslole ana
| of unparalleled atrocity. We have protesteu' anu
do protest that all we desire is to be let alone, 10
| repose in quetness under our own Vne ana ouK
own fig tree. We have sought, snd only so9ght,
the undisturbed enjoyment of the inherent ana inc
| indefeasihle right OF sehgovernlneht, [isn'
which freemen can never relinquish, and Wh'cn
none but tyrants could ever seek TO wrest from US
! Those with whom we have been lately ASSOCIATED
in the bonds of pretended fraternal regard. nave
| wished and endeayored to deprive US OF this our
| great birthright as American treemen Nor is tins
all. They have sought to deprive US OF this ines
| Unable right by mercless war, when can at
tain no other possible end than the rum OF fortunes
| and the destruction Of lives for the sublugatlsn OF
| Christian freemen is out OF the question:


| war which has thus no motive except lust or
hate, and no object except ruin and devastation,
under the shallow pretense OF restoration OF the
Union is surely war against heaven, as well as
| war against earth. OF all the absurdities ever
| enacted, of all the hypocricies ever practlced,
an attempt to restore union OF mhos ana
| hearts, and wills, like that which once existed
| in North America, by the ravages OF fire anG
sword, are assuredly among the most pro
| digious. AS sure as there is righteous Ruler
| of the universe such a war must end IN dis
| aster to those by whom it was inauguTated, and
,t,l ba,jrt1 t1 n
| OF barbarity which it was fondy believed would
| never more disgrace the annals OF c!Fllizeu
| people. Numbers may be against US, but the
| battle is not always to the strong. Justice VIII
| triumph And an earnest Of this triumph we al
ready behold in the mighty uprising of the whole
| Southern heart Almost as one man TINS great
| section comes to the rescue, resolved to perish
rather than yield to the oppressor who IN the name
of freedom, yet under the prime inspiration OF an
| infiGel horde seeks to reduce eight millions of
| freemen to abject bondage and subjectlon. All
ages and all conditions are united IN the one grand
| and holy purpose of rolling back the desolaunS
tides OF invasion, and of restoring to the people OF
the South that peace independence and right of
selfgovernment to which they are by nature and
natures God as justly entitled as those who seek
thus ruthlessly to enslave them.


The general in command having the strong gest
confidence in the intelligence and frmness of pur-
pose of those belonging to his department, eDJons
upon them the maintenance OF calm, patient, per-
sistant and undaunted determination to. resist the
INVASION
It comes bringing with it a contempt for conshtu-
tional liberty and the witherng influence of the
infdelity of New England and Germany combined.
Its success would deprive US OF future.


The best men among our invaders opposed the
course they are pursuing at the first but they have
been oyerborne and swept into the wake OF the
prevailing current, and now under the promphngs
of their fears, or the deluson of some idolatrous
reverence due to a favore symbol, are as active
as any in instigating this unnatural, unchristian
and cruel war.


Our protests, which we here soemn)y repeat in
the face of the civilized world, have beenStherto
unheeded. We are left alone under God to the
resources of our own minds and our own hearts
to the resources of our manhood.


Upon his knowing, as he.does those whom he
addresses, as well as those with whom you are CO.
operating throughout the South, the general in
command feels we may rely with unwavering con
fidence. Let every man then throughout the land
arm himself in the most effective manner, and
hold himself in readiness to support the combined
resistance. A cause which has for its object moth
ing less than the security OF civil liberty and the
preservation of the purity of religious truth, is the
cause of heaven, and may well challenge the hom-
age and service of the patriot and the Christian.
In God is our trust.


LEONTDAS POLK,


Major General P A C. S.. commanding.