Year: 1862

LttIe It0cF, March Is, ISG2.i

 am directed by the Secretary oi Wat to " assume command Of all Arkansas troops ready for service, and press on to reinforce Gen. F>S DoRN," now strurglina heroicdliy against superior numbers of the enemy in the North of tho State "A II officers in command of companies or larper organized bodies of troops now here and arriving here, will report without delay to these Head Quarters. As soon as a suf. ficieat number of companies to constitute . regiment have reached here, they will be So organized, and moved forward to Gen. Van porn, with the least possible delay. Those armed companies not yet in motion will go by the most expeditions route to Fort Smith.

 Companies arriving here who require it, will be furnished transportation by the quarter master stationed at this place to Fort Smith. Citizens of Arkansas have comnlained, and not without cause, of dep- relations committed upon them by con fedcrate troops. No confidence can be re- posed in soldiers upon the field, who in re- pairing to it will offer insult and outrage to their defenceless ellow-citizenS. For the good of the cause and the honor of our State, it is earnestly enioined upon all of ficers in command to enforce the observance by the men under them, of the most scru pnous respect for the persons ana property of her people, II an unavoidable necessity should compel the application of private plcY crty to the public service, 1t will be done by authority under direction of an officer, and in < manner least offensive and injurious to the owner.

 It would De difficult if not impossible 10 estimate al this crisis of cur affairs, after the repeated Ievefses which our arms have elsewhere sustained, the value to our cause of decisive and fruitful victory by Gen Van Dorn. The immediate relief of our people from all apprehension of invasion will bo one of its least important results. It would roll back the tide Of invasion, and be perhaps the first Of series of successes which would compel the recognition of our independence bY our enemy.

 Ii ne should be beaten. and the brave and devoted army under him overthrown and dispersed l will not say that all will be lost. but we cannot conceal from ourselves the fact, that the people Of Arkansas will lay naked and defencclesS at the mercy of the invader But if one half of the men of the State, now supinely at home. while an issue is being decided which involves their lives, fortunes. liberties anu honor. all that should be dear to man. and more than all worth living for. will promptly follow me to the standard of the brave Van Dorn. he will achieve the victory. You must not wait to get ready One days de- lay might De fatal to us Empires nave been lost and won in less time Bring with you such guns as you have or your neighbors will supply you with. and two blankets or quilts each, and animated by the spirit which prefers death to chains and slavery, we will complete our military equipment from the stores of the enemy

 Arkansas was the last Stae in tie Con- federacy whose soil was desecratel by the northern yandals Will you go and win for har the glory of being the first to drive them beyond her borders, or will you quiet lv accept the a5jeet als! isGo5!o condition to which the vctoiiou, enemy will reduce yoG?

 If destitute Of III mathood, honor and patriotism, you choose the latter aIterna- tive, you arc fit only for the vaasaIage, which is your inevitable destiny,

 Al RUST,

 BriU. GrnY C1,nd'G. efc.