Year: 1863

troops, which was received with the greatest
enthusiasm


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,


October Ia, 1868.


Soldiers: A grateful country has recognized
your arduous service, and rcjolced over your
glorious victory on the field of Chickamauga.
When your countrymcn shall moro fully learn
the adverse circumstances under which you
attacked the enemy, though they cannot be
more thankful-they may admire more the
gallantry and patriotic devotion which secured
your success Representatives of every State
in the Confcderacy, your steps have been fol-
lowed with affcctionate solicitude by friends in
every part of the Confedcracy. Defenders of
the heart of our territory, your movements
have been the object of intcnsest anxiety. The
hopes of our cause greatly depend upon you,
and happy it is that all can securely rely upon
your achieving whatever, under the blessing of
Providence, human power can effect. Though
You have done much, very much yet remains
to be done. Behind you is a people providing
for your support and depending on YOU for
protection. Before you is country Gevasta
ted by your ruthless invader, where gentle
woman, feeble age and helpless infancy have
been subjected to outrages without parallel in
the warfare of civilized nations.


With eager eyes they watch for your COM
ing to their deliverancc, and the homeless refu-
gee pines for the hour when your victorious
arms shall restore his family to the shelter
from which they have been driven. Forced to
take up arms to vindicatc the political rights,
the freedom, equally, and State sovereignty,
which were the heritage purchased by the
blood of your revolutionary sires, you have but
the alternative or slavish submission to despot-
ic usurpation, or the independence which Wig
orous united, persistent effort will secure. all
which fires the manly breast, nerves the pa
triot, and exalts the hero, is presented to slim
uate and sustain you. Nobly have you re-
deemed the pledges given in the name of free
dom, to the memory of your ancestors and
the rights of your posterity.


That you may complete the mission to
"Hloh you "ic ucNotcu, VIII lcqullc oi YOU
such exertion in the future as YOU have made
in the past; continuance in the patient cndu-
rance of toll and danger, and that sclfdenial
which rejects every consideration at variance
with the public service, as unworthy Of the no.
ly cause in which you are engaged


When the war shall have ended, the high
est need of praise will be due, and probably
given, to him who has claimed least for him
self in proportion to the service he has repdcr-
cd, and the bittercst self rcproach which NAV
hereafter haunt the memory ofany one, will
be to him VINO has allowed selfish aspiration to
prevail over desire for the public good


United as you arc in a common destiny,
obedience and cordial cooperation are essen
italy necessary, and there is no higher duty
than that which requires each to render to all
what is due to their station. He who sows
the seeds of discomfort and distrust prepares
for the harvest ofslaughtcr and defeat


To zeal you have added gallantry, to gal
antry energy, to energy forttude. Crown
these with harmony, due subordination, and
cheerful support of lawful authority, that the
measure of your duty may be full. 7 fervently
hope that the ferocious war so unjustly waged
against our country may soon end; that with
the blessing of peace you may be restored to
your homes and the useful pursuits and I


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