Year: 1864




The following is the address Of the President IA
the army: r. "..'..:aj s....f ......... .
S%diers Of TIE Armies efthe Confederate States:
In the long and bloody war in which your coun-
try is engaged, you have achieved many noble ri-
umphs You have won glorious victories over vast.
~ laore numerous hosts. You have cheerfnily
Borne priVations and toll to which yoo were unused
You haH readily submitted to restraints upon your
individual WILL that the citizen might better per.
form his duty to the State as soldier To all these
you have lately added another triumph, the noblest
OF human conqnests-a victory over yourselves.


AS the time drew near when you. who first enter.
ed the service might well have been expected to
claim relief from your arduous abors and restora-
uon to the endsarments Of home yol have needed
only the call Of your suffering country. Again you
come to tender your service for the public defence
"a free offsring which only such patriotism as
yours could make-R triumph worthy Of you and
Of the cause to which you are devoted. ".' ' -.-


would in vain attempt adequately to express the
emotions with which received the testimonials of
confidence and regard which you have recently ad-
dressed to me. TO some of those first received,
separate Acknowledgements were returned Butit
Is now apparent that like generous enthusiasm
PerVades the whole army, and that the only cxcep-
ton to such magnanimous tender will be Of those
who, having originally entered for the war, cannot
display anew their zeal in the public service. 1t is
therefore, deemed appropriate, and it is hoped, will
De equally acceptable, to make general acknowl
edgment, instead of successive special responses.
Would that it possible to render my thanks to
you IN person. and in the name Of our common
country, as we'll as in my own, while pressing the
hand OF each war-worn veteran, to recognize his
title to our love, gratitude and admiration.


Soldiers! By your will (for you and the people
are but one,) have been placedin position which
debars me from sharing your dangers, your suffer
ings, and your privations in the field With pride
hao hasa
march; with solicitude it has sought to minister to
your every want; with exultation it has marked
your every heroic achievement Yet never in the
toilsome march, nor in the weary watch, in the
desperate assault have you rendered service so
decisive in results in this last display of thehigh
est qualities of devotion and selfsacrce which
adorn the character of the warrior-patrioL


Already the pulse Of the whole people beats in
unison with yours Already they compare your
spontaneous and unanimous offer Of your lives for
the defence of your country, with the haltng and
reluctant service Of the mercenaries who are pur-
chased by the enemy at the price Of higher boun-
ties than have hitherto been known in war. AMI
mated by this contrast they exhibit cheerful con-
6dence and more resolute bearing. Even the mur-
murs of the weak and timid, who shrink from the
trials which make stronger and frmer your noble
natures are shamed into silence by the spectacle
which you present Your brave battle cry will
ring loud and clear through the land Of the enemy
as well as our own; will silence the vainglorious
boastings Of their corrupt partsans and their pen
stoned press and will do justice to the caluInny
by which they seek to persuade q deluded people
that you are ready to purchase dshonorable safety
by degrading submission.


Soldiers The coming Spring campaign will open
under auspices we'll calculated to sustain your hopes
Your resolution needed nothing to fortify it With
ranks replenished under the influence Of your ex-
ample and by the aid Of your representatives, who
give earnest Of their purpose to add by legislation,
largely to your strength, you may welcome the in
vader with q confidence justified by the memory of
past victories On the other hand, debt, taxation,
repetition Of heavy drafts dssension, occasoned by
the strife for power by the pursuit of the spos of
Office by the thirst for the plunder Of the public
treasury; and above ALL the consciousness of bad
cause must tell with fearful force upon the over
strained energies Of the enemy. His campaign in
1864, must from the exhaustion of his resources
both in men and money be far less formidable than
these of the last two years, when unimpared mears
were used with tuundess prodigality, and with
suits which are suggested by the mention of the
glorious names of Shiloh and Perrysville, and Mur
freesboro' and Chckamauga, and the Chickahominy,
and Manassas, and fredericksburg and Ctaaceilors-
vile.


Soldiersl Assured Success awaits US in our holy
struggle Tor liberty and Independence, and for the
preservation of all that renders life desirable to hon
orable men. When that success shall be reached,
to you your country's hope and pride, under Divine
Providence, will it be due The fruits Of that sue
cess will not be reaped by you alone; but your
children, and your childrens children in long gen.
eratons to come, will enjoy blessings derived from
you that will preserve your memory ever living in
their hearts.


Citizens defenders of the homes the liberties, and
the altars of the Confederacy! That the God whom
we all humbly worship may shield you With his
Fatherly care and preserve you for safe return to
the peaceful enjoyment Of your friends and the
sociation of those you most love, is the earnest
prayer of your Commander.In Chief.


JEFFERSON DAVIS. J


Richmond Feb 9th 1884