CONFEDERATE STATES. 



193 



HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE ARMY, Feb. 9, 1868. 



By authority of General Order No. 3, from the Ad- 

 jutant and Inspector-General's office, I assume com- 

 mand of the military forces of the Confederate States. 

 Deeply impressed with the difficulties and responsi- 

 bility of the position, and humbly invoking the guid- 

 ance of Almighty God, I rely, for success, upon the 

 courage and fortitude of the army, sustained by the 

 patriotism and firmness of the people, confident that 

 their united efforts, under the blessing of Heaven, 

 will secure peace and independence. 



The headquarters of the army, to which all special 

 reports will be addressed, will be for the present 

 with the Army of Northern Virginia. The stated and 

 regular returns, and reports of each army and de- 

 partment will be forwarded, as heretofore, to the 

 office of the Adjutant and Inspector-General. 



[Signed] E. E. LEE, General. 



The reasons urged in favor of the appoint- 

 ment of Gen. Lee as Commander in-chief, serve 

 to show the existing evils which it was expect- 

 ed thereby to obviate. The appointment, it 

 was said, would remove a load of anxiety by 

 which all were depressed. They would feel at 

 once that a hand both strong and steady was 

 laid upon the wheel, and that it signified busi- 

 ness and battle. 



A firm assurance would at once grow up in 

 the minds of the people that the strength and 

 resources of the land would be applied in the 

 wisest and most efficient manner, and that each 

 separate command would be placed in the hands 

 best able to wield it without favor or affection. 

 The armies would eagerly hail such an appoint- 

 ment. But the most marked effect would be upon 

 the Federals. They would understand there 

 was to be no child's play. His name was spe- 

 cially connected with one measure of military 

 necessity before the Congress which he had 

 strongly urged should be passed, the very con- 

 ception of which implied a grim resolve. It 

 was the demand for negro soldiers. 



Two days later he issued the following ad- 

 dress to the soldiers : 



General Order No. 2. 



HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF CONFEDERATE STATES, ) 

 February 11, 1865. ) 



In entering upon the campaign about to open, the 

 General-in-chief feels assured that the soldiers who 

 have so long and so nobly borne the hardships and 

 dangers of the war, require no exhortation to respond 

 to the calls of honor and duty. With the liberty 

 transmitted by their forefathers, they have inherited 

 the spirit to defend it. The choice between war and 

 abject submission is before them. To such a pro- 

 posal, brave men, with arms in their hands, can have 

 but one answer. They cannot barter manhood for 

 peace, nor- the right of self-government for life or 

 property. 



But justice to them requires a sterner animadver- 

 sion to those who have abandoned their comrades in 

 the hour of peril. A last opportunity is offered them 

 to wipe out the disgrace, and escape the punishment 

 of their crimes. By authority of the President of the 

 Confederate States, a pardon is announced to such 

 deserters and men improperly absent, as shall return 

 to the commands to which they belong, within the 

 shortest possible time, not exceeding twenty days 

 from the publication of this order, at the headquarters 

 of the department in which they may be. 



Those who may be prevented by interruption of 



communication, may report within the time specified, 



to the nearest enrolling officer, or other officer on 



duty, to be forwarded as soon as practicable ; and upon 



VOL. v. 13 A 



presenting certificates from such officer, showing 

 compliance with this request, will receive the pardon 

 hereby ottered. Those who have deserted to the 

 service of the enemy, or who have deserted after 

 having been once pardoned for the same offence, and 

 those who shall desert, or absent themselves with- 

 out authority, after the publication of this order, 

 shall be excluded from its benefits. Nor does the 

 otter of pardon extend to other offences than deser- 

 tion and absence without permission. 



By the same authority it is also declared that no 

 general amnesty will again be granted, and those 

 who refuse to accept the pardon now offered, or who 

 shall hereafter desert or absent themselves without 

 leave, shall suffer such punishment as the courts may 

 impose, and no application for clemency will be en- 

 tertained. 



Taking new resolution from the fate which our 

 enemies intend for us, let every man devote all his 

 energies to the common defence. 



Our resources, fitly and vigorously employed, are 

 ample, and with brave armies, sustained by a de- 

 termined and united people, success, with God's as- 

 sistance, cannot be doubtful. The advantage of the 

 enemy will have but little value if we do not permit 

 them to impair our resolution. Let us then oppose 

 constancy to adversity, fortitude to suffering, and 

 courage to danger, with the firm assurance that He 

 who gave freedom to our fathers will bless the efforts 

 of their children to preserve it. 



R. E. LEE, General. 



The portion of this order which appeals to the 

 deserters was not followed by the success de- 

 sired. Those men, in large numbers, appeared 

 to be tired of the war. The views of Gen. Lee 

 on the future aspect of affairs at this time, are 

 expressed in the following letter : 



HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, Feb. 4, 1865. 

 Brig. -Gen. Henry A. Wise, Commanding, etc. : 



GENERAL, : I have received the declaration of prin- 

 ciples and rights made by your brigade, and return 

 my thanks to yourself, your officers, and men. The 

 spirit evinced in this document is the true one. If 

 our people will sustain the noble soldiers of the Con- 

 federacy, and evince the same resolution and forti- 

 tude under their trials, which have characterized the 

 army, I feel no apprehension about the issue of this 

 contest. I do not see how we can, by any compro- 

 mise or negotiation, abate aught of the rights claimed 

 in this admirable declaration, without a surrender 

 of the liberties w'e derived from our ancestors. 



As long as soldiers are animated by such senti- 

 ments, and supported by the country, I believe that 

 our overthrow is beyond the power of the enemy. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



R. E. LEE, General. 



The public sentiment was in advance of Con- 

 gress on the vital subject of strengthening the 

 army. The calling of the slaves to the field 

 was earnestly urged by Gen. Lee, and the fail- 

 ure of the bill in the Senate for that purpose, 

 as above mentioned, was followed by immediate 

 action on the part of the Virginia Legislature. 

 On February 16th, in the Assembly of that 

 body, the following resolution was reported by 

 the Committee on Military Affairs : 



The General Assembly of Virginia, deeply impress- 

 ed with the importance of calling into active service 

 the whole physical strength of the Confederate States 

 in this momentous crisis, and it being the opinion of 

 the highest military authority that the efficiency of 

 our army may be greatly increased by the enlistment 

 of negroes; therefore 



Resolved, By the General Assembly of Virginia, 

 That the Government of the Confederate States ia 



