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 Duke University Libraries 
 
 A message from 
 Conf Pam #304 
 
 DTTDflitDb7B 
 
A Message from the Army of the Vallej of Virginia. 
 
 At a nwetiiirr of \\x('. liiirty -sixth and sixtieth regimeiUs and forty- 
 lifth batrahon Virginia iiitaiitrj, Smith's brigade, Wharton's division, 
 the tolloxving preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 
 
 Whereas, the arms of the Confederate States, during the recent 
 iiampaigns, have sustained serious reverses, which have caused an 
 undue despondency in some portions of our country, and created an 
 unpatriotic doubt as to the final result of our strugj^le, and inducegl 
 Komc to entertain the treasonable thought of makini^ terms, unworthy 
 of iVccmcn, with the enemy that seeks to destroy them : Therefore, 
 ^ve, the ollicers and soldiers of the thirty-sixth and sixtieth regiments 
 and Ibrty-fifth battalii>n Virginia infantry, do resolve 
 
 I. That in the beginning of this revolution we volunteered in 
 response to the first call of our country to battle for the sovereign 
 righr. of self-government, and that, after four years of terrible war with 
 the savage foe who seeks our subjection, we are still firm in our deter- 
 minatioi) to achieve our independence or to perish nobly struggling 
 foV it. 
 
 II. That- in the cause of our country is involved all we hold dear; 
 that it has been consecrated by the blood of those heroes who have 
 fallen in its defence and the blessings of Almighty God, manifested 
 on man}' ..Kicasions, and that we once more renew «)ur vows to adhere 
 to it through weal or woe. 
 
 in. That whilst we will hail with joy that peace which brings to us 
 the recognition' of our independence and assigns us our proper place in 
 the family of nations, we cast from us with scorn the arrogant and 
 insolent propositions recently made to our Commissioners by Abraham 
 Lincoln, as representative of the people of "t-he United States, and 
 respectful l}' urge our Government to apply every resource cf the 
 country to the vigorous and untiring prosecution of the wm .i.s the 
 only means of obtaining an honorable peace. 
 
 IV. That we send this declaration greeting to our friends :i* home, 
 within our lines and on the border of Western Virginia, and b;d them 
 be of good cheer and "never despair of the Republic." 
 
 V. That copies of these resolutions be sent to our Representjitives 
 in the General Assembly of Virginia and in the Congress of the Con- 
 ederate States, and also to the newspapers in Richmond with the re- 
 quest that they be published. 
 
 Camp of Smith's Brigade, Feb. 10, 1865. 
 
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