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 Duke University Libraries 
 
 A proclamation 
 Conf Pam q#12 
 
 1)11113^353$ 
 
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 HEAD QUARTERS, DEMOPOLIS, APRIL 13th, 1864. 
 
 A. PROCLAMATION. 
 
 TO ALL SOLDIERS IN THIS DEPARTMENT ABSENT FROM THEIR COMMANDS 
 WITHOUT LEAVE. 
 
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 The Lieut. General Commanding has had ted to him a petition signed by the Sen 
 
 and House of Representatives of the Legislator* ofM ssise p.pj s tting forth that a large number of 
 the men now absont from their comraai: Is in this I> \ ho iu a moment of weakness were 
 
 imluced to abandon their duty and deserl their colours, ha 1 rly to regret their 
 
 want of fidelity and .are anxious to return. 
 
 They set forth also that many of these men by reason "f tht ice of Mail facilities never 
 
 saw the act oi pardon offered by his Excellency thi Pr» v would now gladly return 
 
 but for fear of the punishment due their ofl that such an offer of pardon be again 
 
 tendered them. 
 
 The Lieut. General Commanding is free to say, that the ■ sperience of the past in this and 
 
 othet armies of the Confederacj is aol favourable to the expedi< y of the measure propoe 
 
 He is nevertheless willing, in deferenci to the wishes of so large a body of influential citizens, to 
 add one more effort to the lial of. those already guided men and restore 
 
 them to the service of their country. 
 
 The Lieut. Qeneral Commanding tl by this Proclamation offers pardon to all soldi 
 
 of this Department absent from their commands (including exchanged and paroled prie 
 who sh;dl within ten days after having kowledge of this Proclamation report for duty to their i 
 |)ective_ commands, or to the Commanding Officer of th< Postal Meridian ppil Provided 
 
 ever that ihi- offer of amnesty Bhall nol es my person who fails to report bythe L5th 
 
 of May next, provided also thai it shall no! extend to any person who may have joined the enemy, 
 and provided that i1 -hall not include anj commissioned officer who may ha- 
 
 The Lieut. General Commanding desires to add the expression of the hope, that this last op- 
 portunity now presented for wiping oul the disg b attaches to the characters of tl 1 
 men. ami must follow and brand their posterity alter them, will be availed of by them, and that he 
 will thus be relieved from the painful duty of making examples ol those who in contempt of the 
 claims of their country upon their services, and in d fall law have not only deserted their 
 standards, but by banding themselves together have rendered the property and lives of peaoeahle 
 citizens insecure, andreduced society to a condition < 3s and violet 
 
 The offe r of_p_arj|pj hereby tendered is not confined to soldiers (rom Mississippi, but is ex.; 
 ten ded to those of other States within this Department ; and if then Idiers ol other arm 
 
 absent from their commands within this Department, who desire to avail themselves of an act ol 
 amnesty, the Lieut. General Commanding informs them that upon reporting to Meridian, he wdll 
 intercede with their commanders in tie ir behalf. 
 
 B) command of 
 
 LIEUT. GEN'L POLK. 
 
 ThoS. M. Jack, 
 
 Lieut. Col. and A. A. Gen'l. 
 
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