Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[283] say, just as if my house were on fire, “All hands to the buckets; let the flames be extinguished.” Let the courts and every thing else stand still, except to administer justice; let us all patriotically wait; let us all put our shoulders to the work and act together, with a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether.

That is the way to drive out the enemy, and it will be successful. They rely upon numbers, and they have got them; but I have told you the battle is not to the strong. We rely upon the righteousness and the justice of our cause, and also the valor of our men, though they bring two to one, three to one, five to one, or ten to one, as was done in Greece. We rely upon the valor of our men — we rely upon our men fighting for their homes, firesides, children, and every thing dear to them; and, in such a cause, we have no doubt the God of Battles will smile upon us.

To the ladies I must offer some apology for having said so little to them, and so much to the men; but I told them in the beginning my business was mainly with the men to-day. I was glad to see them here, and I must say that the women, in this great and patriotic cause, are not at all behind the men.

The patriotism of the women I believe throughout the country where I have been — the mothers and daughters — has not been behind the men, but even ahead of them. In Montgomery, when the order came from General Bragg for ten thousand sand bags, the women turned out on the Sabbath, as well as the week days, and completed the order in a very short time. In other places, where volunteer companies had been called out, the ladies have made the uniforms in a remarkably short space of time. In my own county, which has raised three hundred and fifty men, the ladies made the uniforms for the last company in two days, and it was ready to go with the rest. The ladies have done their duty as well as the men have. Richmond county has sent ten companies to the field. Nobly have you done your duty, and just as nobly have the women done theirs. (Applause.)

And I wish you to understand, while I do not speak much to you, for the tented field is not your place, women exercise more influence even in war, perhaps, than any thing else; and it is a problem whether they do not govern the world at last. (Laughter.) It is their spirit which animates the soldier to fight. Some recollect the pious admonitions of their mothers, and others recollect the smiles and beaming countenances of some fair one at home. These are the sentiments which actuate our soldiers. The attractions of the women are a power like that which holds the orbs of the universe in their proper places. Now, then, in this work you have much to do, and if the men are in doubt how much to subscribe, I am perfectly willing that they shall go home and ask their wives. (Laughter.)

A woman always acts from impulse, and her impulses are generally right; but a man ponders, and thinks, and doubts. Woman's thoughts go directly to the truth; and I am perfectly willing to leave this cotton loan to the judgment of your wives and sisters. It may be that some husbands have promised their wives a new turnout, and they may be doubtful until they consult their “old women at home” --some men are. (Laughter.) Then let them have no fears on that subject. Just tell them “I will do without that carriage or that furniture while our brave volunteers are in the tented field; I will put up with whatever we have got. Put down every cotton bale you can spare.” That I know is what the ladies will say.

And now, then, gentlemen, I am perfectly willing that you shall go home. I do not intend to open any subscription here to-day. A committee will be appointed to canvass the county, and every one of you, I trust, will be seen by that committee. I wish you to consider the question; talk over the matter with your wives, and I am perfectly willing to abide by their judgment.

And now, in conclusion, I ask you, one and all, women as well as men, before you make up your judgments, to consider the magnitude of the question, the great issue before you, the perils surrounding you, the dangers besetting you; think of your homes and your firesides, and then think of subjugation. Think, then, of your duty, and all I ask of you is to perform your duty as faithfully as I have done mine to-day; and I leave it with you, the country, and God. (Loud and prolonged applause.)