Officers and Soldiers,—By an order of his
Excellency the
President I am relieved temporarily from the command of this Department by
Major-General Sam Jones, to be assigned to another important command.
I leave with the assurance that you will transfer to my successor, a meritorious officer of the Armies of
Virginia and
Tennessee, that confidence and spirit of prompt obedience to orders which have contributed so much to your success heretofore.
Should you ever become discouraged, remember that a people from whom have sprung such soldiers as those who defended
Wagner and
Sumter can never be subjugated in a war of independence.