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But even outside the circle of absurd rumours, there were intelligent minds in
Richmond that still entertained lingering hopes of the cause of the
Confederacy.
The foundation of these hopes was small, but not altogether visionary.
There was a chance that
Lee might get off his army safely, and effect a successful retreat; he might unite with
Johnston; and, although driven from
Virginia, the armies of the
Confederacy might reopen
Georgia and the Carolinas, and place the
Government nearer its resources of subsistence, with the control of a territory practically much larger than that in the
Richmond jurisdiction.
These things were possibilities, very small and very remote.
It was learned through Northern newspapers, circulated in
Richmond, that
President Davis, who had reached
Danville, had issued there the following proclamation:
The
General-in-Chief found it necessary to make such movements of his troops as to uncover the capital.
It would be unwise to conceal the moral and material injury to our cause resulting from the occupation of our capital by the enemy.
It is equally unwise and unworthy of us to allow our own energies to falter, and our efforts to become relaxed under reverses, however calamitous they may be. For many months the largest and finest army of the
Confederacy, under a leader whose presence inspires equal confidence in the troops and the people, has been greatly trammelled by the necessity of keeping constant watch over the approaches to the capital, and has thus been forced to forego more than one opportunity for promising enterprise.
It is for us, my countrymen, to show by our bearing under reverses how wretched has been the self-deception of those who have believed us less able to endure misfortune with fortitude than to encounter dangers with courage.
We have now entered upon a new phase of the struggle.
Relieved from the necessity of guarding particular points, our army will be free to move from point to point, to strike the enemy in detail far from his base.
Let us but will it, and we are free.
Animated by that confidence in your spirit and fortitude which never yet failed me, I announce to you, fellow-countrymen, that it is my purpose to maintain your cause with my whole heart and soul; that I will never consent to abandon to the enemy one foot of the soil of any of the States of the
Confederacy.
That Virginia-noble State-whose ancient renown has been eclipsed by her still more glorious recent history; whose bosom has been bared to receive the main shock of this war; whose sons and daughters have exhibited heroism so sublime as to render her illustrious in all time to come-that
Virginia, with the help of the people, and by the blessing of
Providence,
shall be held and defended, and no peace ever be made with the infamous invaders of her territory.
If by the stress of numbers we should ever be compelled to a temporary withdrawal from her limits, or those of any other border State, we will return until the baffled and exhausted enemy shall abandon in despair his endless and impossible task of making slaves of a people resolved to be free.
Let us, then, not despond, my countrymen, but, relying on God, meet the foe with fresh defiance, and with unconquered and unconquerable hearts.
This proclamation was the last effusion of the sanguine temperament
