Duke University Libraries Resolutions of Conf Pam #301 RESOLUTIONS OF THE TEXAS BRIGADE. Camp Texas Beigadr, January 24lh, ISGo. At a meetii)g of tbe 1st. 4l.li and 5th Texns and Arkansas regi- ments, composinsf the Texas brigade ot Field's division, Longstreet's corps, army of Northern Virginia, on motion of SergeartMnior J. if. Leeto, 1st Texas regiment, Private B S. Fitzgerald was chosen Chairman, and, on motion of Private W. H. Burges, Co. D, 4th Texas, Lieut. Haywood Brahan, Co. F, 4th Texas, was ap- pointed Secretary. Lieut. Brahan, being called upon, explained the object of the meeting in a few brief and appropriate remarks. On motion of Private W. H. Burgei^, Co. D, 4th Texas, a com. mittee of five from each regiment was appointed to draft resolu. tions. expressive of the ?ense of the meeting. The following is. the committee as appointed by the Chairman, viz; Serg'tMtijor .). U. Leeto: Sercr'ts F. M. Story. Co. D : J. P Surratt, Co.'ll and W. A. Shcltun, Co. 1. and Private" J. T. Cla. k, ( 'o. K, Ist Texas. Privat's W. [I. PurgeH, Co. I>; D. A. Todd, Co. B,T. D. William.s, Co. F, and Wm Morri.s. Cx F, and Serg't. Wm. M. Baines. Co. C. 4th Texn.s. Licnt. B. P. Fuller, Co. A; Serg'ts. M. A. ,1. ,Fvans,Co. K and T. F. Meese, (Jo. K; and Privates Thos. llaynie, (-o. il. and U C. Shea, Co. F, 5th ToxaR. Assistant Sur- geon C. II. A. Kleinscliniidls ; (Captains A. C. .Jones, Co. G, and W. II Harrison, Co. F ; and Privates .1. II. (Jolsby, Co. K. and R. W O'Conner, Co. F, Md Arkansas. The committee then retired to c'')nt^id(M- the preparation of reso- lutions. During the recess, the meeting was agreeably and plea- santly entertained by eloquent and patriotic speeches from Lieut. Col. C. M. Winkler and Private T. D. Williams, 4th Texas. At the close of Private Williams' j^peech, the committee, through its Chairman, Serg't-Major J. H. Leete, reported the following reso- lutions, which, on motion of Lieut. Col. C. M. Winkler, were unanimously adopted by the meeting: RESOLUTIONS. Whereas, We have seen with feelings of sadnesp, the clouds of gloom and despondency that have recently gathered in the sky of our young nation, but which are now happily being dispelled by returning confidence, therefore we, the army, who are the people, and the people who are the country, deem it not inappropriate, Imt fit and proper, that we should, in a meeting composed of the Tcxa.s' brigade, comprising the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas and 3d Arkansas regiments, make known to our fellow-soldierB, to our country, '". Lhe enemy, and to the world, our purpose and determination to luaiutain, nt all hazards, am! l'> Hie last oxlrcmity, tlic rights and lib- erties wliicli a merciful God has iiceu pleased to hestow uj)on us, and even to contend lur a peipelital se, ai'ation from the hated and despised foe, who have murdered our ^rey-haired fathers, insnlttd our women and children, and turned out fhousands of helpless families to starve — after r<)l»bin^ them and l>urnin<;- their houses — leaving them destitute of all except their honoi- : Therefore be it Resolved, )st. That btifore the commencement of the great sirua:- gle for our rights and lil>erties we considered well the causes and consequences, for vihlcli wo were about to talce up ai-ms - that our cause was just and that no sacrifice was so threat that it could not be made in defence of such a cause — that we have gone boldly for- ward, now for nearly lour years, siud our determination has not abated, but increased, having had a cf arei- view of t!ie character of the brutal foe with whom we tunt<'iid, and gained frf)m expe- rience, in close contact with them, ('crtainly no one now can be so blind and stupid, as not to agree with us, that the warning was of inspiration, and that tlv n was the auspicious time to strike for our rights; and that we are fully determined to go forward as we have done, and, if need be, to renew our pledges of devotion to our country; and that we will rid ourselves of the tyranny the ene- my would thrust upon us, or die in the attempt. Fesolved,2d. That whilst we die battling in a cause, the most sacred, for libeity and independence, against a people S'» base, treacherous and despised, that language fails us to properly p)rtray our detestation of them, we cannot be indiflerent lookeis-on at those in our own country, wh* would divide and distract the conn sels of the nation and tear down the present al)le and patriotic Administration ; and, at the s^me time, give aid and comfort to the enemy. To politicians and demagogue newsj)aper editors, men in and out of positions, croakers, and those who are firing in the rear, and those who pull down, whilst we build up — we warn you that there is a point beyond which you cannot go with impunity ; that nothing will deter us from the prosecution of our purpose, whether it be our open enemies in the front, or the hidden and less respect- able enemy in our midst; for the latter of wliom, wo take tliis oc- casion to express our most hearty scorn and contempt Resolved, 3d. That after calmly considering the present situation of aftairs in the Confederate States, we can see little cause, if any, for losing confidence in our firal success; but on the contrary, iuu(;h on which to congratulate ourselves. In the beginning of this war— lour years ago— we were a peaceful, unwarlike people, fol- lowing quietly our ordinary avocations, totally unused and unedu- cated to warfare. Our men had to be organized; the material and appliances with which we have so otten routed the enemy had to be made from the crude state, .^nd now let^ the world say if wo have not accomplished much. 'Jhat there is much yet to be done, we admit, and we declare ourselves jirepared to undertake it. Let us look back to Manassas the first and second, Gaines' Farm, Chan- 3 celloravillo, Fredcricksburi!;, Wilderness and hundreds of oilier fields, where Conlbderatos liavo shown a heroism almost unequalled in all past aj^es ; and let us take now courage, if any have f^rown weary. We may also admit that the enemy have larle tliat such a he- terogeneous mass can be united in one common olijoct. Whilst we, 1 the contrary, are a unit in our resolution of purpose to be free and independent of those who wonld kill eight millions of whites or enslave them, in order to give a pretended freedom to half that number of African negroes. Lotus go bravely on; peace must come sooner or later, and with it our independence. Our final tri- um})h is certain and inevifablo, and our subjugation is an impossi- bility. Resolved, 4th. That we can say with perfect conlidence to our friends in Texas, Arkansas and the Trans-Mississippi Department, that at the front all is bright, buoyant and hopeful. We congratu- late them on having, during the past campaign, driven the enemy far back from their frontiers. We ask them to stand firmly by their armies, protect the wives and children of the absent soldiers, and to tolerate no man who will go back in the Union with the Yankees, but to punish such treachery as it dei-^erves. Resolred, 5th. That in Tresident Davis, the wise, patriotic, good Chief Magistrate of the Confederate States, we repose th