Ccnrjj Duke University Libraries A proclamation Conf Pam #490 A PR0CLAMA.T105. by JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor of Georgia. Tr> ELIABLE iaformalion having been receiv- i iVed by me, that there is at present, a very con- siderable uatiiber of deserters and stragj^lers from the military service of the Confederate States, within the limits of this State, who, alter having volunteered and entered the service, have inglo- riously abandoned theircountry's flag and their brave comrades in arms ;'aiid it being reprt-sented that numbers of th-se deserter*, enciuraged by pnrcons subject to their commaDds, to be Tigil&nf and active, in arresting all persons, who may be fonnd within their respective jurisdicti'^ns, who belong to any military organization in the service of the Confederate States, who cannot show that they have the legal authority, or order, of their commanding officers to justify such absence : and to deliver such persons when arrested, to any offi- cer commanding any company or regiment in the military service of t!>is Stxte And I alsw direct each and every officer in commands of either of the two regiments now being lormed for State 8er?ice, orot any company of which they are com- ! priced, to arrest all such persons, using all the 1 force necessary for that purpose; and to receive disloyal ciliztius in the mountains of Northeastern .^. „^, .,..,..._, .„ ^..., , .. Georgia, have associated themselves together with \ into their costody all such, when tendered bj* any arms in their hands, and are now m rebellion / n>ilitia officer or sheriEfor constable of this State. against the authority of this State and the Confed- erate States, robbing loyal citizens of their prop* arty, and threatening to burn iheir dwellings and do other acts of violence; and it being my deter- mination, while I do all in my power as the Exe- cutivo of the State, to maintain her rights and l.er sovereignly in the Confederacy as well in times of revolution as in times of peace, to exercise all the power and authority vested in me, to cause the Q >veinment and people of the State to do their whole duty to the Confederacy, and to the peoplo of the sovereign States of which it is composed, and not only to respond in future, asl h.iveinevery and to send all such deserters or stragglers nn *er a suffi -ient guard to General Mercer at Savannah, or to Col. G. W. Lee, commanding the Post at Atlanta, as throne or the other place may be I nearest and most convenient; to be disposed of aa the Secretary of War may direct. I also direct a! I loyal citizens of this State to report to the offi- cers above meM(ioned, or to the Slate troops ia service, the names of all persons, as well officers Hs privat*"*, suspected to be deserters, or to have overstayed the time !illow»d by thfir furloughs, anil to render to th'^ State officers alt the ass:.Gn aufl uaaans. to uurry nn tho w«»r till ^ -iT»nr»n4J dioKrjal vitiasrim tU r^BSf fo ttSrtinr Oe- our independence is fully established. but to compel all who have deserted and sought refuge wiinin this State, whether they be Georgians or not, to return to the discharge of duty. I therefore issue this uiy Proclamation, commanding all persons as well officers as privates, within the limit-* of this State, who have been actually engaged in the military service of the Confederate States, .nnd who have deserted, or are other wise absent from the respective commands to which they belong, with- out legal furlough, or order irorathe oHic.ers hav- ing the right to command them-, or who have over^ stayed the time allowed them without Providen- tial hindrance, to return to their respective com- mands imiuediulely alter the pui)licatio>] ot this uotice; and I invoke the paidon ol the Couftideiata authorities for all such, who return to their duty '"and delivered to General Mercer at Savannah, or sertt-rs, or enconraj;e de.'-eitiou, or to commit further acts of disloyalty, or hostility to this State or the Confederate States, as ihe hiw against treason will be strictly enforced ugainst all who sul'ject themselves tu its penalties. Any person who shall commit any overt act of treason, by takii'g up arras agains' this State, or the Confed- erate Stat-is, or by adhering to their enemies, or giving them aid or comfort, will be arretted and confined in the common jail of the comity where the crime is committed, or if the jail is insufficient, or their is danger of rescue, in suih 01 her jail of this Stftte as the pre.-iding Judge of the Circuit shall direct. And all persons hereafter encour- aging- desertion, or harboring deserters, or com- mitting other actM of disloyalty, will be arrested within twenty days, but ask, that the penalties of tha law bo rigorously iullicted upon all who rt- fuso 80 to do; and I cnii upon the good people of this State to bring to bear, the powerful influenco of a just public opinion in coudemnaliou uf all deserters and stragglers no matter what mjiy be their position, wealth or influence. And 1 also hereby command and require all militia officers of this State with the forces under their command if accessary, and all slioriffs and constables with all Col. Lee at Atlanta to be dealt v/i h as the Confed- erate authoriti*!S luiy drect under the laws of force; and tlia rules and articles of war. Given under my hand and the Gc' at Seal of this'^tate at the Capitol in Milledgcville, this 17{b' day uf January, iu the year of our Lord, ibt)3. JOSEPH E. BROWN. By the Governor: N. C Uabnett, Secrefarv of St^ttv. #V5o p6Rmalip6» pH8.5