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 My brave soldie 
 Conf Pam 12mo #103 
 
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HEAD QUARTERS, OAVALRI CORFS 
 December 81st, 1 h<; t 
 
 SWo 
 
 i of the year terminate* a campaign of eight months, daring 
 which] • ru have engaged in continuous and successful fighting. 
 
 vn Dal ton I i Ulanta you hol^ the right of our army. Opposed ahi 
 
 co of iifanfrlten times your number, you repulsed 
 every assault, inflicting upon the eiffmy a loss in killed and wounded numeri- 
 lian your ei rigth. Every attempt on the part of the 
 
 enemy to turn or strike our right (lnjul? was met and repulsed liy your 
 
 nined courage, it should he a proud reflection l I, that 
 
 during the entire campaign, the Army of Tonneascc never lost n position by 
 having tin- Hank turned which it was your duty to protect. 
 
 During every movement of our lines, you have been between our iufantry 
 and the cnejnoy hurling back hi advanco, and holding his entiiV arauy 
 
 lit has- until our troops had riniel" prepared to recei\ and repulse bis gigantic 
 
 lilts. Having faile I by other means to drive our army from the pot 
 in front of Atlau i, ho now sei eavy columns of cavalry to destroy 
 
 our communication*, to relea.se prisoners of war, and march in triumph 
 with them through our country. You promptly strike one ccjutrin and drive 
 it back discomfited ; then *&H* assailing the two othci . you defeat them 
 and complote thoir destruction aid capture. This, alone, cost the enemy 
 mora than ^nd men. hories, arms and equipments, besides material, 
 
 co l ot ^'.w*t vap due to your valor, and is without parallel 
 
 in live history of this war. 
 
 Having been detached and lent to the rear of the enemy you captured hi* 
 garrisons, destroyed his stores and broke his communications more effectually, 
 and for a largor period than any other cavalry force, however large, has done. 
 
 During Sherman's march through Georgia you retarded his advance and 
 defeated his cavalry daily, preventing his spreading over and devastating the 
 country. 
 
During the last five months you have trawleti nearly three thousand miles, 
 ting nearly e,verj tiny, and always wit] You have been victorious 
 
 in more than fifty pitched battles, and ajiui jlrod minor afiairs placing a num- 
 ber of the enemy hors du combat fully foui itesl number you ever 
 . -1 into action. 
 J desire, my brave soldiers, to thank you r>r your gallantry, devotion and 
 I conduct Every charge 1 baveasked vn to make, has been brilliantly 
 executed. Kvcry position 1 have asked you hold, lias been held until abso- 
 lutely untenable. Your devotion to your country fills my heart with »rati- 
 tudc. You have done your fiUl duty to youj eon n try and to me; and 1 
 tried to do my full duty to yon. Circun upon you many 
 and great deprivations. Yoi> have rived of the issues of closing 
 and many i iforts and convenient other troops have enj 
 and have borne all without a murmur. 
 
 lier I i\- : ■• I •". Tennessee, i ' you deserve special 
 
 commendation for your sacrifices and forth [>arated from your homes 
 
 and i u have nobly done all I I men could do. 
 
 Soldiers from Alabama and Georgia! youi •• nearly all been overrun 
 
 and destroyed, yet w plaiut t 'you havr stood to your colors like bi 
 
 and patriotir men. Your country and your (> nd will one day reward you, 
 
 The gallant Kelly whom we all ' '11 is dead. Many ot hi 
 
 spirits whoso loss we leppl; feel sleep * They fell— tin 
 
 y . ' 
 
 Allen, Humes, Anil rsou, Pibbrell, liagan. (Jrews, Ashby. llarrisou and 
 Brcckenridge, and ma brave men whuff gallantry you have bo often 
 
 witne ere still to guido and lend you in battl ht and 
 
 victories yet to be wob?. 
 
 Another campaign pen in which I pnly ask you to fight with the 
 
 • valor 1 'nave always seen yon exhibit upt n the many fields where your 
 •■ i has won victory for out 
 
 A WHEELER, 
 

 
Hollinger Corp. 
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