Duke University Libraries Memorial, Dec. Conf Pam #302 AlEMOKIAX.. 4Im> Abmv of Tennessee, Dec. 17, 1863. 2b the Congress of the Confederah States: Jn the exLstThg "conctition of affairs, it is hoped your honorable bcdies. will ^pardpn the 'Variance from the custom of addressing you from the army. jt 'is iI ajjuj 4n no spirit of dictation, but under the . conscientious cor-viction that the necessities of the country demand the voices nnd labors of all, and that delay, even for thirty days, in enacting proper measures, may make pres^-nt disorders incurable, and the dangers of the moment omnipotent for our destruction. In our opinion, it is essential to retain, for the terra of during the war, "without reorganization, the troops now in service: to place in service, immediately, for the same term, all other white males between eighteen and fifty years of age, a' le to perform any military duty; to provide f'>r placing in service, at the discret on of the President, for the Fame Icini, all vhite males between fifteen and eighteen, and between fifty and sixty years of age ; to prohibit substitutions; to prohibit exemptions, except fur the necessary civil offices and employ- ments of the Confederate JSiates and of the several States; to prohibit detaih, except for limited times, and for carrying on works essential totheaimy; to jtiohibit di^cllarges, except in cases of permanent disability from n/l f'uty ; to prohibit leaves and furloughs, except under uniform rules, of universal app'ieation. based, as far as practi- cable, on length of service and meritorious conduct; to prohibit, to the greatest p()S^ible extent, tlie detail of able-bodied officers and men to prst, hospital, or other interior duty; anl to place in service as cooks, laborers, teamsteis, and hospital attendants, wirh the army and elsewhere, able-bodied negroes and mulattoes, bond and free. These measures, we think, if promptly enacted as laws, so as to give time for organizing and 'di>ciplining the new material, would make our armies invincible at the opening of the campaign of next year, and enable us to >\in back our lost territory, and conquer & peace before that campaign shall be ended. We further suggest that, in our opinion, the dissatisfactions, appre- hended or existirg, from i-hort rations, depreciated currency, and the retention of old soldiers in heiviee, might be obviated by allowing bounties, with discriminations in favor of the retained troops, an increase of pay, the commuiation to enlisted men of rations not issued, and rations, or the value thereof, to officers. Wo have the honor to l)c, Very respcetruliy, your obedient servants, VV. J. IIy\RnP:H. Lieut. General, B. F (;11KATI1.\M. JAy. Grncral, C S. A., C. L. STKVKNSOX. Maj. Gnu ml, JOHN C. HUECKINRlbGK, J/.(y-. General, JOHN (J. DROWN, /?Wy. General, KD.MI) W. PKTT US. lira/. General, A. W. RF.yN(jr;l)S. Bru}'. General, JOHN K. JA(;KS0X, /;)•/./ General. I sign t!)is with ilio rehcrvalittri iliiiL 1 ;ipr'rov.' llu' Pi'c.-ilont'-^ pro- posed svKtem ofpei'niJinent coiisoliiialion. P. R. Cl>KiU:iLNE. J/r//. Gcfwral. T. C.HIXDMAN. Mhysicians and tcachor^ should bo exempt. M. P. LOWKKY, BriOth Ala. Regt., Comwanding Dca's Briaade, A. J. VAUGHN, Jr., Brig General, WM. A. QUARLES, Brig. General. Approved, but would favor consolidation ef regiments, and no in- crease of pay. J. H. SHARP, Col. conuVq Anderson s Brigade. (Approved,) T. BURTON SMITH, Colonel commanding Bates' Brigade, BreeJcinridge's Division, J. J. FINLEY, Brig.' General, WM. B. BATE, Brig. General, ALEX. P. STEWART, Maj. General, H. 1). CLAYTON, Brig. General, O. F. STRAHL, Brig. General, R. L. GIBSON, Col.' comd'g Adams' Brigade. The term " without reorganization" relates to re-election of com- pany and regimental officers only, and not to consolidation of skeleton commands. T. C. HINDMAN, Maj. General pH8.5