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 230 Southern Historical Society Papers.

time has come when for us there is to be a more favorable turn of the wheel of fortune. We may, nevertheless, remember that it was a maxim among the religion of the heathen that the gods helped those who helped themselves a maxim which the teachings of a purer and truer faith have served to confirm and establish.

Our cause is not less the cause of truth, of honor, and of God, now than it was the first day we took up arms against the barbarous horde of fanatics and of Puritan and German infidels who have for three years sought to despoil us of our political rights, rob us of our property, destroy our social life, and overturn and crush our altars. The hate of these men has not been abated by the plunder and deso- lation and bloodshed upon which it has fed, but has rather been deepened and intensified. From them, should they succeed, we are to expect nothing but universal confiscation of our property, abject social degradation or death.

The Lieutenant- General commanding, therefore, confidently trusts that under a sense of such a hopeless future, the inspiration of our just cause, and the encouragement and example of our noble women, who everywhere regard our invaders with loathing and abhorrence, all past grievances among ourselves, real or supposed, may be for- gotten ; and while the gallant men who compose our army in the field will resolve afresh to renew their vows of undying resistance to our enemy, those who have not yet taken up arms will come forward promptly to swell the ranks of our battalions, and share with their countrymen the duly and the honor of breaking the power of the oppression. The vigorous employment of our own resources, with unity, harmony,, and an unflinching determination to be free, cannot, under God, but crown our efforts with triumphant success.

L. POLK, Lieutenant- General Commanding.

The Thiriy-eighth Virginia (Steuart's Brigade) at Battle of Five Forks. By Colonel GEORGE K. GRIGGS.

The regiment with the division was relieved from the trenches on the night of the 4th of March, 1865, and proceeded on cars to Farmville, Virginia, on the loth to intercept the forces under General Phil. Sheridan, of the United States army. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Farmville until the i3th, when it left for Richmond.