Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/361

 The Second Virginia Regiment of Cavalry. 355

The commander-in-chief, General R. E. Lee, was particularly complimentary on your large numbers, the discipline exhibited, and fine appearance of your regiment.

Be kind enough to communicate to your command in the proper manner the contents of the within note, and oblige, Yours truly,

FITZ. LEE, Brigadier- General Commanding.

FITZ. LEE'S DIVISION, A. N. V., NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA., 28th February, 1865.

At a called meeting, held in the camp of the Second regiment Vir- ginia cavalry, the following preamble and resolutions were offered by Colonel Munford and unanimously adopted :

The officers and men of Second Virginia cavalry, Wickham's old brigade, Fitz. Lee's division, here assembled, have seen with deep indignation the ignoble terms offered by the President of the United States to the Confederate States Peace Commission. We would feel degraded and net possessed of common manhood could we accept such terms from such a source. The proud freemen of these States are told that they can have peace on no other terms than abject sub- mission. Then we welcome war. War with all its horrors is better than life without the right to liberty and property. We are told that the guarantees provided by our fathers to protect our institutions have been absolutely abrogated, that the idea of rights, declared by the representatives of the people, " which do pertain to them and their posterity," as a basis and foundation of government, is an utter fal- lacy. That all links which bind society together, and the social ties which hallow social and domestic life, have been decreed dissolved. That instead of redress for grievances, for which this war was com- menced, our efforts for peace have produced "from our imperious and vindictive administration increased insult, oppression and a vigorous attempt to effect our total destruction." That our slaves, after having been tempted by every artifice to join the enemy, are not only trained and employed against us, but are now openly pro- claimed to be free, without preparation for the change, without pro- viding security to the master or protection to the slave ; and without home, shelter or property for the latter, other than that obtained by