J. P. Garesche to W. S. Rosecrans, Nashville, December 4, 1862

December 4, 1862.

No. 31. Nashville, Tenn., December 4, 1862.

The general commanding has received several applications from Kentuckians, who have abandoned the rebel armies, for permission to return to their homes; and he is informed that large numbers of others would make the same request of him, did they dare hope for a favorable reply. Under these circumstances the general feels called upon to define his views with relation to all this class of men, and to say what he is pre. pared to do in such cases.

This war is waged for the preservation of the Union of our fathers. To preserve that Union the rebellious States must be coerced into submission. This is the one great end we have in view, and this end must and shall be attained, without passion, from a sense of duty, and, trusting in the God who abhors pride and all injustice, we press onward to that end.

That the people of the South have been deluded by ambitious demagogues, deceived by lying misrepresentations, carried away, some by natural sympathies, others by an irresistible current of circumstances ; that many have even been forced into a participation in the rebellion, we well know. We both know and deplore the cruel necessities of the situation made for them by their rulers. We abhor the grinding despotism which has devoured their substance, depopulated their valleys, converted peaceful neighborhoods into haunts of banditti, and substituted a reign of oppression and terror for the mild Government under which both, but two short years ago, were so happily living. We pity them; we have pitied them even while duty compelled us to unsheath the sword against them; and though, so long as they confront us in arms, our swords shall never be returned to their scabbards, we yet will gladly hail the day when this desolating and unnatural war shall cease.

For this reason the general commanding is disposed to hold out every

GENERAL ORDERS, a FOURTEENTH ABMY OOBRPS,

encouragement to thesc misguided men to lay down their arms, abandon the desperate cause in which they are embarked, return to their homes and families, and resume once more the tranquil occupations of peace. All that will be exacted of those who will honestly do so will be to take the non-combatant’s parole, and give proper security that they will keep it. So long as they faithfully observe this parole, obey the laws, and deport themselves as peaceable citizens, they shall not be molested by any officer or soldier belonging to this army. But if false to their pledges, and ungrateful for the generosity shown them; if they are found conveying information to the enemy, trafficking with him, aiding him with supplies or money, or in any other way violating the spirit of their engagements, they will be summarily dealt with, as spies or perjured traitors, with the utmost rigor allowed by the laws of war.

By command of Major-General Rosecrans:

Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
WASHINGTON, December 5, 1862.
Maj. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS, Nashville :
GENERAL: Your telegram of last evening, in explanation of your
delay at Nashville, is just received. My telegram was not a threat, but
merely a statement of facts. The President is greatly dissatisfied with
your delay, and has sent for me several times to account for it. He has