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 Appeal to the p 
 Conf Pam #616 
 
API>EA.L 
 
 PEOPLE OF TIEGINIA. 
 
 RICHMOND, February 22d, 1865. 
 
 Fellow-Citizkxs: Coniinisscarj Gen. sal St. John, at his recent en- 
 li-ance upon the duties of his bureau, invited several gentlemen of this 
 city, including a number of clergymen, to a conference as to the be.st 
 means of increasing the supjilies of food necessary for tlie subsistence 
 of the Army of Northern Viiginia. At this conference, the under- 
 fflgned. were appointed as a committee to prepare and issue an address 
 to the loyal i)feople of the State, for the purpose of placing before 
 them such facts, and of making such suggestions as will, it is conli- 
 dently believed, ensure a general and hearty co-operation in this great 
 and necessary work. 
 
 You are aware, fellow-citizens, that the movements of the enemy in 
 South (Carolina and Georgia have interrupted our comnmuications 
 with the Southern States, and seriously embarrassed the operations of 
 the Subsistence Department, so that immediate and energetic action 
 OQ the part of the Government and the people is demanded for the 
 support of the army. 
 
 It is ascertained that the supply of food in the accessible counties of 
 North Carolina and Virginia is ample for the subsistence both of sol- 
 diers and citizens. Of the four modes of obtaining it for the use of 
 the army, viz : by impressment, purchase, loan, and voluntary contri- 
 bution, it is believed that when the exigency, now existing, is clearly 
 understood, the last mentioned method will be the one most approved 
 by the people, and therefore the one which will command the most 
 cheerful, immediate, and generous aid on their part. 
 
 The resources of the people have already been severely taxed. Vast 
 quantities of food have already been obtained by impressments, loans, 
 and voluiiuiry contributions. But for these extraordinary eilbrta our 
 armies would have long since been disbanded, and, without a continu- 
 ation of the.se elVorts, our .soldiers cannot accomplish the task yet before 
 
them. Apart from all thofe considerations of honor and duty, which 
 most constrain high-toned and patriotic men, thcjjc liberal contribu- 
 tions on the part of citizens are nectssary to the preservation of their 
 own rights of pioperly and personal safety. Inttrtst itselt demands 
 any and every sacrifice necessary to prevent subjugaiiun. 
 
 On this point, one teslimouy will be sufficient. Virginians and 
 .patriots all over the Confederac}- will regard with implicit belief and 
 profoundcst respect any statement on such a subject emanating from 
 our beloved Generalin-Cbief, Eouert E. Lee. In reference to the 
 very appeal we are now making, he writes: 
 
 "I cannot jicrmit JDysolf to doubt that our people will re^])ond to it, when they 
 reflect on the alternative profentrd to them. They have i-iniply to chod?*' •whether 
 they ■will contiibute siuli rommisfary and quartorremttc r stiirct as Ihey cnu pussihl}' 
 spare lo >uppf>rt an army which l:as already borne and liotie io much in their behalf, 
 or, retninini,' iluir t^toie.-, maintain the arniy of ihe "ncmy cnt^aijed in (heir subjuga- 
 tion. I am aware that a general obligation of this nature resls lightly ( n most men 
 — each being dispo=ed lo leave its discharge to his neighbor — but I amconlidcnl that 
 our citizens will appreciate their responsibility in the case, and will not pernut an 
 army which, by God's blessing and their patriotic support, has hitherto resisted the 
 efforts cf the enemy, to suffer now through their neglect." 
 
 Such being the ernergenc}^, and the corresponding obligation, it only 
 remains now to consider the best practicable means of attaining the 
 end in view. 
 
 There is in every county accessible to us in the State an ofhcer or 
 agent of the Bureau of Subsistence, charged with the duty of collect- 
 ing b}' purchase or otherwise army subsistence, and forwarding the 
 same to this city. It is also proposed to appoint two or more gentle- 
 men of influence, energy and intelligence, in each county, \vvho shall 
 appoint others in each magisterial district,) to call the attention of 
 every family to the wants of the arm}'-, and to urge them to contribute 
 in some way as large apportion of their supplies as can possibly be 
 spared. These contributions can be made as d(inations, sales or 
 LOANS, at the option of the owner, and the suj.)plics, so obtained, will 
 be sent to some convenient point to be indicated by the local officer, 
 where he will receive and receipt for the same, and give the j)artiet5, 
 when required, an obligation in kind or in cun-ency. 
 
 But, as already intimated, there are difficulties in the way of obtain- 
 ing supplies either by purchase or by loan, which can be best over- 
 come by the spontaneous and free-will offerings of the people, gener- 
 ously contributing of their substance for the support of the army now 
 battling and suffering in their behalf. 
 
 For the information of those who desire to aid the cause by volun- 
 tary contributions, we beg leave to state that the following plan has 
 been considered and ajiproved by the authorities: 
 
 1. Let every citizen, who can, pledge himself to furnish the rations 
 of one soldier for six months, without designating any particidar sol- 
 dier as the recipient of the contribution. 
 
 2. Let those thus pledging themselves furnish, say 80 pounds of 
 bacon and 180 pounds of flour, or their equivalent in beef and meal, 
 to be delivered to the nearest commissary agent. 
 
 3. Let the donor bind himself to deliver one half of the amount 
 above stated, viz: 40 pounds of bacon and 90 pounds of flour (or its 
 equivalent) i.mmedi.vtely, and the remainder at the end of three months^ 
 
unless lie prefers to adopt the better plan of advancing the whole 
 amount pledged at once. 
 
 4. Let the pledge of each individual subscribing and furnishing the 
 rations of one soldier for 6 mouths be made the basis of larger sub- 
 scriptions. Those whose generosit}^ and whose means will enable them 
 to do so, may obligate themselves to provide the rations of 5, 10, 20, 
 or any other number of soldiers for 6 months; while even the poor, 
 who could not afford to supi:)ly the ration of one man, by uniting 
 their contributions may authorize one of the number, so combining, to 
 make the designated subscription of at least one ration for one man for 
 six months. 
 
 We trust that this plan, so intelligible and so easily put in execu- 
 tion, will oornmend itself to thousands of our patriotic people, who, 
 by reason of age, sex, or inlirmity cannot serve in the field, will yet 
 take pride and pleasure in being represented in the field in the persons 
 of soldiers wh(X>e rations they themselves furnish. 
 
 On this subject, Gen. Lee expresses the opinion that almost every 
 one who has a famih^, especially among our farmers, could afford to 
 support one mt)re in addition to his present number, and that this plan 
 will not require a man to do more than to send to a soldier 
 what he would always be able to give in the way of hospitality to 
 such soldier, were he an inmate of his house. 
 
 The scheme thus explained presents a system which may be con- 
 tracted or expanded according to the ability of the contributor — not 
 excluding the poor, and giving scope to the largest liberality of the 
 rich ; and, in fact, presents a plan for securing all the food in the 
 country which can be obtained by voluntary contribution. 
 
 And now, in order to carry it into immediate execution, the co-op- 
 eration of legislators, magistrates, ministers of the Gospel, and all per- 
 sons of influence and standing in every county is earnestly invoked. 
 The cause is one which makes its own appeal to fiithers and mothers 
 who have sons in the army ; to men of wealth who have large pos- 
 sessions to protect ; to men in humble circumstances, to whom the lib- 
 erties of their country are equally dear; to all classes in the commu- 
 nity, Avhosc security and happiness are involved in the issue of this 
 struggle for the right of self-government. Every right-minded and 
 right hearted man must feel that citizens in their comfortable homes, 
 exempt from the privations and perils of the field, should be willing 
 to exercise the severest self-denial, if necessary, that the army to which, 
 under God, we are indebted for our present safety, and to whom we must 
 owe our final deliverance from the presence and the power of the 
 enemy, should at least besupplied with the food which is essential to the 
 vigorous health and comfort of its soldiers. A claim so reasonable and 
 just .MUST and will be satisfied. 
 
 And now, in concluding our appeal to you, fellow-citizeus, we do 
 not forget that Virginia has already suffered sorel}'' in this struggle to 
 obtain all that is dearest to the patriot's heart. The bloody tide of 
 battle lias swept over almost every portion of her territory ; the sac- 
 rifices, as well as the services, of her sons have been great ; yet the 
 spirit of her people has never flagged, nor are her resources exhausted. 
 She has hitherto responded nobly to every call the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment has made upon her; and it is not doubted that now, when 
 
made aware of its present waul?, 1i«t people will prove ibeinselves 
 
 both able and willing to relieve them. 
 
 MOSES 1). HOGK, 
 .]. L. BrRROWS. 
 JOHN E. KD WARDS, 
 CHS. MINNTGKRODK, 
 M. J. MICHELB.\(niEU, 
 W. .1. PKTTIGREW, 
 THOS. ^V. McCANCE. 
 R EDMOND, 
 SAMUEL J. HARRISON. 
 
 
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