304
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
and discipline their courage will surmount all obstacles. Should the tocsin of war, calling forth the people to resist the invader, reach the retirement to which I shall go, I will heed neither the denunciations of my enemies, nor the charms of my own friends, but will join the ranks of my countrymen to defend Texas once again. Then I will ask those who have pursued me with malignity, and who have denounced me as a traitor to Texas and to the South, to prove themselves more true, when the battle shock shall come. Old and worn as I am, I shall not be laggard. Though others may lead, I shall not scorn to follow, and though I may end life in the ranks, where I commenced it, I shall feel that the post of duty is the post of honor. We have entered upon a conflict which will demand all the energies of the people. Not only must they be united, but all the heroic virtues which characterize a free people must be that sacrificing spirit of patriotism which will yield the private de- sires for the public good. There must be that fortitude which will anticipate occasional reverses as the natural consequences of war, and meet them with becoming pride and resignation; but, above all, there must be discipline and subordination to law and order. Without this, armies will be raised in vain, and carnage will be wasted in hopeless enterprises. The South, chivalric, brave, and impetuous as it is, must add to these attributes of success through discipline, or disaster will come upon the country. The Northern people by their nature and occupation are subordinate to orders. They are capable of great endurance and a high state of discipline. A good motto for a soldier is, Never underrate the strength of your enemy. The South claims superiority over them in point of fearless cour- age. Equal them in point of discipline, and there will be no danger. Organize your forces; yield obedience to orders from headquarters. Do not waste your energies in unauthorized ex- peditions; but in all things conform to law and order, and it will be ten times better than running hither and thither, spending money and time, without accomplishing any of the plans of a cam- paign which your leaders have marked out. Once organized, stay organized. Do not be making companies to-day and unmaking them tomorrow. If you are dissatisfied with your captain, wait until the battle day comes, and he gets killed off, then you can get another. It is better to fight up to him and get rid of him in that way than to split off, and make a new company to be split up in the same way. I give this advice as an old soldier. I know
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