He had hopes that Johnston's
personal popularity with the soldiers might in a measure restore their
spirits.
The President established his temporary Capital at Danville. G. W.
Sutherlin placed his beautiful home at his disposal. Communications with
Lee had been cut and the wildest rumors were afloat. Davis wrote his
last proclamation urging his people to maintain their courage.
In this remarkable document he said:
"I announce to you, my fellow countrymen, that it is my purpose
to maintain your cause with my whole heart and soul. I will never
consent to abandon to the enemy one foot of the soil of any of the
States of the Confederacy.
"If by stress of numbers, we should be compelled to a temporary
withdrawal from the limits of Virginia or any other border State,
we will return until the baffled and exhausted enemy shall abandon
in despair his endless and impossible task of making slaves of a
people resolved to be free.
"Let us, then, not despair, my countrymen, but, relying on God, meet
the foe with fresh defiance, and with unconquered and unconquerable
hearts."
So Washington spoke to his starving, freezing little army at Valley
Forge in the darkest hour of our struggle for independence against Great
Britain.
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