You men are gathered here today because you share
common beliefs and a common desire. Among the
beliefs you share is the tenet that no man or body of gov-
ernment should have authority to treat you unjustly;
the desire you share is the pursuit of independence.
Make no mistake men—these are the ideals that wars
are made of. The least of the troubles that lie ahead for
all of you is a life of forced seclusion, of being branded as
seditionist by the very government that would impose
her unfair laws upon you. The worst of what you may
face—of what we all face—is death. Pollock and I and
the rest of our fighters are, as you know, already consid-
ered turncoats by the Confederacy. . . .