p. 4 | GENERAL FIELD ORDER by A Disabled Skirmisher

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 13, 1879

GENERAL FIELD ORDER.

By A Disabled Skirmisher

TO THE OFFICERS OF THE KANSAS DIVISION OF THE ARMY OF S. D. ADVENTISTS.

Rally your men. Call in those on furlough. Call for volunteers. Fill up your ranks. Run the artillery to the front. Bring up the reserve. Lead your men to the front—don't send them. There is a battle to be fought. No time for red-tape display. The enemy is gathering his forces in front of our works for a grand charge. They must be met. Our works must be protected. The fort must be held. The enemy must be driven from the field, or captured. Unfurl your colors, and to the work. Our skirmishers are already pressing down on the enemy's line, the clash of arms is plainly heard all along the line,—they are fighting valiantly. The enemy's lines are being broken in several places. At Oswego, Ward, Elkhorn, Spring Valley, Peru, and all along the Northwestern frontier, comes the cheering news of victories won; but they must have help. We have twelve divisions reported for duty. Which will be the first to respond? Which will lead the charge? See that your men are all armed with the sword (the Bible), repeating rifle (the Signs) and revolvers (tracts), and that each company is supplied with a full battery of artillery, (the eight volumes by sister White); and if you have not enough to supply all, make out a requisition on the ordnance officers at once, and direct it to A. J. Stover, Oswego, Labette Co., Kansas.

To the division commanders I would make this suggestion. Don't trust too much to your subordinate officers. Inspect every company yourself (the sooner the better), and see that they are well drilled and armed. Always have a good supply of arms with you, and if you find a company not well furnished, supply them. See that they are armed with a complete “battery of artillery,” that they know how to handle the pieces, and that they are manned and ready for service. If it is impossible for them to pay for them at half price (only four dollars for a full set of eight pieces), let them have them on time till the next “quarterly muster.” A great struggle is just before us; and when Jesus our King shall take command, all who are not perfect then, will get a dishonorable discharge and lose their pay and bounty (eternal life). See that each subordinate officer arms himself with a sharp shooter (the REVIEW), and broad-sword (the bound volumes of the True Missionary), so he can always be ready to defend himself at a long range, or a close hand-to-hand encounter. As you love eternal life and the cause for which we are fighting, don't fail to carry out the above suggestions, and at the close of this quarter send in your report showing just what your divisions have done (be sure that it is on time), also complete muster and pay rolls, giving number of men in each company with names and addresses of all officers, the number of recruits, number discharged, transferred, or having died, number on sick list, and the number in actual service; the amount of arms, ammunition, camp and garrison, equipage on hand, amount disposed of during the quarter, and how; also the amount needed, etc.

A DISABLED SKIRMISHER.

In Hospital, Jan. 31, 1879.