Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk wrote this broadside, entitled A Proclamation. To All Soldiers, in This Department Absent from Their Commands Without Leave, from his headquarters in Demopolis, Alabama on April 16, 1864. Polk offers a pardon to all soldiers of this department absent from their commands (including exchanges and paroled prisoners), who shall within ten days after having knowledge of this proclamation, report for duty to their respective commands, or to the Commanding Officer of the post at Meridian, Mississippi. Polk states that a petition, signed by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Mississippi legislature, was presented to him requesting him to consider the plight of a large number of men now absent from their commands … who in a moment of weakness were induced to abandon their duty and desert their colors (but have now) seen reason to regret their want of fidelity and are anxious to return. Polk acknowledges that although past experience has made him reluctant, he will allow these men this last opportunity to return without punishment and make examples of those who do not avail themselves of the opportunity.