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Jlmn .tutl p»vg §|mM. ROBERT J. HARR* Rditor. MACON, GA-, MARCH 16, 1865. Hates of Advertising. Twenty-five cents per line, or SI per square of teu lines, each insertion. BATES OK SUBSCRIPTION. Twenty Dollars a year. Ihn Dollars for six months. Invariably in advance. The Weekly llkrald will be furnished free of charge to Chaplains and Missionaries or to other persons duly authorised to distribute in commands whicji have no Chaplains, for gratui tous circulation amongst the Soldiers, Marines and Sailors of the C. S. Army and Navy. Subscribers outsido of the Army and Navy will be charged Ten Dollars for Six Months, invariably in advance. All Profits Arising from Sub script ions (if ant accrue) wu.i us FAITHFULLY EXPENDED TO INCREASE TIIH SUP PLY to the Soldiers. Directions for Obtaining the Herald. Give us the number of messes in the command which you think it. will be profitable to supply and be very explicit in giving the directions how tc scud. Business Department. All communications connected with the Edi torial or Business department, should be ad dressed to Rev. Robert J. Harp, Editor and Pub lisher, Macon, Ga., and all subscriptions should be sent to him. Donations. All contributions of money for circulating the paper in the Army and supplying the soldiers with Bibles, Testaments, Ilymn Books and Tracts, should bo sent to Rev. J. W. Burke, Treasurer Soldiers’ Tract Association, Macon, Ga., who will publish in the Herald once each month an acknowledgment thereof. Rev. W. A. Parks.—The friends and correspondents of the above, can address him, in care of the office of the Herald, Macon, Ga. Flowers- How gentle and refining are the influences of flowers ! They shed around our pathway a 'sweet and balmly fragrance, that imparts to us a fresh life and irrepressible pleasure. Bright, beautiful flowers, how blessed is their mission to man! What would it be without flowers? Flowers are the bright and resplendent stars in the green firmament of earth! They are the joyous adorning of a finished creation. The great hand that framed the universe has made the lovely flowers, and made them, too, for our pleasure, profit aud instruction. What heart so callous as not to cherish the lovely flowers? They have a language that is full of poetry and. music, life, and pleasure, and re lined enjoyment! Who does not love the flowers ? “ Flowers ! beautiful flowers ! How sweet in this dim world ol ours.” A Bequest. Brother Hard—l hand to Rev. J. IV. Burke, Treasurer, ninety-five dollars; a part es a be quest from Wm. E. Howard, deceased. Mr. 11. was a Texan Soldier in the Army of Tennessee, brave and patriotic. He belonged to Douglass’ batterv. Was converted during our revivals in the Army. Mortally wounded and left a re quest that his effects should be appropriated to the cause of Christianity in the Army of Tennessee ; especially in the distribution of re ligious reading. 1 have received from Lieut. Ben Hardin, a portion of his bequest and hand over the above mentioned sum to the Soldiers Tract Association. Here is work of genuine conversion to Christ. When realized the bequest will amount to some SBOO or SI,OOO. This I shall divide among the Benevolent In stitutions, working for the Salvation of the soldiers. Respectfully, J. B. M. Fknn. Rf.v. C. S. Dodd, Chaplain of Polk Hospital, will open a “ Soldiers School ” at the Asylum for the Blind next Monday. The hours oT in struction will be from two to five o’clock, p. m. The course of study will be exclusively ele mentary, embracing reading, writing, aril lime tic, and vocal music. The instruction will be entirely gratuitous, and the necessary books and stationery have been furnished by tho liberality of citizens of Mobile. All soldiers desiring sued instruction are invited to attend. Profanity Rebuked. — Howard, the philan thropist, was seen significantly to button his coat in the neighborhood of a printing office where he heard coarse profanity. “ I always do this.” he remarked, “when I hear swearing. One who can take God’s name in vain, can also Steal or do anything else bad.” [For th# Army and Navy Herald.] Sketches and Incidents. bt w. A. p. 80. 1. Tho siege of Vicksburg was being pressed with the most relentless fury. The enemy’s line and ours formed each a semi-circle, extend .ing to the river above and below the city. Some distance in the rear of our right wing, on an elevation, stood a board shanty, the quarters of Captain A , where the afflicted occupant was confined to his bunk. •The missiles from the mortar fleet, the gun boats, the field pieces around the line, and a thousand sharp-shooters, all converged on the point alluded to. The mammoth shells ploughed the ground on every side, and the minie balls clipped the twigs from the branches of sur rounding trees, which were continuously fall ing. Capt. A.’s illness, solitude, and danger, brought him to serious reflection—to a know ledge of his moral danger. He was an humble penitent. llis life hitherto had been marked with moral rebellion, and with excessive profanity. Through many dangers and liair-breadtli escapes had God spared his life in a tour to California; but no Providence brought him to penitence, till suffering and alone, while the missiles of death were rending the surrounding air, he became so deeply concerned for the salvation of his soul that he appeared almost unconscious of the increasing rage of the war-storm. His chaplain observing the state of his mind, pre sented him with tv Tract which contained a true exposition of genuine repentance. As he read it he saw at once that liis was a true repent ance, a-Godly sorrow for sin. lie began to believe he would be pardoned; and, finally, that he was pardoned, and now the clear and unmistakable witness of the Spirit filled his soul with joy. He was a child of God! The next morning as his chaplain entered the low door of his shanty, Capt. A ex tended his hand, while the largo crystal tears of joy rolled down his thin face, and the image of God stamped on his soul shone through his countenance. For a time not a word was spoken ; but while without was the roar and crash of cannon and tho whizzing of balls, in that little “ Bethel” there was a sweet silence. Fipqlly Capt. A said: “Parson, I’m all right now.'-' Ho then fold of the peace that filled his soul, cxni'esscd a desire to live to reach home to join tho church, rear the family altar, and counteract the evil influence of his former life. Said he had ne fear of remain ing in his quarters, though the missiles of death were falling close about him. He believed God would protect him: and though there was a perpetual rain of lead and iron around that cabin for forty-seven days, not a ball or frag ment ever struck it. Through all the recent, campaigns of she Tennessee army, Capt. A has been a faith ful, exemplary Christian, never failing to re prove his comrades for using profane language, which of all crimes he seeins'most to abh»r. May God spare his life through the struggle. reflections. 1. Afflictions, temporal adversities, are oft times the greatest blessings. They bring us to God ; are agencies for our present and eternal salvation. 2. The word of life in tracts, religious papers and the Holy Scriptures, lead- many a war worn soldier to Jesus Christ. Whatever else the soldiers may be deprived of, the people at home ought to send them the bread of life. !i. The exercise ol faitli is not‘difficult when once the sinner lias sincerely repented. 4. What the sinner most loves and practices while in his sins, he most abhors and shuns when he is made a child of God. 5. God will protect those that fear him. “Tlijs angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him.” They fall not, except when it is bettor for them t# depart and b# with Christ. Tub Family, a Divinb Institution.—God established it in Paradise. The sweetest, the happiest, and the most hallowed spot on earth is the home of a Christian family. It is the nursery of affection, of friendship, and of virtue; the place where those ties of mutual dependence aud help are first formed, which, in their expanded state, unite human society ; and according to the manner in which the' rights of (he family are enjoyed, its duties dis charged, and its true benefits realized, are the moral character, the stability, and. the grandeur of a country. Returned Prisoners. lwo thousand ex changed prisoners reached Richmond on the lfith ult. The Whig says : The Confederates were jubilant when they got on board the little Confederate steamer flying the Confederate flag, and sang with a will “Farewell to the Star Spangled Banner.” [For the Army aud Navy Herald.] The Voice of the Faithful Missionary. During the great army revival in 1863, young *\. C. W.” of an Alabama regiment, was hap- and became zealous in the Cliriet. He was very young, having enlisted ,jj etl a little more than sixteen. His example good and his influence felt among 'his fellow-sonj ers jj e n.t the side of the penitent as he in prayer, and his voice was heard in ear. es t supplication for the sal vation of souls for vfcom the Saviour died. On the battle-field he w aa brave, never shrinking from duty. In one ,f t he fights near Atlanta he was wounded and sen t back to the hospital. Here he met with congenial spirits among the citizens of the town wh-., e the hespital was located. He made the acqua‘ a t an ce of the pious and virtuous, who sympathized tHth him in his sufferings, and helped in his life of god liness. Having partially recoYcre*), he was assigned to “light duty,” and transferred to the city of M . Unfortunately V? fell among strangers, and men who had no fear ol God before their eyes. Little by little sir. gained an influence upon him, and gradually he neglected his Christian duties, until finally he lost interest in the house of God, and like the prodigal son, wasted his substance. He had no friend to whom he could reveal the sorrows of his heart when reason returned, and grief for “having grieved his God” penetrated his heart. Time rolled on, and he strayed farther and farther from his God, till he felt that his only relief was to plunge himself deeper in the pleasures of sin. In the spring of 1865, a well-known Mission ary Chaplain passed through the city of M , and attended the evening prayer-meeting at the Methodist Church. -He made an address to the congregation, and while he was speaking W passed the street in front of the house, and by his familiar voice was attracted to the inside of the church, where he seated himself and listened to the exhortation. His mind run hack to former scenes, conviction seized on his mind, and he determined to return to his Father's house. The next mornimg he called to seo the Missionary, told him all, and pledged himself to a renewal of his covenant. He thanked God for that voice by which he was brought into the church, and for the word that reached his heart. And how encouraging to the minister to he in the line of duty and al ways to lift up his voic» in the cause of Christ. J. B. M. News Items. A NEW COMMISSION OBJECT UNKNOWN. Mr. Singleton from Washington city arrived in Richmond on the 28th ult,., and took up lodg ings at the Spottswood. Advices from Fayetteville, N. C. say, Hon. Thomas Conelly, n member of the British Par liament, lias arrived here, and leaves for Rich mond to-morrow. Much speculation is indulg ed in as the object of his visit,, but nothing re liable is known. MEXICAN AFFAIRS. Northern papers of the 28th ult., contain ru mers that the Mexican Government has forbid den the clearance of United States vessels from Mexican ports. The United States Consul has been sent out of Matamoras. Also a report that six thousand mounted rebels are in the vicinity of Mount Sterling, (we suppose in Kentucky.) Gold was quoted at 203. EXCHANGE NOTICE. An official order dated Richmond, 6th, gives notice that all Confede ate officers and men de livered at Savannah or Charleston during No vember and December last, and all delivered on James river up to the Ist hist.., are declared du ly exchanged. The exchange is progressing as rapidly as circumstances will permit. COMMISSIONER FROM MAXIMILIAN. Northern papers say, an emissary of Maxi millian’s is reported to be at City Point, endeav oring to get through the Yankee lines for the purpose of visiting the Coafederate Capitol. TAX BILL. On the 7th inst., the Confederate Congress passed a bill, levying a tax of eight per cent, on all property not exempted, and an additional tax of one per cent, to raise pay for soldiers. The current expenses es tho Government to be paid, one half in treasury notes and the other half in certificates es indebtedness. ORB AT ENTHUSIASM IN AIIOBSTA. Advices from Augusta the 11th inst., says, by order of Gen. Fry, Gen. Johnson’s appeal to his soldiers, and Gen. Lee’s amnesty proclama tion, iiave been printed and circulated broad cast over the country where a paper does not. reach. In this department, the effect is visible already in the hundreds who are arriving at the camp of direction daily. Their shonts of en thusiasm are heard at all hours, as tho crow ded trains pass through the city. MOBILE. Advices to the Bth inst., represent that the enemy had assembled at Pensacola 20,0u0 strong under Generals Ashboth, Andrews, Davie and Steel. Orders had been issued en the 6th for the troops to respect private property unless otherwise ordeied. They were reported advan cing on the 12tli inst. Fourteen boats were added to the Yankee fleet in front of the city on the 11th inst., but a large portion cf them disappeared on the 12th. sbhrman’s MOVEMENTS. Press advices from Charlotte, dated on the 1 ltli inst., state that Sherman was at Fayette ville at last accounts, and Schofield at Goldsbo ro’. There is no doubt but that the two Yan kee Genernls have formed a junction by this time. There is no doubt but that Sherman has got into a desperate strait, and»every effort pos sible is being made to relieve him. The latest news at Fayetteville, N. C. up to the 11th inst., placed Sbeerman at Lynch’s Creek, about 22 miles from Cheraw, when he was striking for the coast. It was reported at the lame time, that a portion of his army had been met near Cheraw and defe;wed, and was retreating in the direction of Charleston. This is not official. Advices at Augusta up to the 11th inst., au thorise the statement that Hardee has effected a junction with the main body of our army at or near VVadesboro, N. C. Our troops are operating on the north side of the enemy skirmishing daily, and exhausting Sherman's strength and forces by a series of annoyances, and avoiding battle as much as possible. The eliemy has been progressing very slowly in his movements since he left Chester. , RECOGNITION ‘RUMORS. A gentleman arrived at Augusta on the 12th. who reported that on the 6th inst., before leav ing the Head Quarters ofGen. Hardee, he heard a document read, which represented, on official authority, that France had promised its recog nition #f the Southern Confederacy, and asser ted its intention of not accrediting a Minister to Court at Washington, until the United States had declared its recognition of the Austro-Mex can Empire. THE NEGRO SOLDIER BILL, As previously passed by the House, was.; passed by the Senate on the Bth inst., with the? proviso that not more than 25 per cent, of" male slaves, between 18 and 45, in any State*, shall be called for under the provisions of that act. Yeas: Brown, Barnett, Caperton, Henry,. Hunter, Oldham, Semmes, Sims, Watson —£•- Nays: Barnwell, Graham, Johnson, of G».„ <jrr, Hays, Vest, Wigfall—B. The Senate passed the House bill authorizing; the Secretary of the Treasury to borrow spec©,, to be applied to the redemption and reduction of the currency. The House resolution fixing the day of ad journment was amended by the insertion of Saturday the 11th, and then adopted—yeas 10,. nays 8. REBEL HAMS. Northern papers speak of an expected attack on their iiaet by the rebel rams, about, the Ist instant. Greeley's f.stimate. The New York Tribune, of the 20th ult., says it has information that, the entire rebel force which can be concentrated in Sherman’s front is 35,000, consisting of the Wilmington garri son, 4,000; Hardee’s forces, swelled by the various detachments that, have been called in since Savannah fell, 16,000 ; and five divisions sent from Lee’s army, 15,000. This force can not be increased from Hood’s army, since the movements of that army eastward began too late. Sherman’s strength is so overwhelming that the only chaqee of rebel success is in sur prising his column in detail. EXPIRATION OF THE AMNESTY. Augusta, March 13.—1 tis very neeessary, for the safety of all persons who come within th# limit* of General Lee’s amnesty order, that they take notice that they should report imme diately to the nearsst commanding officer in this Department. The limitation of twenty days will expire on the Ist of April, it having been published on the 10th of Mareh. Hbadquarters, Feb. 24, 1165. n*n. J. C. Breckinridge , Secretary of War : General Early reports that Lieut. with thirty men, on the morning of the 21st, entered Cumberland, captured and brought out Generals Crook and Kelley, the Adjutant Gen eral, tw# privates and the headquarter’s flag, without firing a gun, though considerable force is stationed in the vicinity. McNeil and his party deservs much credit for this bold ex ploit. Their prisoners will reach Staunton to day. R. E. Les., General. Headquarters, Feb. 29, 1865. Hon. J. C. Breckinridge, Secretary of War : General Echols reports that a detachment of Vaughn’s Cavalry struck the railroad beyond Knoxville, at Sweetwater and Athens, captur-