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THE COUNTRYMAN. . ■ ■ ■■. ■ . — , ■ . , - - • . , ■ _ By J. A. TURNER. “INDEPENDENT IN EVERYTHING—NEUTRAL IN NOTHING ’ ’ $5 lor Three Months. VOL. XX. TURN WOLD (NEAR EATONTON) GA* TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1865. NO. 15. Reminiscences of the Mexican War. Columbus, Ga., June 27, 1846. Dear Father :—I wrote to you, after Wt had been here a day, or two. isince then, I have not written—thinking t v ry day I would write ; but pressing business would prevent me. We have now receiv ed orders to march tomorrow morning, 6 o’clock, and I believe we shall probably get off 1 , it being.the third time that has been appointed for the regiment to move Last night I returned from Sumter. My family were moderately well—my crop modereately promising. There was no news, except a murder in our county—the first committed in the county since I re moved to it. Today we had a flag presented to us, by a lady of Columbus, or rather of Wynnton, about two miles distant; and instead of the flag being brought into Co lumbus, the poor soldiers had to take a tramp out there to get it, thereby consum ing half a day, which might have been spent, at least by me, and I have do doubt many others, in arranging their busi ness, and writing letters to their friends. Such is the pomp and circumstance of war. One day is consumed in receiving a flag, which may, or may not be dishon ored, and Uncle Sam has to pay for it. Things do not move with that vigor that I would wish, and unless things change very much for the better, the Georgia regiment will have no advanced position in Taylor’s army, and the laurels we shall win will be but few. I have been pretty well, so far, and my strength is daily increasing. 1 shall take care of myself, and am in hopes Provi dence will permit us yet to meet again. The settlement of the Oregon question leads many to think there will be peace. I am in hopes so. There is also a rumor that England has offered her mediation between us and Mexico. If so, I am in hopes we will have a speedy discharge. I fully intended to have written to you before. You must excuse me for not do ing so. I was at home when Evelina received a letter from both Neighbor and brother. They certainly did not think of the nature of things, when they wrote to my wife. They wrote that I was cer tainly mistaken, as regards my duty in volunteering to go into the Mexican war. That language, of course, threw a damper on my wife’s feelings. They should have written something cheering, or not have written on that head at all. Remember me to the old lady. I am in hopes she will recover from her sickness. This trip that I am taking, appears, in deed, to be a strange one; and- when I ’a^ok at it, I must think fate his a hand in it. Deep and inscrutable are the ways of Prov dence. And when I look back on my situation, with a wife and five chil dren, and every comfort around me—to think that I should leave them, having it, as I had, in my power to have all the hap piness this life could afford, I must think that a greater Power than human, directed my course, and must not regret a move which cannot be taken back, but go for ward, cheerfully, in the service of the country, until such time as an All-wise Providence shall direct my return. God grant it may be done by a speedy peace. I will write every opportunity, and am in hopes we will yet meet, dear father. I pray for your comfort, in your declining yeais ; and God grant, after (he storm of life has passed, you may take up your abode in that bright and happy world which you have been striving to attain. I love you, and am yet in hopes to see you. Your son, J. A. S. Turner. Yankee News. — “ Senatobia, March 29.—A Fortress Monroe telegram, of the 22d, says Grant contracted his lines, as if preparing for a rush, and is awaiting Thomas’s infantry, from the west. Secretary Welles, Assistant Secretary Fox, and Major General Anderson, are to visit Charleston, and to raise ‘the old flag ’ over F:rt Sumter. It is believed, at Washington, that Rich mond has been evacuated, and only a strong picket line left along Grant’s front. It is rumored .that Lee, at the head of his army, is marching, in haste, to unite with Johnston, and fall upon Sherman. The Washington Chronicle, of the 24th, has another peace article, which is regard ed as significant, in view of Forney’s inti mate relations with the president, and the latter’s departure for Grant’s headquarters. It advocates a liberal policy to rebel lead ers, to prevent further bloodshed. There is a growing conviction that the 1 eaders on both sides, have, now under discussion, some project which points to a suspension ot hostilities The Saint LouisTlepublican, of the 25th, says Pr. Lincoln has directed a revocation of the order of banishment, in the case of, Mrs. Gen. Ewell, upon her taking the am. nesty oath. Nothing is said, in the pres ident’s dispatch, about Mrs. Ewell’s raon- I ey, and other property’’, seized by the pro vost marshal, but the presumption is, that thev will be restored to her. The negroes of Nashville, had a cele- bration on the 20tfi, in honor of the adop tion, by Tennessee, of the constitutional amend cent abolishing slavery. They had two brass bands, and carried a considera ble number of banners,' with mottoes.” Didn’t knoav what hr Meant.—“A wri ter in Blackwood’s Magazine, tells the following joke on old Abe: When Messrs. Preston, Randolph, and Stuart, the deputies from Ahrjrinia, waited on the president of the United States, and urged him to do something to calm the ir ritation of the people— ‘What would you have me dt>?’ said Mr. Lincoln. ‘Mr. President,’ replied one of the dep utation, ‘I would beg you to lend me your finger and thumb for five minutes’— meaning, of course, that he wished him to write something that should allay the pre vailing excitement. But Mr. Lincoln did not choose to understand him. ‘My finger and thumb!’ he repeated— ‘my finger and thumb! What would you do with them ? Blow your nose?’ The deputation retired in disgust, and Virginia seceded.” From Mobile.—“Mobile, March 28.— There was heavy skirmishing at Spanish Fort, to-day, without any advantage to the enemy. At four o’clock, the fleet took part. Our troops are in the best spirits, and every thing looks encouraging. Casualties have been slight. The enemy seems inclined 4o make a regular siege, ak there has been no gener- al assault.X^ All quiet bn this side.” ^ ... . From Mobile.—“Mobile, March 29.— Fighting has continued all day, in and around Spanish Fort, the advantage being decidedly with us. The enemy’s loss is said to be severe—ours is very slight. One monitor was sunk, this morning, by a-shot from Spanish Fort. The yankee fleet took no part in the fight today, on the eastern shore. The enemy's gunboats commenced shell ing the western shore at 10 o’clock, but were driven off by Jabine’s Missouri bat tery. Two soldiers, and a citizen named Frederick, were woundod. Forty-seven vessels, of all classes, are in sight. Everything is encouraging. The Army.—“The Mobile News is as sured, by an officer having the best means of forming a correct opinion, that Gen. Lee’s amnesty proclamation will have the effect of returning not less thaa ten thou sand old soldiers to their colors, from the state of Mississippi, alone.” ‘ Religion is often a cloak for Satan.’