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j|amttr ani ISaplist.
“Holy Bible, —Book Divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.”
11. C. HORN AD If, Editor.
J. M. WOOD, i
J. S. BAKER, V Associate Editors.
D. V. EVERETT, )
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
Saturday, Angost 2, 1863.
Increase in Price of the Banner.
Owing to the immense increase in every
thing connected with the newspaper busi
ness, it has become absolutely necessary to
advance the price of The Banner to three
dollars per annum, instead of two as here,
tofore. Our patrons will see the propriety
of this when informed that the price of
paper is more than double that of former
rates, and that of printing and mailing has
also advanced.
We can not publish the paper for less
than the amount stated without loss to our
selves, and we call upon our patrons to
pay the increase of price in order that we
may keep The Banner going. Those who
have already paid will receive the paper
according to the old rates until their pres
ent subscriptions shall expire.
Notes and Incidents.
During our visit to the Confederate Cap
ital extensive opportunities for observation
were not enjoyed. The government had
wisely determined to save the property
taken from the enemy, and sec that it was
appropriated to the public use ; hence pick
ets were posted around the battle-field, and
none allowed to go upon it except by spe
cial permission. To get a passport out of
the city was almost impossible on account
of the sluggish movements of certain wheels
.in the machinery of government. Office
hours in Richmond may be all right (for
our officials are honorable men) ; but if one
w'ould prefer not to find himself almost a
prisoner, he had just as well stay away
from the capital. Certain things in the
government need changing, and unless they
are improved in some way the public ser
vice will most assuredly suffer. Important
offices ought not to be closed against the
public, when personal liberty is in the hands
of officials, for twenty hours out of the
twenty-four. As the thing is at present
arranged and managed, citizens are forced
to violate, important orders or remain in a
state of easy imprisonment in the city of
Richmond. No man ought to be put into
office and fed from the public crib unless
he is willing to work—work hard. If a
man wishes to play the gentleman of leisure,
he ought to do it at his own expense, and
not burden the public service with his per
nicious person.
Notwithstanding the announcement that
those who attempted to get out of the lines
without a “ pass ” would be shot, there was
no other alternative left us but to work our
way to Colonel Cutts’ headquarters where
an appointment for preaching had been
made. In this effort success smiled upon
the writer, and at the appointed time he
found himself at the right place and ready
for the evening’s service. Arrangements
were made in front of the chaplain’s quar
ters, the soldiers gathered around in the
form of a crescent, and the exercises were
begun. During the delivery of the sermon
the most profound attention was giveu to
the speaker, and it is humbly hoped that
some heart was touched by the precious
truths of the Gospel.
After a night’s rest in the camp, in com
pany with the chaplain, Rev. Morgan Cal
laway—who, by the way, is a line specimen
of a Christian gentleman—we started on a
visit to the battle-field. It was raining
briskly, butas we were exceeding anxious
to see something of the scenes of “ glorious
war,” we moved cheerfully along, passing
camps and straggling soldiers on every side.
We reached the point where had been sta
tioned the fourth Georgia regiment, com
manded by Colonel Doles. Just in front
of their line, on the 25th June, this regi
ment was engaged with the enemy, and after
a brilliant fight succeeded in driving him 1
trom the field under cover of his entrench
ments. We followed the line along which
the battle raged, guided by the marks of the I
balls upon the trees. Soon we came to the
place where the dead had been laid to rest,
and graves met the view on every side. !
Passing towards the enemy’s entrenchment* j
banner and baPT IST.
we saw two poor soldiers lying near the
road, with only a little turf thrown over
their bodies, while their heads and feet were
left entirely These were what
By ton calls the broken tools of a tyraot,
cast aside because worthless. They were
our enemies, but still I could not avoidfeel
ings of sadness when I thought that some
heart might at that very moment be mourn
ing for them. Poor fellows ! they looked
ghastly in death, and we turned away to
shed a tear over the fate of those who are
doomed to lay their bones in such a wild
and neglected spot. At that moment, we
would have been much gratified if Mr.
Lincoln could have been with us and wit
nessed what we did. Surely he would, if
he has nature in him, have determinad to
bring this war to a close, and turn his
attention again to the more peaceful em
ployment of rail-splitting. At any . rate,
had he been there with two preachers he
certainly would have been placed under a
cross-fire of the Gospel, and, if he has not
lost all sensibility, he might have been made
to feel the weight of his sins, and perhaps
have been brought to repentance.
But more anon.
Revival News.
A meeting of unusual interest has recent
ly been held .with Mount Lebanon Church,
Coweta ounty, Ga. Twelve persons were
baptized during the meeting, most of whom
were converted during its continuance.—
The principal public laborers were Elder
James Hall, the pastor, Elders J. G. Fry
and J. V. Davis. It is represented as a
most glorious revival, its gracious influences
reaching the entire membership and the
whole community. Thanks to a merciful
God for His goodness to His people at Mt.
Lebanon, and thanks that another evidence
is afforded of His willingness to bless those
who wait upon Him in sincerity. W.
4 We learn, from the Index, that a revival
is being enjoyed by the church at Macon—
the services conducted by brother Warden,
the pastor, assisted by brethren Irwin and
Landrum.
Rutledge, Morgan County, Ga., (
July 23, 1862. )
Dear Banner : 1 have just closed a six
days’ meeting with Union Church at this
place, brethren J. Stillwell and W. Spear
assisting in the meeting, part of the time.
The church is very much revived. Eight
persons were received by experience, five
of whom were baptized, at this meeting ;
seven conversions, and many anxious in
quirers when the meeting closed. May the
Lord continue to bless this little church !
A. K. Tribble.
Fifty Dollar*, >y having the Banner.
Or Friday last 1 got on the train for
Newnan, and took a seat by an entire
stranger. A friend came to me ai.d asked
the use of a copy of The Banner. When
he returned it, the stranger wished to read
it, saying that he had not read a paper of
the kind for some time. After reading it,
he said that he saw the appeal for
and although he * r as a refugee, he had been
successful in some business transactions
and wished to give his mite to be used in
procuring tracts for the soldiers. He then
handed me SSO. lie was from West Ten
nessee, has a wi e and two little children
within the enemy’s lines, and is lrmself
connected with service of the Western army.
He positively refused to have his name pub*
lished with the donation, but gave me his
name.
So much for the soldier “ by having
The Banner.” " W.
money Received for Colporiage.
Rev. E. M. Galt, S2O ; W. Galt, 5 ; A
Friend at Athens, 10; Dr. W. 11. Dean, 2;
W. 11. Strickland, 2; Jesse Swain, 2 ; Mrs.
Mary E. MeCrimmon, 39; Dr. N. M.
Craw'ford, 10.
Acknowledgment. —Mrs. J. 11. Smith
acknowledges the receipt of the following
articles, for distribution among the sick
soldiers, from Mrs. Quillian, Mrs. Wimpy,
Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. Kelly, of Dahlonega:
Pickles, catsup, berries, potatoes, lard,
j onions, elm, sage; one featherbed, two
! pillows and three sheets.
Extract from a letter written by Dr.
| Samuel 11. Dean to his parents:
** Please say to Miss Mollie Smith that
ijthe money placed in the hands of Captain
White was expended for Testaments, which
were distributed through the regiment.—
Please present our warmest thanks for the
interest she took in getting up the means
to buy the Word of Truth which should
be our chart and compass in peace and in
war, in life and in death.”
The Banner for the Soldiers.
The following sums are acknowledged :
J. M. Wood, $5 00.
W. Thames, 200
All Baptist ministers and others, in the
Confederate States, friendly to the paper
are requested to act as Agents.
East Tennessee.
Dear Banner: On Saturday last 1 had
the pleasure of beholding the pleasant face
of our Banner, at the house of our good
brother Gordon, on Sand Mountain. Be
assured it was to me a pleasure. The copy
happened to be that in which my letter of
the 30th ultimo appeared. Asa moment’s
leisure is now granted me, i will again irn-i
pose on your readers another scrawl.
My last recorded an order to hold our
selves in readiness to march at a moment's
notice, with two days’ cooked rations. —
On Sabbath, July 0, we received orders to
strike tents and prepare to take up line of
march for the Tunnel, just twelve miles
below Chattanooga. At that spot we en
camped till Monday, 13th, when we again
moved to our present position, just two
miles from Bridgeport. Here we have lain
for a whole week, and for what purpose has
not been made known to us.
From the top of Raccoon Mountain, on
Friday evening, I saw the smoke arising
from the kitchens of five regiments and one
battalion of the enemy. Besides these we
are told are two regiments camped at
the bridge, which would give the enemy, in
close proximity to the river, a force of sev
en regiments besides a battalion and some
artillery. It is reported, however, that thi
enemy is retreating. This m ybe true,
even though the smoke be visible ; the en
emy, knowing the smoke is visible from
the mountain, may have left a few pickets
and a few men to keep up the fires. It is
true that the music and drumming heard at
first is not heard now Yei. these facts do
not prove the presence nor absence of the
enemy.
Our brigade is now commanded by Gen
Lead better, and is composed of the 43d Al
abama, 55th Georgia, 59th Georgia, and
Jackson Artillery. We are well armed
Four of our companies are armed with the
Enfield musket; the others have Mississip
pi, Harper’s-Ferry and D rringer rifles,
and Springfield muskets. There are few
regiments better armed or better officered
than the 55th Georgia.
Quite a number of our men have been
and are now sick. Up to the last month
the chief disease was measles; now, how
ever, a low grade of remittent fever is pros
trating many of our stalwart boys. We
have lost by disease twenty-two men since
the 15th of May. Two lay dead in our
regiment on Sabbath last. Ah, me! it
was a sad sight to see the poor fellows
breathe their last in the woods, away from
l'i - nothing, tender attentions of home,
sweet home.
Our sick suffered much, from inattention,
at Chattanooga. The universal petition of
each poor sufferer was, “ Send me home, or
to Atlanta!” God bless our good, kind
ladies of Atlanta! May the blessings of
our Heavenly Father be richly poured out
|up n them! The names of those kind
ladies are cherished by every suffering pa
triot whose sufferings have been alleviated
by their gifts and attentions.
lam hopeful to da\. The prospects of
our beloved Confederacy brighten every
day. The day of our deliverance is near.
God be glorified for the way He is carving
out foi us!
Y sterday 1 preached, mornii g and eve
ning, tolar>.e audiences. Indeed, my audi
ences increase in numbers every Sabbath.
I am grateful for the attention. I am
thankful to rny God for the favor He has
granted me.
I need tracts! tracts ! Cannot 1 get
some ? My brother, or brethren and sis
ters, send me some to Chattanooga.
Geo. C. Connor.
Near Bridgeport, July 21, 1862.
Crumb*
NO. IX.
“ These hands have brought me to heaven f
so said one, as he kissed the hards of a cru
el oppressor. The dj ing man felt that
cruelty had been the means of leading him
to the great Sympathizer.
Afflictions arc designed for our good.
They teach us humility, patience, submis
sion. God will bring many to heaven
through this war. He will triumph over
the devil’s triumphs. Let us see that we
are drawing sympathy and strength from
the Saviour.
“ All things work together [vot adverse
ly and inharmoniously] for good [there js
no injury to come to Christians by these
hardships and sorrows] to them that love
God ”!
O my soul, feed upon the word of God,
now. Understand His precious promises.
Many, forgetful of these, of Christ, of dnty,
and of heaven, have denied their Lord who
bought them. Wilt thou also go away f
** WILL.
Banner for Hie Soldiers.
The religious paper furnishes a cheap
and available means of reaching them ; and
our brethren and sisters should come to
the rescue before it is too late. W bat say
our readers? Shall the sick and wounded
soldiers have The Banner f
Correspondence of Tlie Banner.
NEAR VICKSBURG, July 16,1862.
Dear Brother tlornady :
Your readers may not be so much ab
sorbed in the mighty events passing in V ir
ginia as to be wholly uninterested in what
is going on out West. I know that the
people generally have given up the West
to the enemy since the fall of Memphis and
New Orleans, and look upon the whole
country —even to, and including the New
Orleans and Jackson Railroad —as in the
hands of the foe, but it is not so; and 1
write you to-day to cheer your heart, and
the hearts of our brethren with the fact just
now demonstrated, that the Mississippi
River is ours indeed, and will remain ours,
despite the navy and army of Lincoln. —
Our tenure to the river has been all along
regarded as extremely doubtful. Our bat.
teries were located, the one near a level
with the river and the other upon the bluff,
and these supported by troops have up to
this time held the enemy at bay. But not
withstanding these batteries, the enemy’s
iron-clad boats could pass by ad libitum ,
but no transport or wooden craft could run
this gauntlet so long as those batteries were
left. The enemy has been making large
preparation for the last month to reduce
this place, by a conjoint bombardment of
the upper and lower fleet of mortar and
gun boats ; and to provide for the posses
sion of the river in case of a failure of the
bomba“dment, they have pressed 1500 ne
groes from the river plantations to dig a
canal that will effectually cut Vicksburg
off from the river, and leave it a retired in
land city, six miles from the river. That
the enemy would ultimately pess Vicksburg
was a generally conceded point here, but
the idea was to resist to the last. Now for
the late event:
You must know that the ‘ram’ Arkansas,
that the Secretary had been building at
Memphis for six months before its fall,
strange to say. instead of being burnt, was
towed down and run some twenty-six miles
up the Yazoo river, and a raft constructed
across the river to prevent egress by the
memy. Hers we knew she was being fin
ished and got ready for sea. Whether men
could be found who would float her to the
Mississippi, no one knew —especially since
Com. Pritchard burnt up three noble little
boats and all on board, even the powder
and provisions, at the bare sight of one or
two of the enemy’s boats when only recon
noitering. But the trial day came at last.
Friday orders came from headquarters for
the Arkansas to leave her moorings above
the raft and come down and engage the en
tire Federal fleet, single-handed and alone
—that fleet that destroyed in one short
hour every ram and gunboat we had afloat
above Memphis ; that fleet which had de
stroyed the Manassas, and the monster rams
Louisiana and Mississippi, and all the small
er boats, in a few hours, below New Orleans.
Would Commodore Brown promptly obey
the order, or, like Tatnall, of the Virginia,
cowardly refuse? was the question.
On the morning of the 15th, about six
o’clock, the distant booming of the heavy
guns of the upper fleet, interluded by deep
er reverberations jwhich seemed to quicken
every moment, was heard, until moving
down the river every gun of our batteries
joined in. “What has happened?” was
on every tongue. It soon transpires.
The Arkansas has engaged the Federal
fleet, and is making an effort to reach Vicks
burg to strengthen our defences. About
six o’clock she came down in sight of the
fleet and opened her fire, challenging the
right of way. As she approached, that fleet
—consisting of forty of the best cannon
proof vessels of Lincoln' 1 a navy —parted
right and left, opening an avenue of death,
and seemed to invite her to pass through.—
Into that gulf of death sailed the Arkansas.
Those who were fortunate enough to gain
a position to witness all, say that it was a
scene of unsurpassed grandeur, that the
annals of naval warfare do not furnish a
parallel to it in awful, terrible sublimity!
A gentleman who gained a footing upon the
dome of the Court-bourse, distantabout two
miles, says he had an unobstructed view of
the magnificent panorama. The Arkansas
moved down the avenue of death opened
for her by the fleet, as quiet U as ever
pleasure-boat floated on the bo*>ri of the;
placid lake. Her entrance was signaled j
by a more furious tempest ofter rible mis
siles than ever descended upon one single
vessel. From thirty to forty of the most
powerful gunboats and rams, including the
famous Benton —the Monitor of the West,
and the pride of the Federal navy—exhaust
ed their magazines and ordnaree of immense
calibre in the vain effort to engulph her.—
But ball and shell bounded from her deck
and sides like hail, and forward, still for-!
ward went the noble vessel, pouring a
broadside iuto this one and another into
that one, and w ith a short half turn to the
right or to the left she plunged her iron
horn into those that chanced to press her
toe close in front, until two were seen to j
strike their colors and rush to the shore to j
save the crews. When it was seen that she
was more than a match for the smaller
boats of the fleet, the steam was piled upon
the invincible Benton, and her heavy guns
shotted with conical shell, and she is seen
eagerly pressing forward to engage the
prey. The Arkansas sho wed no disposition
to avoid the trial, but turning suddenly, and
receiving upon her, head and side those
awful bolts, such as Jupiter never hurled,
she dashed impetuously, and with all the
power she could command, plunged her
iron prow into the side of the Benton—
crashing in her ribs and leaving her hors
du combat. The Arkansas again resumed
her course down the .river, majestically,
while every gun of the fleet that could be
brought to bear hurled their shot and shell
and grape upon her, and, save two holes
through her smokestack, not a casualty had
yet happened onboard. But, the heat and
smoke became so insufferable that one of
the port holes were left open for a cool
breath, and into this the enemy succeeded
in throwing a shell which killed five men
and wounded several others, including Com
modore Brown. And now the gauntlet is
run, the terrible ordeal escaped ; and as the
proud boat holds them upon her stern, she
pours her fuotml's into ihrm frr tn her
stern guns v\ ith crushing (filet, i he) set tn
ed stunned by her blows, and cared net to
follow. As she took leave of the formida
ble fleet and rounded the point above the
city, turning her prow to port, her noble
flag seemed instinct with life as the joyous
breeze waved its full glittering folds.
Had nothing else been done during the
entire war, this one single feat would have
written immortality in characters of living
light all over those broad and ample folds.
The scene which followed, says the narra
tor, beggared all description. The crowd
rushed to the wharf, frantic with joy, to
greet the victorious boat; and as Cotnrno
dore Brown, the now immortal Hero of
the Confederate Navy, presented himself to
view, the fresh blood still trickling down
his smoke and powder-begrimed cheeks,
the enthusiasm was irrepressible, and broke
forth into deafening cheers, sobs and tears.
It has been well asked, “When the cir
cumstances are considered, is it too much
to say that the victory is more signal and
glorious than any one recorded in naval
history ? In the case of the Virginia, there
were these points of difference : She was u
vessel of vastly greater dimensions, she
probably cost five times as much as the
Arkansas. Every facility was enjoyed in
her construction which money or material
could furnish. She was attended by several
other superior vessels. She engaged only
some eight or ten of the enemy’s fleet of
wooden boats, save one. In the case of the
Arkansas : she went forth and engaged some
forty of the best shot-proof boats of the
Federal navy, one of them the pride and
boast of it; she went forth as one doomed
to death, solitary and alone, without a boat
in attendance to save one life from a watery
grave or the hands of a victorious foe.—
No aid could reach her ; failing, escape was
hopeless. Such a spectacle was awfully,
terribly, magnificently sublime ! No con
flict on the water can furnish it even a com
parison. The world will accord Commo
dore Brown the greatest victory ever yet
achieved in the watery realm. Each officer
and each sailor has justly linked his name
with immortality. Let them be published
at once for the admiration of mankind.—
Let a grateful country transmit them to an
admiring posterity to he remembered for-
ever, as the guardians of the Mississippi
River, the champions of human freedom.”
At two o’clock the upper fleet started
down to pass the batteries and join the
mortar fleet below, and w ere several times
driven back. But it seems they determined
to pass at all hazard, and the result was the
loss of four boats—two were sunk, and two
burnt to be kept out of our hands. We
lost two men killed and several wounded.
The loss of the enemy during the day must
have been terrible. The Benton was ‘ram
med’ and sunk at the mouth of the Yazoo ;
whether any were saved 1 have not beared.
Eight of the boats passed the batteries in
the afternoon fight. They can not afford
to pass every day, it is evident. The Ark
ansas injured her ‘nose’ somewhat, it is said.
May we not safely conclude that the key
of the Mississippi is now in our hand ?
ff the fleet could not reduce our batteries
before, can they now when strengthened by
the Arkanas ? Will they not be compelled
to give up their project of turning the river?
This boat must be overpowered or their
fleet is unsafe upon the river. They know
not the day or the hour or the night w'hen
the Arkansas may plunge into them, inflict
her premeditated horn and escape, until the
whole fleet is destroyed. There are several
gunboats, that svere built for Bernock’s
Ray, still up the Yazoo, and will watch
their opportunity to slip out. Had the
gunboats at Memphis only been sent down
with the Arkansas, and reserved for a better
day, and had not Commodore Pritchard
