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• Tho entrance of Thy Word giveth light?
A. C. DAYTON, Editor. ’
JAS. N. ELLS, Secular Editor.
SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 5, 1863. I.
A BAD PRECEDENT.
The people of the North, we are told,
have been compelled to submit to a military
despotism. We have felt that it was but
a just reward for their cowardly refusal to.
assert their rights against the encroachments
of the government at Washington. But
we have been compelled of late to realize
the fact that we are here, in the centre of
the free State of Georgia, in the FREE
CITY OF ATLANTA, JwsDls ?nic?er
a military tyranny, of the most despotic,
character, as they can he in any city of the
North. No man's house is safe, no man’s
property is his own, if such acts may be
perpetrated with impunity as we have been
compelled to submit to without any other
reason for it than the will of an official of
the government at Richmond.
If Major Cummings has the right to break
open the doors of our office, to cast our
furniture into the street or into an open
passage, and take possession of the room
for himself while we are gone to dinner, he
has equal right to take any other man’s
house and appropriate it to himself; and
if he may take his house, lie has a right to
take any other article he may chance to
fancy. When the soldiers of Lincoln broke
into the house of Vallandigham without
legal authority, there was an outcry of
indignation even among the people of the
North. It was declared by many of their
best and greatest men, that it was a most
horrible outrage tiponall law and justice.—
It was said, and truly said, that neither
Queen Victoria nor Louis Napoleon, nor
-iuiy of the monarchs of Europe, could claim
such a right. It was said that if such aj
right was yielded to the government by
any people, there must be at once an end
to liberty and safety. But when Major
Cummings, under professed authority from
the government at, Richmond, forces his
way into our house and thrusts us into the
street, without the semblance of legal
warrant, the people of the South and the
people even of our city, we suppose, will
feel that the outrage is unworthy even of a
passing notice. But if it should be so, we
will at least utter one note of warning.—
The breaking open of our doors by lawless
violence may be too insignificant an act. in
itself, to attract the attention of those who
are bound to protect the persons and the
property of citizens of Georgia from all
wrongs, but as a precedent, for future action
it is of vast importance.
We do not intend that it shall pass un
noticed, and it there is any redress to be
obtained we do not moan that, it shall pass'
unredressed.
DA\ TON, ELLS CO
All church communion is close. No
church throws her doors wide open and
invites all the world to sit down with her
to the table ot the Lord. No one but puts
jonir limit to her invitation. Some mav
make the enclosure larger and some small
er, but all have the table enclosed, and
neither invite nor permit those who are
confessedly without the bounds to approach
it. In this view all are close communion
isls, and all admit that close communion is
estentia! to the preservation of the purity
of the church. Whence, then, is the ever
lasting howl against close communion ’
and what is its significance ’
E'ery church, or society claiming to be
a church, takes it upon itself to decide who
may and who may not approach the table
of the Lord as set under its guardianship.
Every one has some law U p< n the subject
made by itself or adopted from the Bible
Not one of them is o/va communion. How
then do we differ ' What distinguishes the
close-communion Presbyterian, or Metho
dist, or Lutheran, or Episcopalian, from the
dose communion Baptist ’ Nil have a law
excluding those whom they regard as dis
qualified ; and in on? particular all of them
agree in regard to thia law—and that is, it
excludes all who have not been baptized.—
3 une of them freely admit the unconvert
®d, but none the unbaptized. Some of
them do not scruple to sit down with horse
racers and gamblers and profligates, but all ■
reject one who in their opinion has never[
received the baptism of the gospel. An
Episcopalian will no more commune with
an unbaptized person than a Baptist. No
more will a Presbyterian. 3 hey hold, as
we’do, that baptism is a necessary pre-j
requisite to communion. True, they praise '
Robert Hall for teaching that it is not so,:
but they have never adopted his teaching.!
It was good enough for Baptists, but never!
suited them. They have neither changed
their opinions or their practice in conse
quence of his able arguments. They keep
their communion as close as they did before
he made them. The Baptist law is the
same with theirs. The close-communion
Baptist holds as they do, and no more than
they do, that baptism is a necessary pre
requisite to communion. He fields as they
do, and no more than they do, that no one
can properly be permitted—much less in
vited—to approach the table of the Lord
who has not been baptized.
Whence, then, the outcry about our close
communion, as though we had some strange
j and monstrous law upon this subject differ
ing from that of all others who profess to
be churches of Christ?
Have they not sense enough to see that
it is not communion, at all, about which we
differ? We are all agreed in regard to
that. We are all close, and alike close, in
• our communion. We all walk by ihe same
rule so far as Z/zaZ is concerned. Our dif
ference is in regard to baptism. We all
alike require baptism to go before commu
: nion, but we differ in regard, to what baptism
really is. They call the sprinkling of a
little baby by this name—and we do not.
They think the baby has been baptized,
and, when it grows up, accord to it the
privileges which belong to the baptized—
and we do not. We hold baptism to be a
i personal act of obedience to be performed
by the believer for himself, and not some
thing done for him or to him by other
parties without his knowledge or consent;
and hence we don’t regard any unconscious
infant as capable of baptism. Then, we
hold, again, that the very word baptism
meant, as it was used in the New Testa
ment, an immersion ; and hence that
nothing but immersion can be received for
baptism. With this view, the same law of
communion which excludes those unsprin
kled from the table in other denominations,
excludes those who have not been immersed
upon a profession of their faith, in ours.—
To be like them we must change our bap
tism, notour rule of communion.
* an they be so silly as not to understand
this?—and it they are not, why, we ask
again, why the everlasting howl about the
‘‘ table of the Lord,’’ as though it was in
reference to that we stood apart from all
others ' Why not meet the true issue,
and sh<>w us that our baptism is wrong?
A. C. D.
1 WEAK ’SISTER.
In the life time of the great Dr. John
Gill, a goo I sister came to him in great
trouble about the singing in the church.
I'he leader of the music had introduced
two new tunes, only two for many years,
but the innovation was more than she could
bear.
‘Do you understand singing, sister?”
asked the kind old man.
“ No, 1 can’t sing a note, nor any of my |
family.’’
Well, what kind of singing would you!
like?” !
‘‘l want you all to sing as David did. I
oil ought to sing his tunes. ’’
W ell. my sister, if you will get us the!
notes we will try to learn and sing them.”
Somewhat like, this was an incident which
happened in the city of Nashville :
A most excellent brother came one day
ami proposed to unite with the Spring street
t hurch, giving as a reason that the pastor
inhisown church,where hehad been for many
years the leading Deacon, had departed
from Baptist usage; that they had secured
a number of hymn books and expected the
people to read for themselves, instead of
giving out the hymn two lines at a time.
H< as certainly much disappointed to
learn that we also used hymn-books, and
did not line out.
It is x< iy hard to please everybody, even
among good and pious people. ’ x. c. n.
Request.
We hope brethren who mav be ‘posted’
will send us the notices of Associations to
•be held during the year—the Otnc and place
ot meeting, as well the route. We wish
to publish the list.
. i'he Dollars a Year.
As already announced, after the first dav
’ -r the subscription price of
Ihe Baptist Banner will be fire dollars per
year.
Agent In Ui'.kbMppi,
s. R. Whitten, of Louisville, Miss., is!
f an authorized Agent to receive subscrip
tions for The Baptist Banner
THE BAPTIST BA.NN ER .
Visit to Tliomastoti
I Kind Reception.—Missionary Mass-meetina
—its objects.—Great Fire—relief for the
sufferers, etc.
On last Saturday we made a hurried visit
I to Thomaston, a flourishing and pleasant
■ village, of about one thousand inhabitants,
at the terminus of the Barnesville and
Thomaston Railroad. On our arrival we
found quite a number of \»arrn-hearted
: brethren and sisters with vehicles readv to
| give the visiting brethren a cordial welcome
to their homes. The kindness and hospi
tality manifested will ever be held in grate
ful remembrance.
The meeting was held according to an
appointment of the Rehoboth Baptist Asso
ciation. Ministering brethren B. F. Tharp.
W. M. Davis, Wm. C. Wilkes, William
Richardson, and J. 11. Weaver, resident
pastor, were present. The meeting was
organized by calling brother W. Hartsfield
jto the chair. The services on Saturday
I night were devoted to a consideration of
>i the destitution of preaching by Missionary
. I Baptists within the bounds of the Rehoboth
. Association: Sabbath Schools; and the re-
> | ligious instruction of our colored population.
Some stirring appeals were made in behalf
; of these worthy objects. The. services
closed for the night with the appointment
iJ of a committee (brethren Wilkes, Tharp
i and Weaver) to ascertain the amount of
( 1 destitution within the bounds of the Asso
. j ciation, and report at the approaching session
!of this bodj .
Sabbath night was devoted to a eonsid
[ eration of the religious wants of soldiers.
JAt the close of the exercises, a collection
was taken to send copies of The Banner
ito the several companies of soldiers from
. j Upson county..
The object of this and similar meetings
is, to cultivate a Missionary spirit among
I the members of the Association.
. Saturday night, about ten o’clock, a cry
. of ‘ Fire!' was heard. In less than three
minutes the writer was at the place. The
} flames were beginning to issue fromacook-
> room attached to Mr. Snell’s hotel. At
t that moment, a few buckets of water could
. have extinguished the ‘ devouring element.’
J But no water, no bucket, no ladder, no axe,
• no help of any kind, was at hand. Noone
c seemed to think of making an effort to
I arrest the progress of the fire. For two
hours or more, all that any one did was to
try to save his furniture, goods, &e. The
fire raged with unabated fury for four long
j hours, when its progress was arrested by
the tearing down of two small houses.—
The following is an approximate estimate,
made by the aid of an intelligent citizen, of
the heavy loss sustained :
; W A Snell, large hotel, all lost, 7,C00
i J II Trayler, house and apothecary shop, 6,000
i Owen C Sharman, 2 houses, 5,000
iE B White, 2 houses, shoe-shop, bacon, etc., 5,000
I Rev .John P Murray, 1 house, (Insured 1000) 4,000
i Col W D Woodson and Redding, 1 business
house, and over 200 bales cotton, (on
which was insurance of 17,000) 70,000
iJohnN Webb, 1 large house, 6,000
1 William Wallace, 1 business house, 2.000
; Daniel Bell, 2 shoe-shops, 1 house 5,0001
Calvin .Mitchell, 1 house, I,OUV !
Mrs. Jno Thompson, 2houses, 5,000
W McCrarn, 1 dwelling, 3,000
G W Davis, 1 business house, 3,000
Dr David Mood, of Atlanta, 1 business house, 3,000
Ed Spivey, 1 law office, i 000
J WGreen, “ “
. Captain Horsley, Jaw office and library, hi.OOU
I•' atthew Sandwich, house, groceries, etc., 4,000
I Wm G Andrews, 1 large store, 2,000
Win G Roberson, “ “ “ 50bales cotton, 4.000
Seaton Day, 1 business house, 2,000
■ Confederate Government, 10,000 bushels corn,
i Thomas Cawthorne, aloe of wheat.
Others were, doubtless, more or less suf
. ferers. w hose names and losses are not I
remembered.
flic blocks of buiding; on the north, east,!
and south of the Court house, and the
south-east block, are a heap of ruins. Only
two or three business houses are left.
On Sabbath, at the close of the services
in the Baptist Church, a collection of sev
eral hundred dollars was made for the re
lict of the sufferers. I'he citizens of the coun
ty will be invited to contribute to the same
object, w hen several thousand dollars, it is
hoped, will be raised.
The ladies of the village gave a concert
on last Monday night—an impromptu, but
brilliant affair—the proceeds of which was
donated to the relief of the unfortunate.
Receipts for The Banner.
A. B. Ross, Rome, Ga., i one yean <4,00
Levi Lovelace, “ “ “ “ joo
H. Davenport, jr., Plains Dura, “ •• 4,00
D. H. Hill. Americus, “ “ 4,00
Miss R. A. Tyson, Clintonville, Ala., (one year) 4,00
Mrs. 8. E. Jernigan, “ “ “ “ 4,(0
M. Hartsfield, Thomaston, Ga., (on account) 5,00
M. H. Campbell, Acworth, Ga., (six months) 2,00.
It the reading public shall be satisfied that
each number of The Banner will be worth
ten cents (the price at $5 per year), we will
be pleased to retain their names upon the
subscription books, and enter as many new
ones as may be sent.
I To a reflecting mind no apology for this
small increase in price we are sure, will be
needed.
Those Premiums.
1 1 Do not forget that we have offered three
’ i c opies of brother Dayton’s last and great
lest work— The Infidel's Daughter— to those
d ladies who send us the largest lists of sub
scribers for The Banner against the first
/day of October.
I Each competitor must inform us that she
s intends to compete for the prize, when she
I sends her first installment of subscribers.—
’ No one should wait to get a large list before
i sending, but send on as fast as they are
- procured, and keep count of them till all
-are in.
These books are now very rare. The plates
i are in possession of the enemy, and we have
- purchased all the copies we can find to be
, ’given to the fair agents who, we trust, will
i delight to labor for our Banner. Let us
t; begin to hear fiom you at once.
“The Price is too Low.”
We are told, very often of late, that the
\ price of our paper is too low. It is cer
i tainlv true. But we do not desire to in
crease it, if it is possible for us to live at
1 present rates. We regret that we were
compelled to raise it to 85; but. the cost
‘ iof paper made it needful, and even now we
i TA
’must have a large increase of our income to
h enable us to purchase paper to advantage,
t ’or we will be compelled to advance again.
Brethren! shall the Landmark Baptists!
f have an organ of communication with the
denomination, or not ? If we are to have
1 one, somebody must pay the cost of paper
and printing. As that advances, our price
must advance, and you must still sustain
’ i us. Wetrust, however, that no further!
]
advance may be' needful. We mean to!
N., . . |
give you good paper—an interesting pa
-1 per—a religious paper—and a BAPTIST
paper. But we must have a large list to I
enable us to do all we desire: You can;
increase it for us. If every one that now !
takes our paper will make a little exertion,
he can procure one subscriber. This would
double our work at once, and more than
double our influence and usefulness.
t Monroe Female University.
i We take pleasure in calling the attention
’ oi our readers to the advertisement of this
well established and flourishing institution.
■ Eor nearly thirteen years it has been con-
> ducted by the Rev. William C. Wilkes, as
> President, aided by an efficient and expe-.
, rienced board of Teachers. His untiring i
. perseverance and strict discipline, combined!
r with much fatherly kindness, has won for;
him the confidence and good will of his!
pupils, and made him one of the most sue
cessful and popwar teachers in Georgia.
XV e learn that this noble seminary has
sentout nearly one hundred young ladies,
> a number of whom are graduates, who are.
• filling important places, as teachers, in the
' best colleges and academies in our State.
, Special attention is paid to those who wish
to become teachers.
This Baptist College is hereby cornmend
(j ed to the favor and patronage of Baptists,
i It opens with about one hundred pupils, in
' charge <»f a full corps of teachers.
i ■ -a t - x
Take Notice.
We hear occasional complaints that sub
scribers have sent us money but have failed
to receive The Banner.
To obviate, as far as possible, all diffi
culty in regard to this matter, we will,
hereafter, publish e\ery week a list of all
monies received, either for subscription or
for sending the paper to the soldiers. So
that every one who has contributed for
! either object may see whether his money :
has been received. We give the first list
in the present issue. Our readers w ill see i
also, what progress The Banner is making/
and we hope will be encouraged to some
effort to to increase this weekly showing.
-
“Tanner** Churcli.”
\\ here is Tanner’s Church (at which the
Stone Mountain Association will he held)
and how do you get there? C.
Answer.—Near Hough and Ready, on
the Macon & Western Rail Road. Pas
sengers from below will get off at Rough
and Ready station. Brethren will furnish'
conveyances.
—
Banner fer the Soldier*.
Congregation at Baptist Church, Thom
aston. Ga., to Soldiers from Upson
county, • *5O,00 (
F. M. Perryman, Thomaston, $5,00
Conductor Goree, “ $5 00
[For thr Baptist Banner.]
Missionary to the Soldier*.
Any Association in Georgia wishing to
employ a Missionary to the Soldiers, can
hear of a suitable man by applying to the
undersigned.
, J. H. CAMPBELL.
Griffin, Sept. 1, 1863.
North Georgia Association.
Convenes at Pleasant Valley, Murray
county, Ga.,on Friday before the first Sab-1
bath in October.
Middle Cherokee Association.
Meeting commences on Friday before the
fourth Sabbath in September, at Dalton.
An Appeal.
Atlanta, Ga., September 2, 1863.
Brother Ells: I called in here and learned
that you were not in your office. I wish to
say to you that I would be much pleased
to receive The Banner for the soldiers.—
You did send me some numbers regularly
while we were at Savannah, Ga. My di
vision, brigade, and regiment, for whom I
am the most constant laborer as chaplain,
are now near Chattanooga. I am on my
w r ay to my command. Will you please
favor my request. Send to my address,
Wilson’s brigade, Waalker’s Division.
I am yours truly,
A. B. FEARS.
Let us say to our brethren, and the
friends of the soldiers, that we are almost
daily in receipt of appeals similar to the
above. We shall send fifty copies, regu
larly, to brother Fears. Who will aid us
jin doing it?
Revival News.
Dear Banner: For several weeks past
quite a revival influence has been realized
in portions of Cow’eta and Heard counties.
At Bethlehem during a week’s meeting
there were ten persons added to the church
by experience. Ministers in attendance
were Elders J. M. Hall, pastor; John G.
Fry, Young Wood, and Sewell. At
■ Providence there were forty-one or two
added by experience. Elders* R. 11. Jack
son, pastor; Young Wood, D. Mosely,
and Sewell were present at this meet-
ing.
At Macedonia sixteen were baptized and
some added by letter. Ministers present
were Elders James Rainwater, pastor; I).
Mosely, Sewell, and Mobley. At all
these meetings J. \. Davis, an exhorter
of the Newnan church, did much service.
I learn also that at Franklin, Heard coun-
I ty, there were five baptized; R. H. Jackson,
I pastor. Thus the Lord is blessing his peo
. ole wherever and whenever they call upon
Him earnestly, believing his promises.—
■May this good work extend until hundreds
more are brought to the knowledge of the
I truth. W.
Atlvnta, August 24, 1863.
Dear Baptist Banner : lam en route for
home. I wish to give notice of a revival
meeting that has just closed with the Nance’s
Creek church, Bartow county, Georgia.
We had a precious revival season. The
church was much revived. There were
twenty-nine members received by experi
ence and baptism. The ministers laboring
in the meeting were Buford, Crawford,
Buchanan, and myself.
I remain as ever your brother,
A. K. TRIBBLE.
Dalton, Ga., August 31, 1863.
Dear Brethren: Enclosed please find
four dollars for The Banner for 1863.
I have held some interesting meetings
among the soldiers recently ; baptized six.
lhere has been a religious interest at
this point for some*me past. Success to
The Banner.
Yours truly.
• . G. W. SELVIDGE.
! j -
[fbr 77<e Baptist Banner )
J Friendship Association.
Andersonville, Sumter’Co,, Ga., |
September 1, 1863. j
Brother Ells— Dear Sir:— l understand
from Mr. Whitaker that you wish to know
the time and place of the next session of our
(the Friendship) Association. It convenes
on Saturday before the first Sunday in Oc
tober, with the church at Hebron, in Lee
county, Ga., 24- miles from Branchville.
IS. W. IL IL
Very truly yours,
JOHN R. BATTLE.
[JVr the Baptiut Rann? .]
Ihe following letter has been received
from brother Compere, which please pub
lish- J. M. Wood.
Marion, Ala., August 19th, 1863.
Afy dear brother Wood: I think f will
>be able to to leave this place to-morrow,
jen route for my field of labor in the west.
I left in the hands of brother Worrell a
little communication for the Banner, but
it did not appear. Also, 1 placed in the
hands of brother Ells, some receipts for our
.Cherokees, to be given through the/tanner.
I They did not appear. lam sorry. As well
as I can make out now these were the
'amounts and names.
j Citizens of Atlanta, 1 bundle goods *678
Ladies of Cartersville 1 “ “ *B3
Friends at Noonday 1 “ “ *158,26
j Brother White (in Atlanta), *IOO
1 Friends in South Carolina, *6O
Friends in Darlington, S. <_*., per B. W
I Edwards,
friends in Selma—not the contribution of
the Baptist Church, *6l.
I have not been able to effect any plan
I for correspondence over the Mississipppi
■River. 1 will try to let you hear from me,
again.
Your brother in Christ,
E. L. COMPERE. |
Marion, Ala., August 27, 1863.
Brother Dayton: Brother E. L. Compere
left us last Friday morning for Mississippi.
I received a letter from him dated that night
at Meridian. lie expected to go in a few
minutes to Enterprise, and on Monday to
j Morton to have an interview with General
Johnston. Rev. J M. Woody, of your
State, accompanies him as a missionary to
the army in Arkansas, undet the appoint
ment of the Domestic Board. 1 trust these
I brethren will have the Divine protection
iand meet their brethren across the river in
! health. They will be received with glad
ness. We have been delighted with brother
lCs visit, Yours truly,
M. T. SUMNER, Cor. Sec. |
Fetter front .1. R. Graves.
Newnan, Ga., Aug. 27, 1863.
Dear Brother Ells: I have just received
the enclosed letter from brother J. R.
Graves, and supposing that many of his old
friends would liko to hear from him, I offer
it for publication in The Banner. But few
men have suffered from the war more than
he, and none have proven truer to the Con
federacy. May God spare him and family
further suffering, and prepare him by the
afflictions of the past, for further usefulness.
J. M. WOOD.
Dear brother Wood: You have doubtless
thought ere this that I have most signally
failed in keeping the promise I made when
I left you a year since, to let you know oc
casionally where 1 was and what I was doing.
1 can only plead in excuse of my remissness
that circumstances have conspired against
■ such a correspondence. 1 was with our
army as you are aware, until the evacua
tion of Corinth, and after disposing of the
sick placed in my charge to take South, 1
went to Vicksburg to share with our brave
boys the dangers of the bombardment, and
render what assistance 1 could in the hospi
tals. When the enemy retired, and
Breckenridge’s division was sent to attack
Baton Rouge, 1 returned to Magnolia, w here
my father-in-law resides, and where a large
hospital was opened for the sick, and devo
ted myself to a volunteer and self-supported
colporteurship until the close of that unsuc
cessful campaign. For months following
my time was engaged in preparing to
achieve an enterprise looking to the defence
of our western rivers, which work I was
solicited to direct by the Secretary of the
Navy, as I had proposed the plan in a pri
vate letter to the President. This enter
prise was frustrated by the movement of
Grant upon the Sunflower, which resulted
in the destruction of all our defensive pre
parations on the Yazoo river.
At that time (November last) my con
nection with our army ceased. The wants
of my family imperatively demanded my
attention. The winter was approaching,
and clothes and food had to be provided.—
My father in law was in the condition of
almosteyery man in the country —without a
pound of salt with which to save his meat.
There was none to be had, for love nor
money, nearer than the mines at New Ibe
ria, La., two hundred miles distant. He
was too old to go for it, and had no one to
send. I had visited the Salt Island, and
was satisfied that I could procure the salt
there by digging, if I could not purchase,
and undertook the work. I reached the
Island the first day of last December, and
tried in vain to purchase a single load ; or
ders that would take months to fill were
before me. The answer of the proprietor
was, “ If you want salt, here is the ground;
go to work, and sink a pit and mine it.”—
I had no other alternative—return without
salt, or sink a pic at the cost of 81500 or
82000, and dig up salt enough to repay the
outlay, and contribute something, towards
saving the meat of the country. Brother
Goldsmith, of your State, who was making
purchases in the West, proposed to Gov
ernor Brown to furnish salt from.this mine
to the State, and the Governor agreed to
take all that we could mine and laydown
in Atlanta before the first of March follow
ing, at 87,50 per bushel; and declared that
in no way e >uld the Confederacy be so well
served by a son of Georgia. The Govern
ment so far favored us as to sell us powder,
the most important item of success.—
Though 1 had left my family but for two
weeks’ absence, 1 alone undertook the ar
duous work of sinking a pit through twenty
one feet of mud and quick .sand, to lay bare
one hundred and forty four square feet of
solid salt, and had it ready for blasting in
one month. During the long winter Ila
bored with my hands, in rain and sleet and
mud, that I might, if possible, realize some
thing for the support of my family, and to
assist my father-in-law, whom the drought
of two years had. consumed. I preached,
meantime, as opportunity olfered, and on
the first of last January was elected pastor
of the church in Abbeville. I left my work
just before Banks overrun that country and
destroyed our works, by which we lost so
much salt —all barrelled for shipment. We
got no salt to Georgia for the most valid of
1 reasons. Before we got the mine to work,
the Yankees had blockaded the mouth of
the Teche, which compelled us to haul the
salt to Bute-a-la-Rose, at a very heavy cost.
The boat that took out our first shipment to
Vicksburg was blockaded by a new I atterj
■ just below the city. The salt was turned
over to the C. S. Government at its own
■ price. We only succeeded after this in
jgetting over about 106,000 lbs. to the east
' side of the Mississippi. All but a small
quantity was furnished the Government at
i thirteen cents, affording only a very meagre
I profit. I have not yet returned to learn
the full extent of our loss, but from what 1
could learn J fear it will amount to 100 bar
. rels, if not more. If so, little? if anything,
will be left as the reward of this labor, save
the consolatory thought that the Government
has been aided by it to a .large amount of
salt, and that no one can justly charge me
• with speculation in so prime a necessity.
Since 1 have returned to my family,
1 sickness-»-first of my wife, and then of my
little daughter has kept me a watcher by
their bedsides. But while thus engaged,
fresh calamities burst upon me, in the fall
of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, which ex
poses all our part of the State to the mercies
of a wicked enemy. Ihe only alternative
I left us w as to remain exposed to the violence
of the Yankees, or to gather up what little
could be carried in wagons and escape to
the west of the river and seek a place of
satety for our women and children and ser
vants, in Texas. We at once purchased
teams and wagons at a large price, and w ere
preparing to leave, when the servants com
menced running away—and then followed
a raid that broke up all the ffatboats upon
the Mississippi river. To save the rest
j from the influence of secret negro Yankee