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THE SOLDIER’S FRIEND. AfTXtATCI'Jk, GEOIIGIA. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1863. Agents Wanted- I desire at least two agents in the army of Virginia. Will not Bro. Brooks, formerly of LaGrange, Ga., become an agent for “ The Soldier’s Friend ” ? Will he suggest the name of some other efficient brother in the same army ? An efficient agent is also desired at each of the following places: Richmond, Va.; Kinston, N. C.; Charleston, S. C.; Savannah, Ga.; Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tenn.; two in Gen. Bragg’s army, Middle Tennes see. ; Montgomery, Selma and Mobile, Ala.; Jackson, Vicksburg and Grenada, Miss. Liberal salaries are offered for pious, effi cient agents in these places, viz : The hap piness arising from doing what we can to b-metit the needy. Will those at or near these places, who read this notice, aid me in procuring agents ? Will the Chaplains of the 31st Alabama, and 56 th Georgia regiments, act as agents f or Lhe b'ricnd, and visit every regiment, near them ? Partial List of Contributors to the “Sol diers’s Friend.” Edward White 100 M. Russell, Dalton, Ga 100 Capt. G. C. Conner, of Gen. E. K. Smith’s Staff, 50 Capt. E. Galt, Dalton, Ga 50 J. J. Howard, Cartersville, Ga. 40 S. Root, Atlanta, Ga 40 A. K. Seago, Atlanta, Ga. ($lO per month) for four months, 40 A. N. Abbott, Atlanta, Ga. ($lO per month) for four months, 40 Robt. H. Rowland, Cartersville, Georgia, 25 Jos. P. Glover, Knoxville, Tenn. 10 David Weaver, Selma, Ala 20 Dr. N. M. Crawford, Penfield, Georgia,, 20 Gen. A. J. Hansell, Marietta, Ga. 10 List continued in the next issue. Remarks.—Quite a number of reg iments, companies and individuals have subscribed for the paper ; these are not published in the list above. Many have contributed from $1 to $5, whose names will appear in a future issue. The soldiers will hold in grateful re membrance those who have thus liber ally contributed for their benefit. — Some of the gentlemen in the above list hunted me up, in order to contri bute. The last named gentleman, on a hasty visit to this city, came into my office for the purpose of contributing. Come, “and do likewise.” imp Only Give them a Chance. Among the special requests found in this paper, there is one which kindly asks each Minister who may see the paper, to present its claims to his con-, gregation. Comparatively few have complied with this request. Why is this ? Do you feel no interest in the soldiers ? I cannot believe this of you. Then why is it ? Have youi- congre gations already been drained of much of their means ? You all know it will not impoverish them to give for the noble purpose of supplying the soldiers (who prevent the enemy from destroy ing all we have,) with something to read. “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is that with holdeth, and yet tendeth to penury.”— Give them a chance. Is the “ Friend” unworthy of their contributions ? Send on your eloquent appeals, admonitions, &c., and help to make the paper all it should be ? Is the enterprise one that is not need ed by the soldiers ? Perhaps you have not been in the army yourself —perhaps you have not seen them picking up lit tle scraps of old newspapers scattered along the roads —perhaps you have nev er spent six months or a year without anything to read. Do you fear that they would not get the paper, if their friends should sub scribe for them ? Such fears need not exist. Our armies are, nearly all of them, stationed on or near some Rail road, and have a better chance to get large packages of papers than single copies sent to one here and there iii'H+e army. Allow me to insist that you present the claims of the paper to your respec tive congregations, in a little speech of five or ten minutes length ; and then if they do not give, the fault, if any, will not be yours. Only give them a chance. Responsibilities of Officers. It has been shown, in previous arti cles, that officers have great responsi bilities in exercising a proper watch care over the health and morals of their men ; I now propose to speak of their military responsibilities. 1. An officer should understand his business. This may be laid down as a military axiom; for if he does not understand his business, how can he hope to accomplish his work with suc cess? Native valor will not supply the place of a proper knowledge of “military tactics.” The officer who re mains ignorant of any thing connected with his legitimate duties, publishes thereby his own incompetency for his position, and besides, Kitrays a reck less disregard of the welfare and the lives ofthose whom he unworthily com mands. The responsibilities of officers which are included under the above head, are numerous : Only one will be noticed now. Itis this : they should acquaint themselves thoroughly with '■'‘military tactics.” If he is a Captain or Lieutenant, he should understand perfectly everything connected with “company drill”—in deed, he should not only have every thing in his department of tactics at his tongue’s end ; but he should know how to execute, in order, all the requi sitions bearing upon his sphere of duty. The same remark applies with even more force to officers of superior rank, since their positions are more respon sible, and their blunders, hence more fatal. It would be well also for every officer in a subordinate position, from Lieutenant to Major General, to under stand the duties of the office next above him. The propriety of this observa tion will appear at once, when we con sider that the Lieutenant is often call ed on to fill tbe Captain’s place, the Colonel the Brigadier-General’s, the Brigadier-General the Major General’s, *fcc., and that too while the bloody “strife ami din of battle are furiously raging.” The lives of the soldiers and the good of the cause require that an officer should always be in advance of his present position in point of ability. The Causes of the War. “Every cause must have its effect, and every efiect its cause,” is as true in the political and moral, as in the natural world. No nation springs in to existence where there is no sufficient cause; nor does an empire crumble and fall without a cause. - It is a matter of great importance to those whose nation is in danger of being overthrown, or when it is involved in war, to inquire into the cause of these evils, and avert or paralize that cause, if possible. The cause of the present war is three fold: Ist. The Divine cause. 2nd. The provoking cause. And, 3rd. The guilty cause. Ist. The Divine cause is to be found in the sovereign will and purpose of God, w r ho, while He allows every man to act as he pleases, directs the affairs of the Universe according to his own pleasure. God has a purpose to accom plish in every war that transpires ; and in this sense, He may be regarded as the cause of war. The Scriptures abun dantly support the idea. The follow ing are specimen texts: “Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the rob bers? did not the Lord ?” Isa. 42 : 24. “Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it ?” Amos 3 : 6. Again: “ The Lord hath sold them in to the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan. Judges 4: 2. Once more: “The Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up. Lam. 1:14. It is proper to remark that while God raises up one nation and casts down another, He never brings evil upon any, unless it be for their wick edness. From this it will appear that war is one of the scourges of the Al mighty, which He never inflicts upon a people for an insufficient reason.— His wrath may be provoked by the sin fulness of a nation, and this is always the case when war is brought upon a people. If there could be found one nation free from sin, that nation would never be cursed with war ; for “when a man’s ways please the Lord, He ma keth even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Besides, God could have no motive in punishing a sinless indi vidual, community or nation. But we are not concerned about the Divine cause, as connected with our present bloody struggle, any farther than to ascertain in what way or ways we have provoked His displeasure.— The purposes He has in view to accom plish in this war, besides chastising us for our wickedness, may be developed to our understanding while the war progresses or after it closes. So much for the Divine cause of the present war. In a future number the provoking cause will be considered. “Who is Sufficient for these Things ?” For what things ? For the impor tant and awfully responsible duties of the ministry of God—of standing be tween the living and the dead —of being a courier for the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” entrusted with messages more important than any known to earth ; messages, that relate to the temporal and eternal peace of earth’s inhabitants. How important that such a courier, or ambassador, should be qualified for his responsible mission I What dig nity should characterize him whom God has so highly honored ? The honor of no earthly Potentate, Gene ral or King is worthy to be compared with that honor which God con fers on His ambassadors in giving them the appointment. The character of the ambassador should be as nearly as possible like that of the Sovereign whose messages he bears. Should President Davis neglect his grave official duties to attend “mon key shows,” or should the Queen of England spend most of her time in dressing ami nursing “doll babies,” everybody would say that these hon ored characters disgrace their high posi tions ; yet their conduct would be less censurable than is the conduct of those who, claiming to be the ambassadors of God, pursue avocations at variance with their high calling—who pursue the light and trivial at the expense of neglecting their higher duties, the du ties of influencing men to turn from sin to righteousness, from darkness to light, from death to life. But how can the minister hope to succeed in his ar duous undertaking, when his manner of life—his conversation, conduct, feel ings and thougfft —his style of deliv ering his messages of “life and death” —his indifference to the spiritual wants of his brethren—his fondness for ma king reputation out of his holy profes sion— how, I ask, can he hope to fulfil his important mission, when all these things tend to paralize the effect of his sermons ? Let the ministers of God beware, lest, through their inconsistent lives, their carelessness in executing their high trust, sonls should beforever lost! The Law of Happiness. “What ought I to do ?” is a ques tion which every man should often ask himself. The creatures of God, depen dent upon Him lor life with all its blessings, we are subject, whether we feel it or not, to the laws of our Crea tor. Having created us, He had the right to give laws for the government of our conduct, and to make such ex actions of us as are compatible with the mental and moral powers with which He has endowed us. He has so constituted us that it is impossible for us to be happy, unless we shape our affections and conduct according to the Divine law. We may dream of happiness elsewhere found, but it is only a dream. The man that revels in scenes of dissipation and vice, may, for the moment, feel his fleshly heart swell with exultant emotions ; but these emotions are carnal and sin ful ; and if he supposes that what he enjoys is happiness, it shows that he is not only deluded, but that he has no just conception of what happiness is.— If the above principle be true —that 1 happiness is found in obedience to God’s law —it follows : Ist, That the man who lives most nearly up to the Divine requisitions, is happiest. 2nd, That he is most wretched who lives most in neglect of God’s law. 3rd, That there is incalculable good arising to him who cheerfully heeds one of the claims of God on him. 4th, That for every transgression, the transgressor inflicts upon himself incalculable inju- ry. And, sth, That we do our asso ciates unspeakable good, when through our influence they are led to obey God’s law ; or untold injury, if we are the means of their violating His law. — Reader, take these solemn inferences, and store them away in your mind. — When you are tempted to do wrong— when the gratification of some sinful appetite or passion, promises a momen tary, but sinful pleasure—remember the eternal disgrace you are about to bring upon your soul. When you be gin to entice your associates, or any one else to violate God’s pure and holy law’, remember that you are engaged in that which may bring upon him and yourself undying shame and infamy. There is infinite good accruing to him who does good; there is infinite ad vantage to him who, when tempted, resists the temptation; and infinite shame to him who yields to tempta tion, or tempts others to violate the law of happiness. To the Young Men in the Army. NUMBER (I. In my first address to you, a few r rea sons were given for addressing this se ries of articles to you. Among other reasons, this was given : viz, that you are soon to become “pillars of Church and State.” From w hat source will these “pillars” be obtained, if not from the army ? The patriotic young men of the coun try, who are really able to meet the desecrators of our soil (except such as have been detailed for different depart ments of necessary labor,) have nearly or quite all gone into the army. Those even who have furnished substitutes, and those who, for any slight reason or pretence, have taken no active part in the war, cannot reasonably expect the people to lavish civil honors on them. Those who have screened themselves from the danger of the battle-field be hind their property, will not only not be considered worthy of promotion to office, but the finger of scorn and con tempt will be pointed at them. Such w’ill be the verdict and conduct of the people. Ido not say that this w ill be altogether right; yet so it will be. — No stout-bodied young man, rich or poor, who has not rallied to the de fence of his country in this unequal con test, can have much claim upon that country to whose calls, in the hour of trouble and peril, he turned a deaf ear. A thousand dollars (paid for a substi tute) bear no relation to the personal hardships and dangers of the tented field. Personal valor, and not pecuni ary sacrifice, in this bloody struggle for independence, will be respected by the people of the South when our lib erty shall have been achieved. The young men in the army, therefore, will as a rule, fill the offices of honor and profit in the country. But this is not all: they will give tone to society. We must see this at once, if we consider that nearly all of our young men are connected with the army. On the return of peace, the young men now shivering around their camp fires, will be disseminated thro’- out every community in such numbers as, in many instances, to make society just what they wish to make it. Their influence for good or evil, will be the more potent, as they will be hailed as the heroes and champions of Southern Independence, and as they everywhere receive the admiration and praises of a grateful people, who ascribe to the sol diers all the honor, under Providence, of rescuing our nation from the jaws of death, our property from flames or confiscation, our homes and firesides from desecration, our wives, mothers and sisters from disgrace and degreda tion—our earthly all from ruin. The soldiers, the benefactors of the coun try, are those whom the people will de light to honor. So great will be this tendency that, in a contest, for office, between a soldier and one who has never borne the honored name, it is to be feared that intellectual and moral worth will often be wholly disregard ed. Seeing then that you, young gentle men, are soon to make and execute the laws of the country, and that you are to exercise so much influence in mould ing the opinions of the people and the customs of society; it is a matter of the highest importance that you should be prepared for the responsibility. — Could I but be the means of impress ing you with the importance of being ready to “act well your part” in the grand stage of life, I would feel that I have not lived in vain. Remember that God has said, “When the wicked rule, the people mourn.” Your habits should all be pure; but in order to this, your principles, feelings and thoughts must be pure. To the Unknown and Unrecorded Dead. Many of our noblest and bravest young men have fallen upon the altar of liberty, “unhonored and unwept,” except by an afflicted mother, a fond, but broken-hearted sister, or by some one at or near his immediate home. — Is there no way in which the Confede racy can do homage to these noble, gal lant spirits? Bishop Elliott, in the same Sermon, previously alluded to, speaking on this subject, says: “How carelessly we pass them over, unless our own loved ones happen to be linked with them in military asso ciation, and yet each name in that roll of slaughter carries a fatal pang to some woman’s heart —some noble, de voted woman’s heart. But she bears it all and bows submissive to the stroke. ‘He died for the cause. He perished for his country. I would not have it otherwise, but I should like to have given the dying boy my blessing, the expiring husband my last kiss of affec tion, the bleeding loverthe comfort of knowing that I kneeled beside him.’— This is the daily language of woman throughout this Confederacy, and whence could such a spirit come I >ut from God, and what is worthy to pro duce it but some cause which lies be yond any mere human estimate. And when we turn to our armies, truly these victories are the victories of the pri vates. God forbid that I should lake one atom of honor or of praise from those who led our hosts upon those days of glory —from the accomplished and skillfid Lee—the admirable Crich ton of our armies—from the God-fear ing and indomitable Jackson, upon whose prayer-bedewed banner victory seems to wait —from the intrepid Stu art, whose cavalry charges imitate those of Murat, from that great host of generals who swarm around our coun try’s flag as Napoleon’s Marshals did around the Imperial Eagle, but never theless our victories are the victories of the privates. It is the enthusiastic dash of their onsets, the fearless bravery with which they rush even to the can non’s mouth, the utter recklessness of life, if so be that its sacrifice may only lead to victory, the heartfelt impres sion that the cause is the cause of eve ry man, and that success is a necessi ty. What intense honor do I feel for the private soldier! The officers may have motives other than the cause, the private soldier can have none. He knows that his valor must pass unno ticed, save in the narrow circle of his company ; that his sacrifice can bring no honor to his name, no reputation to his family; that if he survives he lives only to enter upon new dangers with the same hopelessness of distinction; that if he dies, he will receive nothing but an unmarked grave, and yet is he proud to do his duty and to maintain his part in the destructive conflict. His comrades fall around him thick and fast, but with a sigh and tear he closes his ranks and presses on to a like des tiny. Truly the first monument which our Confederacy rears, when our inde pendence shall have been won, should be a lofty shaft, pure and spotless, bear ing this inscription: “To the un known AND UNRECORDED DEAD.” [For lhe Soldiers’ Friend. “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin ; but now they have no cloak fortheir sin.” Reader, have you listened to the calls of mercy, the words of Jesus, the whisperings of the Spirit of God, and found refuge in the cross of Christ ? If not, what will you do in the stormy day of God’s wrath and ven geance upon his enemies? No moun tain to “hide” you, no “rock” to cover you, no “friend” to stand by you. O, secure now, the cloak of Christ’s righteousness, which alone can protect you from that wrath, which will pour its furies upon the lost soul forever and forever. A Patriotic Sentiment. —A lady whose husband had remained out of the service for more than twelve • months after the war began, reasoned with him thus : “The country now de mands all of its available resources for defence. If you can render any ser vice, it is now demanded. I know you are exempt from military duty accord ing to law; yet it seems to me that it would be decidedly immodest in you to accept of liberty, purchased, as it must be, at so high a price, unless you give something more than money and sympathy. The man that would not fight now, could never be provoked to fight.”