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THE SOLDIER'S FRIEND.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
SATURDAY~JANUARY 24,1863.
The News.
From official information, it apears
that Gen. Wheeler has captured four
transports, laden with supplies for
Rozencrans, on the Cumberland river.
A gunboat was also captured soon af
terwards, and 400 prisoners were pa
roled, and sent down the Cumberland
on one of the vessels, which was bond
ed. The gunboat panic ought now to
subside.
Gov. Brown has issued a Proclama
tion requiring all deserters from the
army and such as are not absent un
der military consent, to rejoin their
respective commands at once; or they
will be arrested, imprisoned, and given
over into the hands of the proper mil
itary officers.
A number of deserters and others,
have, if reports be true, joined them
selves together for the purpose of re
sisting the enforcement of the Con
script act. The accounts, touching this
robber band, must, 1 think, be very
much exaggerated.
Lincoln says, “The rebellion (is)
nearer crushed than ever before, as we
now hold 100,000 square miles more
than he had a year ago.”
The 109th Illinois regiment has dis
banded, and the Lieutenant Colonel
has gone over to the Confederates.
A revolution seems to be in progress
in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. They
can’t swallow Lincoln’s late Proclama
tion. It will very probably result in
the separation of the North-Western
from the North-Eastern States.
The Alabama has destroyed the Fed
eral gunboat Hatteras, in a fight near
Galveston, Texas. The latter was sunk,
and all on board perished, except one
officer and five men.
Vallandigham has made an arm istice
speech in the Federal Congress, which
attracted close attention.
The Yankee army seems to be retir
ing from North Carolina. Truly the
shoulders of this noble old State seem
to be protected from the cold by her
extensive capes.
President Davis’ Message is one of
the finest documents of the war. Eu
rope, as well as Lincoln and his satel
lites, must feel the force of his pointed
logic.
The “Atlanta Intelligencer” publish
es an “ authoritative vindication” of
Gen. Bragg, as connected with the
Kentucky campaign. May the old Gen
eral win laurels as bright as ever deco
rated the victor’s brow.
Henry Ward Beecher’s sermon on
Lincoln’s late Proclamation, strikingly
verifies the truth, that talent and learn
ing, when the heart is ruled by base
principles, assimilate man to a fiend.—
He exults over the Proclamation.
Since the capture, by our cavalry, of
a number of the enemy’s gunboatsand
transports, a friend suggests that the
captors should be styled “ Horse Ma
rines.”
The Yankees burn, steal, rob, and
excite insurrection wherever they go.
They are preparing a bitter cup, which
they will soon drink, “dregs and all.”
A Short Sermon.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved.”— Acts.
I. It is clearly to be inferred from
this text that, previous to “Injlieving
on the Lord Jesus Christ,” mewrenotf
saved, or in a saved state; but, as the
term, “saved,” suggests its opposite,
lost, it follows that all those whose du
ty it is to believe on Christ, and yet
have not done so, are lost, or in a lost
state.
To appreciate fully the gracious
meaning implied in the word, “saved,”
it is necessary to understand the dread
ful import of the word lost. What,
then, is the meaning of the word ?
Without even desiring to comprehend
the full meaning of “lost”—for finite
mind cannot grasp all its meaning,—
it may heighten, or intensify our con
ception of its import, when we con
sider —
Ist. I hat to be lost,” is to be ex
posed to the consequences resulting
from sin.
What a deplorable state, when the
soul, robed in eternal disgrace, is left
to suffer the guilt of all its crimes!—
One sin forever disqualifies the soul
for companionship with pure, uncon
taminated spirits. Billions of sins,
while they will not })rolony the sin
ner’s suffering above the guilt accumu
lated by one sin, will much increase
the pain and anguish of the soul. —
What, then, must be the condition of
that soul that is left to enduro the tor.
ture which, according to the law of
God and of its own nature, must fol
low the commission of billions and even
trillions of sins ! Lost! lost! lost! —
What an awful depth of meaning this
little word has! Eternity alone can
disclose its import to created intelli'
gence. But as eternity can never end,
it is impossible for mortal ever to form
an adequate conception of its meaning.
2nd. To be lost, is to be banished
forever from the society of “just men
made perfect,” of angels and of God.
For a man to be banished from re
fined society, to be exiled from his na
tive country, to be disregarded by the
good, just and pure, because of his vile
conduct and character—to suffer even
this, would burden one with a load of
punishment hard indeed to be borne. —
But what is all this, compared with the
suffering of that soul that, for its vile
ness and sinfulness, must be forever
deprived of communion with all the
just and holy, and with God, the foun
tain of purity, happiness and love ?
I am aware that the unpardoned sin
ner does not now realize the dreadful
loss which he sustains as a consequence
of his sins; yet his present sinful state
involves all the loss above specified ;
and the time is coming when he will
reaiize it. If he should at this moment
be made sensible of his lost and wretch
ed state, fie, like the poor trembling
jailor, would cry out, “What must I
do to be saved ?” This leads to the
inquiry—
-11. What is it to be saved I an
swer :
1 st. It is to be relieved from the con
sequences of sin.
2nd. It is to be “killed to the love
of sin,” and to be “alive to holiness” —
it is to be “born of the spirit,” to be
“born again” —to hate sin, and love ho
liness.
3rd. To be “saved,” is to have true,
though imperfect, happiness now, and
perfect happiness in all eternity.
4th. To be “saved,” is to be restor
ed to the favor of God, and to enjoy
communion with the “Holy Spirit.”
sth. To be “saved,” is to receive a
title “to mansions in the skies”—to
enjoy Heaven with the society of all
its happy inmates for ever ami ever.—
In a world to be “saved,” is to secure
a title to every thing needful for us
here, and every thing desirable for us
hereafter.
What incalculable gain is involved
in being “saved!” How can this infi
nitely desirable end be secured ? Read,
O, sinner ! and write the language with
a diamond point upon your heart, so
as never to forget it —
111. “ Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved"
Yes, believe ou the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. Christ ful
filled the law, which you, sinner, have
so often violated ; doing this, He gave
his soul an offering for sin. He now
requires you to believe in him, and
trust his merit for salvation. Can you
not do this? Why not? “He that
believeth on the son, hath eternal life;
he that believeth not the Son, shall not
see life, but the wrath of God abideth
on him.”
If you desire to escape “the lake
that burnetii with tire and brimstone
if you desire to have the elements of
woe extracted from your soul, and the
germ of eternal blessedness planted in
its stead ; if you wish to be admitted
into the “pearly gates” of the New Je
rusalem, where you will reign forever
with Christ, saints and angels—-if
you desire all this, believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ.
-
When the war first broke out,
a highly respectable gentleman, who is
now a Colonel in the Confederate army,
said to me: “Politicians and parties
have ruined the country, and I do not
hold myself entirely free from guilt,
for 1 have voted for my party often at
the expense of moral w orth and integ
rity. But, if lam ever permitted to
vote again, I will look both to the
principles involved and the character
of the candidates.” A sensible reso
lution this. “Principles” aud “men”
must both be taken into the account,
i f we would cast a sensible vote.
Opinions of the Press.
“The Soldier’s Friend ” is the title
of a new paper published w’eekly in
Atlanta, Ga., of which the first num
ber has reached us. It is edited by
Mr. A. S. Worrell, who gives abun
dant evidence of the proper qualifica
tions for that position in the opening
number. The name of the paper, as
well as its object —the moral elevation
of the soldier—sufficiently commend it
to public favor. We wish our cotem
porary success. — Columbus Times.
“The Soldier’s Friend” is an exceed
ingly neat and handsomely printed
sheet, containing nearly twenty col
umns of well selected and original
reading matter. It is religious in its
tone, and well calculated to elevate as
well as to amuse and instruct the mind
of the care-worn soldier. Every fath
er ought to send his boy a copy of the
“Soldier’s Friend.”— Charleston Cou
rier.
“The Soldier’s Friend” is neatly
printed, and admirably suited to the
SHirpose for which it was gotten up. —
t answers the purpose of religious
tracts, and at the same time affords the
soldier a large amount of the current
news of the day. — Marion {Ala.)
Common wealth.
“The Soldier’s Friend” is the name
of a new paper published at Atlanta,
Ga., devoted to the moral, religious
and sanitary interests of the Army.—
It is a well printed sheet, and we cor
dially commend it to public favor.—
Alabama Observer.
“The Soldier’s Friend” is a religious
paper and devoted entirely to the use
of our gallant soldiers, and should be
promptly and patriotically supported
by the Southern people. To Mr. Wor
rell, and his noble enterprise, we wish
a hearty success.— Democratic Watch
tower.
Military Life and Scenes
chapter in.
“Ellen, read it. My eyesight seems
to be failing. Your mother and I will
listen.”
Tremblingly, for one letter followed
the other so closely that they feared
the w orst, the seal was broken and a
sweet girlish voice dwelt upon the
words of her absent brother.
Camp , Sept. Ist.
Dear Father, Mother and Sister: —
Doubtless you are anxiously awaiting
tidings of your absent son and brother.
Though still too weak to hold my pen
steadily, I must try to lessen the bur
den of suspense resting on your hearts.
My illness was short but severe. For
a few days I was so much exhausted
that a blank was left in my mind.—
Time passed I know not how; since
then I have improved very rapidly. —
Though my comrades are kind-hearted
and willing, they will never excel you,
dear mother and sister, in nursing. I
feel specially indebted to John for his
many kindnesses. He waited on me
with the devotion of a brother, often
depriving himself of the meagre com
forts of camp life, to make me more
comfortable. You may think that the
comforts of a tent are few indeed ; but
when one has been used to sleeping
out on the bare ground, a tent seems
almost as comfortable as a house. I
hope you will not allow yourselves to
be uneasy about my being exposed.
It would be very pleasant to be at
home, but since this is impossible, I
content myself with thinking of you
and picturing to myself the manner in
which you pass your evenings.
Dear Ellen, that little work basket
you use so constantly, forms its own
part in my home pictures. You re
member, of course you de, that pretty
little needle book I found in it one
morning, marked with my initials ? If
this letter was not to father and mother
too, I would tell you all 1 know about
this same needle book—but spare my
blushes.
I suppose it will gratify you all to
learn that I have not forgotten how to
sew on buttons and darn socks. In
deed, late experiences have improved
me in this one respect.
We have received orders to prepare
for a march. I will be allowed to go
with the wagons, I suppose, as I am
not able to walk.
I will write soon, again.
Affectionately,
THOMAS BRANTLY.
“I am heartily glad to hear that he
is so much better, but fear the fatigue
of a long march w ill cause a relapse.”
“Please, father, do not prophecy evil.
Mother always looks younger when we
have such letters, and if you make her
sad, I will have to find fault with
you.”
“Your father, my child, would not
needlessly'excite my fyars. There is
always danger and we ought always to
be prepared for it. But what did
Thomas mean by the needle book ?”
Inquired good Mrs. Brantly with a
woman’s usual curiosity.
A soft low laugh made music
throughout the room before the an
swer came.
“O nothing, only that a needle book,
very prettily and conveniently formed,
was found in my basket one day after
Alice Reeves had been here. I teased
Tom no little about it, but he always
i denied having the least knowledge of
who put it there. He has been en
lightened, I suppose.”
“I am very glad he knows how to
patch. Poor boy, he used to think it
a very severe punishment to have his
socks to darn. Your fatlier used to
think I ought not to make him do it,
but it was for the best. Now if he
goes ragged, he is to blame.”
“Well, I must run over and tell
Clara about our letter. I am sure,
mother, there is nothing in brother’s
letter to show that he is growing
worse—John, I mean; so I will tell
Clara to cast aside her fears.” So
saying she caught up her bonnet and
was gone.
“There is something in that, w ife.
Thomas never speaks otherwise than
in laudable terms of John. Do you
think he ‘would tell us, if anything was
wrong ?”
“I cannot tell. He would not like
to distress Clara; and if he is grow**
ing worse too, he may not notice John’s
defects. His silence causes me some
uneasiness.”
“Well let us hope for the best. His
generosity may keep him silent. While
there is a hope, let us cling to it, and
pray for him.”
In the happy routine of home life a
few days passed away not without
bringing peace to the little family. —
Then another letter from some un
known post office (almost every one
from Thomas bore strange post marks)
came, causing the hearts of the aged
parents to beat faster and the eager
Ellen’s hand to tremble while she read
the few hastily written lines.
Dear Father: — We have had a
fight. I escaped unhurt. John was
severely, though we hope not mortally
wounded. He was shot just above
the heart. The physician says that he
is doing well. He talks of home and
Clara constantly. He has been deli
rious all day.
My health is very good. I feel as
strong as I did before 1 was sick. I
did not suffer from fatigue on the
march. I rode in an ambulance.
Do not advise Clara to come here to
see John. This is no place for a lady.
I will wait on him as well as I am able.
Much love to mother and Ellen.
Yours in haste,
THOMAS.
“Thank God, for sparing our be
loved one,” would have more nearly
expressed the feelings of that father,
mother and sister than any other words.
If, in thinking of their own loved one,
they forgot, for a time, the anguish
another w as to feel, it is but meet that
they bemxeused. None can properly
sympathize unless placed in circum
stances similar to those who need sym
pathy.
“We should indeed be thankful;”
faltered Mrs. Brantly.
“But,” she continued, “in our own
gratitude, we must not forget the sor
row of others. Ellen must go imme
diately to Clara and tell her.”
“She has been so uneasy recently
that I almost fear to be the bearer of
such sad news. Had I better let her
read the letter?”
“By all means, otherwise she may
imagine we withhold something. Let
her know all that we know.”
“You and Mother then, must not try
to find a gloomy subject while I am
gone. I will soon be back to write an
answer to the letter, and hope to be
able to tell brother you are smiling for
him.”
Both parents smiled upon her as she
donned her bonnet and mantle and ran
away. For a while they rejoiced over
Thomas’ escape, then pitied poor woun
ded John, w'ondering all the while, if
either or both of the boys had forsa
ken the path of virtue, finally settling
the whole matter with: “Well, well,
it will all end right.”
After the knitting needles began to
move with their usual rapidity and Mr.
Brantly returned to the Daily, they
were suddenly surprised by the en
trance of Miss Alice Reeves, the daugh
ter of a neighbor and the most beauti
ful lady in the vicinity. She was beau
tiful not only physically, but also men
tally and morally.
Finding Ellen was not at home, she
declined taking off her bonnet, but lin
gered long enough to inquire for the
latest war trews, and listened with an.
attentive air, while the -old gentleman
told the contents of his son’s letter. —
As a friend of Clara’s, Alice went to
offer her sympathy. Upon her arrival,
Ellen accosted her with,
“What do you think, Alice, will be
come of Clara ? She says that she is
determined to go to the hospital to
nurse John, who is wounded.”
“I have just heard the sad tidings
from your lather. I think it quite nat
ural for her to desire to be with her
husband, and would advise her to has
ten to him.”
“There Ellen, you can use no other
argument to influence me. She has
tried to frighten me out of going by
telling of the danger of disease, and
the impropriety of being in hospitals.
We all give up to Alice. Poor, dear
John, how I long to be with him.”
“Don’t cry so dear friend, but dry
your eyes and consult some older per
son about this matter. We all hope
to have John safe at home yet.
“It is growing late, so I must go
back home. Alice will take care of
you to-night. If you decide to go to
let me know.”
“Alice you must help me to persuade
my friends that it is best to go; or
will you too try to dissuade me when
you hear that Thomas thinks the place
unfit for a lady ?” queried the young
wife, and despite her tears a smile
played upon her lips as she noted the
deepening color on her friends face.
“It will, of course, be unpleasant,
but a wife cannot it seems to me be
out of place when attending her sick,
helpless husband. However, you had
better take Ellen’s advice and consult
some older person.”
“Then it must be done soon, for I
want to go on the first train.”
GENERAL NEWS SUMMARY.
General Fitz Porter has been acquitted
of the charges preferred by Gen. Pope.
Lyman Beecher, father of Harriet Beech
er Stowe died in Brooklyn on Saturday
last.
Ex Governor William D. Moseley, of
Florida, died at Palatka on Sunday 2d in
stant.
Rosencrans, in his official report, desig
nates .the late battle in Middle Tennessee as
the battle of Stone’s River.
Nine thousand seven hundred and sixty
seven persons were arrested in Baltimore by
the police during the year 1862.
John C. Heenan, it is said, is to marry
Miss Sarah Stevens, a New York actress
now playing at Bourcicalt’s, in London.
Yankee papers say that Rosencrans is
not a General who is “fishing for the Presi
dency.* We presvme Hooker is the man,
then, who is..
The members of the bar, of Dallas co.,
Ala., held a meeting at Cahawba on the 15th
inst., and resolved not to raise their fees dur
ing the war.
Meagher’s Irish brigade, which went into
the battle of Fredericksburg with five full
regiments, has now less than three hun
dred men fit for duty. So the Northern pa
pers say.
The Legislature of Mississippi has passed
a bill providing that not over three acres
of cotton shall be planted to thehand,under
a penalty of SSOO per acre, half to go to the
informer.
The workmen at the Wilmington Sword
Factory have formed themselves into a com
pany, armed with lances or pikes. They
turned out Saturday and made quite a gay
appearance, with the pennauts'altached to
their lances.
Allen Taylor Caperton, of Mercer county,
Va., who has been elected Confederate Sen
ator from that State to fill the vacancy oc
casioned by the death of Hon. Win. Ballard
Preston was an old line Whig.
The Federal papers say that the Mississip
pi River is widening and deepening the ar
tificial channel opposite Vicksburg. This is
undoubtedly a false stasement, put forth
merely to delude the masses.
The Mobile Register says the number of
men enrolled and sent to the field in that
county, by the conscript officers, is 1,505, and
the number claiming exemption on various
grounds is 1,979.
The New York Herald says that 300,000
of nine months men and two years men go
out of service in May next, so that what
ever the Federals do must be done by that
time. Thad. Stevens (Abolitionist), from
Pennsylvania, proposes to fill their places
with negroes.
The leading financial men of New York
are urging upon the Federal Congress the
passage of a bill declaring all United States
notes issued, or to be issued, shall be receiv
able in payment of all taxes, internal duties
excises, duties on imports, debts and de
mands of every kind due the United States.
The Lord Bishop of Quebec, Rev. S. 8.
Mountain, is dead.
A cotton factory is about to be established
in Nachitoches county, Liu
A large number of slaves from Africa have
lately been landed in Cuba.
Col. Marurs J. Wright, of Memphis, has
been commissioned a Brigadier General.
Secretary Chase is in New York holding
a conference with the Bank Presidents.
Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill passed through Ra
leigh on Saturday last, en route for Charlotte,
where his family resides.
Gen. McClernard has superseded General
Sherman on account of the Vicksburg dis
aster to the latter.
A new French paper has been started in
New Orleans under the title of La Repuhli
que. Its political proclivities are strongly
Yankee.
A fire occurred on the 17th in Williams*
Oates & Co’s warehouse at Charlotte, N. C-
The loss was from $12,000 to $15,000 in cot
ton. One horse was burnt in lhe stable at
tached.
A Nashville dispatch, dated the 151 h, says
Bragg has been superseded by Longstreet;
that conscripts are deserting the rebel army
and arriving in Nashville daily.
The Yankee cavalry ascended the western
shore of the Mississippi, a few days ago, to
within nine miles of Port Hudson, commit
ting their usual depredations upon the pro
perty along their route.
The late Wm. Sanford, Esq., of Baldwin
county, Ga., bequathed SIO,OOO to Ogle
thorpe University, near Milledgeville; $lO,-
000 to Emery College, near Covington, and
$5,000 to Mercer Institute, at Penfield.
Dr. James Rogers, a well known physi
cian of Knox county, Tenn., a lew days ago,
dropped a pistol on the floor, sending a ball
through one thigh, and into the other. The
wound is a dangerous one.
On Saturday last, 17th, a baggage cur on
the train coming south on the North Caroli
na Railroad (between Charlotte and Golds
boro’,) took fire from a spark four miles
from Durham’s Station, and' was entirely
consumed, with all its contents, consisting
of a lot of freight, etc.