To day I am engaged in the office. But little doing in the way of business. weather clear & very warm.
Thus closes my notes for the month of December and also for the year just passed and gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than I know but trusting in Him I shall enter upon the pleasing task, which is useful as a reference and may be profitable to those who have an interest in me.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Friday, June 7th, 1861
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150 years ago today . . . TEXAS BAPTIST [Anderson, TX], June 7, 1861, p. 2, c. 5
ReplyDeleteOur streets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, present a lively appearance. The young men of the different military companies are drilled on those days, and judging by the readiness in which they go through the various military evolutions, they must be getting far advanced in drill; and should they ever measure arms with the Northern fanatics, they will prove themselves as gallant soldiers as ever wielded a sword, or shouldered a musket, especially when they know that they will be fighting
In a righteous cause,
For Liberty and right—
For just and equal laws.
Mr. John Rudd, a graduate of West Point, has been here for some days, acting in the capacity of drilling master, and it gives us pleasure to say, that this gentleman spares no pains in instructing the volunteers; indeed, he seems to be the favorite of the privates and officers of the Confederate States' company, composed of the counties of Grimes, Walker and Montgomery, so urbane and courteous is his disposition.
Mr. Rudd was one of the lamented Walker's faithful Captains in Nicaragua, and stook [sic] to him 'mid all his trials — mid lurid clouds — 'mid ebon waves of misfortune — when the surges of persecution shrieked like the mighty fall of the cataract, -- when Liberty was tramped under foot, and that proud name, cemented by the blood of so many martyrs, spurned by a mongrel race, who are ever ready to impede the march of civilization, of the Anglo-Saxon race.
Lt. Owen works hard, and takes a special pride in learning the young men how to face the music; and from what we saw last Saturday, we believe that, although he's fat, he will be as agile as any of the lean ones, when it's necessary to run a little.
It gives us pleasure to say this much, and "pleasure" 'tis, for us to say, God protect our young and old men, who, ere long, may be away on rolling billows, or sleeping on the prairies green breast, under the azure canopy of Heaven, with its blossoms as their bed, as its Star-aisles, those refulgent luminaries of night, sparkles around them the rays of Friendship, written everywhere upon the ocean wave, or breathed forth in the zephyrs sigh.
150 years ago . . . TEXAS BAPTIST, June 7, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
ReplyDeleteEditorial Corespondence.
It is usually considered one of the duties of editors, while away from home, to report all matters that they may become cognizant of, to their readers, and those matters that to others would be out of place, all expect the editor to write about. In compliance with this custom, we send a few items that have come under our observation.
The Crops. — Throughout the whole route I have traveled, Grimes, Washington, Austin, Fayette and Bastrop counties, the fall of rain has been very heavy, and from all sections I hear there has been abundant rains. Mill Creed, New Years' Creek, and others in [?] had been so high, that for a time, at La Grange and other points, the ferry boats ceased to run. In Fayette County, in the neighborhood of Fayetteville, and in the western part, severe hail had fallen; some crops we saw, the corn was, we fear, entirely ruined, but the injury was confined to a very few farms. The section I have traveled over, is some of our best farming lands, and though I have been acquainted with it for ten years, I have never seen such a universal prospect for good crops as there is at the present time. In a few places, where the ground was low, the rains have been so heavy that the crops have suffered from the water standing on it; yet, we believe, that whether we get any more rain or not, and another shower in ten or fifteen days would make the corn much heavier than it otherwise would be, there will be much more breadstuffs made this year than in the three or four preceding years. Wheat, oats, rye, barley, &c., have all been extensively sown, and the farmers are securing an abundant harvest.
I regretted to see the extent that the weeds are taking possession of the farms; in the neighborhood of towns I knew that this was the case, but I had not anticipated that in large prairies this would be so. What effect the abundant rains may have in restoring the range, I cannot say. One great source of wealth in the section I have traveled through, will be entirely cut off. I am inclined to the opinion that as the weeds die out in the summer, the grass will gain the ascendancy, and if so, in another year Texas will be [?] again.
Feeling of the Country. Traveling through the country, we have everywhere seen preparation for war, and the strongest determination to carry out the wish of the people, and rather than submit to the Black Republican rule of Lincoln, we believe the people would willingly see the worst horrors of war reach every neighborhood.
In Washington county we heard there were twelve companies regularly drilling. In Austin and Fayette, both Americans and Germans are organized into companies. In Fayette, one of the companies while we were there, went to a place and camped, and drilled for several days. I only passed through these several counties, and did not have much opportunity of conversing with the people; but in Bastrop I have had better advantages of seeing what the feeling is. This county, as is known, voted against secession, but now I have been in no place where there is more military enthusiasm than here; and the very men that opposed secession, with the most bitterness, are now the strongest advocates for immediate and ample preparation for the war. Two of the Captains commanding companies were opposed to secession; one of them who had stumped the county in opposition to it, prior to the last election, we heard deliver a speech, and we doubt if a more effective war speech has been heard anywhere than his was. . . . continued below
. . . continued from above . . . Bastrop seems like a camp of military instruction. The barracks of the Military Institute are used as barracks for the citizen soldiers, and they come in and stay a week at [a] time in drilling; and we doubt if any companies will excel in energy and aspect the company from Bastrop. Quite a num[ber] of the men are over six feet in height, and well drilled. Of those who live in the vicinity of Bastrop, almost every persons able to bear arms, is regularly drilling, at least two or three times a week. This county has some advantage over most, in consequence of the instruction of the Military Institute located here. Most of the students have gone to their respective homes and will do good service there in giving instruction. Several of the young men that have held command, and are well qualified to give military instruction, said they [?] to go to any place their services might be needed, and thoroughly drill companies, if the persons receiving instruction would defray their expenses. I feel assured that this offer will be accepted by many companies. Address Col. Allen at Bastrop. . . .
ReplyDeleteChurches and Preaching. — At Brenham I found a large congregation who listened to a sermon preached under as unfavorable circumstances of present feelings, as it has fallen [illegible] in a long time, and since that time I have hardly been able to preach. Brother Law is pastor of the Church at Brenham and Bellville. Brother Hill also resides here, and when able preaches in the neighborhood and at Brenham.
[?] has improved rapidly since the rail road has got here, and a large number of improvements were going up.
Brother Chandler has charge of the Church at Fayetteville, [?] Round Top and New Providence, in Austin County. I did not preach at his church, as the high water had prevented my appointments being received. So also at La Grange, we could find no person that had heard of my appointment. Brother P. Harris is pastor at La Grange and Plum Grove, and has an appointment at Winchester. At Plum Grove there was a small congregation, as it was hardly though I could be there, owing to high water. In all these places religion is at a low ebb, and the world and its interests shut out Heaven from sight. I do not think I have known so little interest felt and manifested as at present. Christians should now humble themselves before God, and pray Him to revive his work in our midst, for there has never been a time of greater need of prayer for the reviving influence of His Spirit, than now.
At Bastrop and Hill Prairie Churches, there is a good religious state of feeling, nor do I remember of ever knowing the religious prospects of these Churches to be more flattering and encouraging than now. Brother Harris, the pastor, is highly beloved by his congregation, and I know of but few fields of labor in the State that are more pleasant, or offering greater prospects of usefulness, than Bro. Harris's. Quite a number of persons have been added to the Church here since I left and went to Anderson.
I have yet visited no other places in this field of labor, but these two churches, but from what I am able to hear, I trust that I will be able to report of many Baptisms in Bastrop county during the present year.
I have already written longer than I anticipated when I commenced, and other duties call me away, so I must close.
J.A.K.