The Van Buren press., 1861-06-05
For lie Van Buren, Press,

Mr., EDIToR For the last two Or three
weeks our town has been all hustle and
| commotion. Scenes have transpircd here
never to DC forgotten, even by the children
of our quiet city.
Martial music has saluted our ear time
and again-military parades have attracted
our attention, and humid checks have often
spoken to US the emotions of sad hearts.
And who, Mr.. Editor, has not felt interest
Cd in these days OF patriotism Who is it
that has not shed a tear, or heaved sigh
or prayed a prayer? What mean those i'm
plenents of death in our Court House
green, and Slittering bayonets that bris,le
through our town? And why have our
mothers and sisters been congreSating day
by day with a zeal before unknown The
many vacant seats in our family circles
plainly tell US that our sons and brothers
are at their posts Of duty, far from the pa
tcrnal roof and the loved ones at home.
have often thought, in reading of the rcvo-
lutionary matrons, that surely the imagina-
tion must have drawn largely upon fiction,
when describing the fortitude and intrepid
itv of heroine chivalry; but since | have
witnessed the recent demonstrations, l am
constrained to excaim, d" the half was not
studying and devising means to ameliorate
the condition of our race, and long ere this
they would have led man back to his prim-
tive purity, but for his thoughtlessncss and
Indifference. Though the mothers of our
city have wept and labored with heavy
hearts while preparing their sons for the
distant battle field, yet none have desired to
withhold them from the call to duty and
honor, but are ever ready to lay themselves
upon their couutry's altar and share its veal
or woe.
The companies that have marched from
our town haye carried away the best of our
youth and blood, and the pride and FIXTURE
hopes Of many fond isthers and mothers.
The separations, though painful, were not
regarded as paramount to the great interests
involved, and none who went were unyept
or unloved.
But there was one among them, who,
though not q native townsman, vet was
known, respected and loved. 1t was our
Preacher, Bro. Geo. A. Shaeffer He was
free from military duties delicately raised
and well-educated, but he chose to give up
his station and its pleasing duties, and as
sume the laborious duties Of private SOL
dier to defend his country from aggressions.
But such is the courage and character of the
man. lie has no aspirations to gratlfy, no
undue ambition to satiate--he sought no
position of honor or emolument, and asked
nc proI. otion as a token of regard-he
gladly filed his place in tho raniss, and
with elastic tread and buoyant heart, bid
adicu to his numerous friends. We loved
him as good man, but his chivalric cour-
age and modest worth, have rendered him
doubly dear to his friends who are left be-
hind. We hope that he, together with the
entire company, may win lasting laurels
and bloodless victories, and again return
and for many long years ell; ;oy the blessings
tor which they are contending.
A CITIzKs.
BLOCKADE OF SAvANSAH-Thc Augusta
(Ga.) COnstltutionalist of the 17th ult,
says:
A private dispatch, received in this city
yesterday, states that three vessels about
entering that port had been ordered away
by the blockading steamer.
They say of the crops in Georgia:
We learn that the crops in every section
of the State are uncommonly promising.
though comparatively backward. There
are complaints of rust in the wheat, but it
has yet appeared only on the blade, where
it does little harm. 1t has not attacked the
stalk, and the t is SO near maturity as
to be nearly out OF danger. The crop off
wheat is likely to be the largest one known
in Georgia.
Ey The Jacksonport (Ark.) Herald
saws a powder mill has com menceI onera-
tions White river, turning out 1000 |
pounds daily. and that another can be put
in operation within month, capable of