davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
Worth Thinking About.

Wheat is selling at one dollar per bushel, corn thirty cents.
 Butter is worth in our town ten cents per pound, wool at a nominal price and without demand.
 These prices will be considered low by our farmers. Most of them have been enabled, by their wealth, to hold over the large stocks of last year, in the hopes of better prices.
 The wives and daughters of onr country far mers, very naturally, are indignant st the miserable .emunerative prices offered for their pains taking products--those products that prodnce the comforts, the uxuries, the refine ments of agricultural life. 8.s
 Do their masculine protectors tell them the reason for this great change? If not, we will change has come over our country. almost without observation, that has stopped the channels Of trade, destroyed the business Of the States and threatens our very liberties.
 The fabrics of your toil were consumed at the South. Your butter, by every Southern coaster found ma rket in every city and almost on every plantation. These markets are block. aded, as is also the great distributing one, New York
 The steamers that were daily loaded with the material of your wealth are now convert ed into transport ships to convey your broth. CTS to fight with their own blood, and with people with whom they have no quarrel
 Ithaca (N. Y.) Democrat.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
STATE CONVENTION. To all whom it may Concern.

THE Convention having provided for the l contingency of it's being re-assembled, and made it the duty of the several presidi,5 Judges of the County Courts, as well as of tpe President of the Convention, according as either may be notified thereof, to order cleo. tions to fill vacancies in that body; And Y being important for the people of the State 70 be fully represented, should any emergency arise, which in the opinion of the Preslde.ns or of the Military Board, would require tno Is Convention to be called l have issued wiis of election, to be held on the 10th day Of Au- gust next, to fill vacancies officially commu- nicated to me as President of of tho Conven' tion, as follow: In the counties of
 Arkansas--JAMEs L. TorTEN,
 ...Calhoun--P. H. EcHoLs,
 Franklin-W w MANSFIELD,
 Izard--ALExANDER ADAMS, e
 Jackson--J H. PATTERSON, 4 aHl fs Jeferson--W. P. GRACE, Lawrence--SAMUEL ROBINSON,
 Prairie--B. c. ToTrEN, M
 Washington-DAvID WALKER. .h. And in all cases of resignation received oy srs Presiding Judges of County Courts, they a. n. requested to order elections to i'll the yaesha hs cies occasioned thereby, as prescribed oy yysns .n Ordinance of the Convention, adopted C.n. 5an- 1st, 1861, and the Convention Act of tLe y'' eral Assembly, approved January 10, 1Sl;'
 GEO. c. WATKlN0's Little Rock, June il, 1861.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
From the Brownsville Rife.
IN CAMP NEAR GArYrsv1,,,

lN CAMP NEAR GAINEsy1rrr
 Juiy 10, 1861. Nothing of any general interest has ,,,. pred since last wrote to you. Col. c,a although expected for several days past k. not yet arrived, he will probably reach hay m on tomorrow or next day. The ~Riflss, h,' not yet received all their arms, only sxtv h' far having been distributed to them m. still require some twenty-five or more to con plete the number. The remainder are ., n cahontas, and will, as we learn. arrive bs,., few days Areport, as we learn, has rs..h ed some portions of the country that on, D. giment has been suffering from want of s,e visions. This is entirely untrue. lii ,,,. that the rations distributed have not basn :, the most delicate character, but they have ., ways been ample of theirlkind. A large sto,. of army provisions has reached Pocabon,,. and portion of the same will, doubles, ba soon transferred to this Regiment.
 Several new recruits have recently arrived from Prairie county, H. R. Harris, ". ,n1 Henry Boyd, end sometwo or three others a,. en route for the camp. ..ss..l.ssi i.4 M
 A man named Hall, some time since, attach. ed himself to one of the companies of the Pe. gimert, with the view and intention of ob. taining an office. Finding some ten days since that his prospects for the desired positio were becoming infnitesimally small, he con. cluded to engage in the lucrative business ., whiskey selling. Accordingly, he procured, barrel of cheap liquor, and concealed it inths bushes, and soon initiated a large numberd bibers into his secret. The clandestine trad. was soon discovered, the head of the contra. band barrel knocked in and it's contents emn tied On We tuesday last the Regiment was drawn up in the road in two ranks, faced to the cen. ter at charge bayonet, and Mr. Hall placed on the extreme left of the line. At the command (you know what you have to do MT. HaIl.y he started through in double quick time. Hs long ringlets streamed out from under his rus. ty ssstoye pipeo hat. His carefully cultivated whiskers parted in the center of his chin, and his coat tails played fantastic tricks upon the breeze. Such was the appearance of: Mir. Hall, as he passed between the bayonets of the 5th Regiment of Arkansas volunteers. MT. H. will, doubtless, conduct himself henceforth, so as to avoid a repetition of this trip He has not since been seen in our vicinity.
 MT. Ross, the absentee from the Austin Ri. fes, returned this morning.
 Your correspondent is unable to ascertain when the 5th will leave this place
 The companies are rapidly improving in discipline-both company and battalion
 You may expect to hear from me again soon.
 PRAIRIE.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
Col. A. Forbes Reply

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN My heart is filled on the present occasion, with feelings that my tongue can never express. How can l give utterance to my feelings, when l look around me and behold my friends and neigh bors, perhaps for the last time, assembled for the purpose of bidding fal eve Il to fathers, brothers and husbands, who are in the act of leaving for the bloody battle field, to offer
 their lives in defense of our long cherished
 liberties and institutions that were won by the
 blood of our fathers. Though while on the
 battle field death shots may fall around us as
 thick as hail, and we ''be exposed to the solid
 sheets of liquid death,' we will prove our
 selves worthy of the boon of liberty bequeath-
 ed to us by onr fathers. We feel deeply the an- guish of your hearts, that is occasioned by our
 leaving. The great trial with me sfully real ized in separating from my wife and children.
 May God grant my return, when the dark clouds of war are driven away by the propi- tious winds of heaven, to find them living to welcome my return. Miss D. Whitney, ac- cept the beautiful banner that you have pre- ecHeeu eooH Coupdny III DeuaI or the lddleS of West Point. Language is inadequate 10 express our high appreciation of this special testimonial of your regard. l present to you the thanks of our company for this manifesto tion of esteem for the West Point Rifles La dies we bid you farewell. We are going to our Northern borders to battle for the rights and sacred honor of the fair and lovely daugh- ters of our sunny South. If the enemy cross the line and invade your homes ''they will have to walk over our dead bodies.o And while contending for our cherished rights we will plant this flag triumphantly on our soil or find grave beneath its verdant sod. And while battling for our rights under this ban ner, we will call to mind the donrs of this beautiful gift, who are far away from us, like angels of mercy, sending up their warm pray CTS for our success. Again ladies, we bid you farewell, hoping God will protect you at home while we defend you abroad.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
A Call to the Ministry.

Somebody is always telling stories abopt the sHard-shell Baptists '' Ways have the run | on them, and they may as well be content and bear it. Here follows tale told of them not long since. My informant locates it in the mountains of North Carolina, where the hard shells are quite numerous, and where they be- lieve pretty strongly in dreams and voices. In the impyrtant matter of 8 call to the ministry, dream or voice is almost indispensable. Now it came to pass that man by the name of Walker felt himself considerably moved to 'shod forth,'' and kept spreading the feece," Gideon-like, to ascertain his duty in the important lpremises To assist him in his pioGs investigations, he called at still house one evening to get some of the good critter." After refreshment, the story runs, he left home, and on the way he felt s.moved'' to go into the grove few hundred yards from the road, s.thar to wrastle on the subject. D. While he was 'swrastlinn most earnestly, scarcely outdone by the patriarch, some one passed the road with long cared animal, po- litely called John Donkey, and John let of, as his race is wont to do sometimes, n most moving and thrilling manner.
 Walkers imagination, by his earnest "wras- lin," was wrought up to great intensity, and he converted Major Johns discordant music which. to most men, resemble the filing of a saw mill saw, into call from heaven urging him to preach the gospel. No time was lost He rose from his knees duly commissioned, and went to his pastor, who interrogated him thus:
 Parson.-Do you believe, brother Walker, that you are called of God to preach, Gas was Aaron ?o
 Walker.-Most sartinly does.
 Pastor.--Give the church, that is the breth- ren, the prosf.
 Walker.-I was mighty difhkiIted, and was determined to go into the woods and wras- tie it out.
 Parson.--That's it brother Walker.
 Walker.-And whie there wrastin', Jacob like, hern one of the curiousest voices uver hearn in all my born days.
 Parson You are on the right track, broth CT Walker. Go on with your norration.
 Walker.-I couldn't tell for the life ov me, whether the voice was up in the air or down in the sky, it sounded TO curious.
 Parson.--Poor creeter! how he was difikil- ted. Go on to norrate, brother Walker. How did it appear to sound unto you?
 Walker.-Why this way; Waw-waw-ker -waw-ker! Go preach, go preach, go preach-ee go preach-ah, go preach-un, go preach ah-ee- uh-ah-ee.
 Parson.--Brethering and sisters, that's the right sort of call. Enough said, brother VI alker. That's none ov yer college calls, nor money calls. No doctor ov divinity ever got sich call as that. Brother Walker must have license for sartin and for sure.
 The license was granted, the story goes, and Walker is doubtless making the mountains ring with his stentorian lungs
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

= Y Col. H. B. Todd, of Missouri, passed through our town yesterday, bound for Rich- mond, Va. The Colonel, by invitation, ad- dressed large audience of our people at Watkins Chapel, at II o'clock. His address occupied over an hour, and was replete with facts and arguments, showing that the South was right in defending her soil against the encroachments of the Abolition hordes. His description of the wrongs which Missouri has suffered from the Federal Government, was enough to arouse the vengeance of every true patriot and lover of that liberty which was handed down from our forefathers. The Col. is an agent ot the Missouri State Guard, and we bid him God speed in his efforts to redeem his adopted State from the thraldom which surrounds her.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
Miss D. Whitney's Speech.

GENTLEMEN OF THE WEST POINT RIFLES: The circumstances which surround us are no common ones. To-day you are called. upon, not to enlist in the service against foreign foe, but to defend your own southern soil, your homes, your fresides, yea, your beloved peculiar, and much cherished institutions, against ruthless foe, once called brothers, almost as numerous as the dread ocusts of the East. need not speak of the grievances com plained of or the offenses committed. Suffice tito say, gentlemen, our cause is just; and re- member, that s.he who has his cause just is doubly armed" To day everything that we hold sacred and dear to us is at stake. The liberties of all future generations stand sus- pended in doubtful boise, and you must go forth and contend for the prize. Tis true many of you have ties at home which it is almost death to sever. Iris true that the tears and sobs of an aged mother, and decrepid father, the trembling accents of loving wife and darling sisters, are enough to wiring drops of blood from the heart that is not steel, but, guntlemen, no wailings, no cries are equal to tuOSe Ol cAplllI oS sdO iiOo PAoosi otCs bleeding at every pore. Then go forth, like the gallant sons of Sparta, resolved to return victorious or return no more; and if it be the will of heaven that you return no more, may the news reach our ears that like Lord Nelson the last thing you did was to die for your
 bleeding country. Then, in behalf of the la dies of West Point, present to you this ban ner wrought by their own hands. May you never suffer it to be dishonored or polluted by an enemy's touch so long as you have strength to raise it or life 10 stand. And when mar shalled before the booming cannon and expos ed to the solid sheets of liquid death, may it inspire your souls and nerve your arms and lend new courage to your dropping spirits Gentlemen you have our prayers, and they shall continue to ascend to the throne of the Most High in your behalf. Then go forth, avoid the scenes of vice and dissipation, put your trust in High Power, leaning on his armor for protection, and the God of right twill cover your head in the day of battle.o
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

THE TREDEGAR IRON WoRKs.--A cores pondent of the Georgia Citizen from Rich- mond says there are over goo men employed in the Tredegar Iron Works, where they turn of over ten cannon per day, iron. five to one hun dred and thirty-four pounders--columbiad howitzers, field pieces, rifed cannon and shell shot and balls enough to supply an army of 500,000 men. The musket stock is made in a peculiar way. The piece of wood is put into machine, and it comes out perfect stock; five hundred are turned out in day.
 The manufacture of cartridges is another show. They are made by women and girls. Between three hundred and four hundred are employed; about S00,000 are turned off per day. There are twelve hundred mules em- ployed conveying the war munitions, stores, etc.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

GT MT. Breckenridge was dropped from the committee on military affairs in the Sem ate because it was understood that he thinks a ssUnion held together by the sword is not worth preserving"
 GT The Wilmington CIV. co Journal says Lieut.. Crossan, of the North Carolina Navy, made another fine capture few days ago. He got hold of another sugar vessel and car ried her into Hatteras inlet.
 GSy The flag officer of the Confederate Ma w at Savannah advertises for contracts for building five vessels, of about l60 tons each
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

0W We invite attention to the Proclama- tion of Hon. GEO. C. WATKINS, President of the State Convention, requiring that elections be held to fill vacancies in the same. The elec- -tion is to be held on the 10th day of August As Hon. B. c. ToTTEN, our member in the convention has resigned, and it may be neces- sary that the convention should again meet, it would be well that the people of Prairie should look around for a suitable man to fill the va cancY.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

THE THEATRICAL ScoUNEREL--WHY HE RESIGNED The military career of this gen tleman, Bernstein, is about being brought to a close In public declaration he states that on the 21st he takes his leave of the army His age and his infrmities, and the fact that three months of active duty in the volunteers has cut off two years of his life, are assigned as reasons why he may be excused from fur ther service. Better reasons than these might be produced He knew that he could not get regiment to serve under him for three years. He knew that he had tried it. He knew that his regiment, when questioned revolted, and refused to have anything to do with him He knew that they had no confidence in him, and that the merest accident enabled him to get to Jefferson as military ccmmander.-[St Louis Republican.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

VI .-
 e~ President Lincoln has recognized the government inaugurated at Wheeling, as the government of the State of Virginia. How can Lincoln claim. that England and France shonld not recognize the Confederate States :?
 Gy- Gen. McCulloch has moved to near Keatsville. Mo, on the road between Fayette- vile and Springfield, Mo.
 Gy Fifty one prizes, in all, have been taken by Southern priyatecrs, whose aggregate val ne is computed to amount to s3,O0o,000.
 gY- The regiments are having alively time at Birds Point. The river is cutting away the point on which they are located so rapidly that they have to change position daily.
 9V timer in Pensacola, Fla, by the name of Sellans, has been ordered offfor "talk- ipg Lincoln" M
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
The West Point Rifles.

This company, commanded by Capt. A. T.. Jones' left West Point on Tuesday the io'h inst. about P. M. for Jacksonport. A beau tiful banner was presented to them by Miss D. Whitney, in behalf of the ladies of West Point and vicinity, to whom Col. A. Forbes responded in his usual eloquent style. The following are their speeches:
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
THE SOUTHERN ARMY vIcr oRrous.-In

THE SOUTHERN ARMY VIcT oRrous.-In addition to the despatches to be found in orlr press, reliable intelligence that the triumph of the Southern army was complete in the bat tie of the Fist, at Manassas Junction. Jeff Davis commanded the centre of the Southern army, Beauregard the right and Johnston the left. Scott commanded the centre of the Fed- eral army, Patterson the right and Mcdowell the left. Mcdowell is reported mortally wounded. The Federal army was defeated, and retreated. The loss was heavy on both sides. #A
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
Bloody Bills for Congress.

Senator Wilson has given notice that he will introduce the following bills immediately:
 bill to ratify and confrm certain acts of the President for the suppression of insurrec- tion and rebellion.
 A bill to authorize the employment of vol- unteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protec- ting the public property
 A bill toincrease the present military es- tabishment of the United States. ls
 A bill providing for the better organization of the military establishment.
 A bill to promote the efficiency of the ar my.
 A bill for the organization of volunteer military force to be called the National Guard of the United State.
 The titles of these bills sound strange in Republic, based upon the sublime principles of the Declaration of Independence. M
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
e1- The Richmond Examiner says:

Gg The Richmond Examiner says: s'To- bacco is going up higher every day. MT. Lu- ell, the agent of Messrs. Huffer & Co.,, who are the French Contractors, is now in this city, experimenting the purchase of tobacco for the French Empire, and this, of itself, is sufficient to give great stimulus to trade. It bodes no great duration to the present blockade."
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

GW Col. Woodruff, of the bogus Kentucky regiment, has presented s'splendid rifle and equipments" to Capt. Phillips, of the Come waga-saidrife having just been stolen frou a Secessionist of Guyandotts. M
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

Agricultural people'' says the Charls- ton Mercury, ssis always superior in war, in the long run, to commercial or manufactur
 ing people. The South are essentialy--in tastes and habits--bot city men and country men-an agricultural people. Agriculture supports war; war exhausts commerce and trade and manufactures. An agricultural is, too, the more hardy people, better prepared to encounter the seasons, and they are more 1.-the and vigorous of frame and muscle; are less likely to be dried up, fabby, puffy or obese; are accustomed to invigorating exercises, and better versed in the practice of all weapons. It has been so from the earliest ages. It is so now. It was the difference between agricul- ture and commerce in the training for war, that enabled the Laconian States to conquer Attica, though Athens had all the shipping. The Hoblites of Athens never could stand the shock of those of Sparta. They were lighter of heel, but neither so strong in sinew nor soll. What sort of conflict will the cobblers of Lynn make with the rangers of Texas How will the clock-makers of Connecticut stand the bayonet wrestle with the backwoods- men of Tennessee !? And what sort of fight will the dandy and the rabble "roughs'' of New York maintain against the hunters of Kentucky, or the 1.-the and eager Mississip- plans, armed with the deadly rifle and bowie- knife. Nous vERRoNs. Our worst customers, to be first disposed of, will be the regulars and marines on shore duty-a handful,--and the Northwestern border ruffians and farmers And these, denied their ratlons, are but half men. 1t IS the misfortune of all the FREE DIRT States that nice calculation of the profit and loss enters into all the patriotism and virtue of the people, and where they may be physically hardy, they are morally weekly.'' ssHow does 1t pay ?" is the natural question with these people, and the pence usually get the better of the patriot. In the present instance, sooner or later, it will be discovered that the | war is very bad speculation.,
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
,R@- The CentraI Rank of Al,h. .,

u5g~ The Central Bank of Alabama, with a capital of s9,o00,OO have resolved to take S3o0,Oo0 of Treasury notes from the confeder- ate States, which is 39a per cent of it's capi- tai, besidas having taken Sl00,O00 of confede- rate bonds, and having loaned to the State of Alabama, for military purposes $25O,ooo.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24
ATTENTION PRAIRIE 0REYs!

DARADE at West end Trimble Prairie, j. Saturday next, 27th, at 10 o'clock, A, M.' in full uniform, by order of Capt. Horne.
 July p, 1861. J. s. WILLIAMS, O.
Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-24

gT We copy the following from the Fort The statements below have all been con- firmed by private letters from members of the Des Arc Rangers: