Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-09
CHRISTIAN DUTIES.


colporteurs doing great harm in our army by
circulating terrible tracts in the camps and on the
eve of expected battles confronting our men with
little pamphlets entitled Are you ready to die ?"
"Sinncr, YOU are soon to be damned, &c. This is
more than mistake. The best stimulation of cour-
age and endurance in the army is to be found in an
incubation of Christian spirit among the men,
With more religion in our camps We will have less
drunkenness. less dissatisfaction, less grulnbling
and courage which becomes invlncble rs it is re-
fined by the pure and holy spirit Of religious con-
victions. An army stands as much in need OF rnoial
and religious education as any equal number OF men
composing social community; and the col porteurs
are doing work which, even in worldly eXpedicn-
cy, Is not to be deSpised.
The highest order of patriotism is closely akin to
religion and the loftiest courage always associated
if hot with religious profession at least with deep
feelings of reverence for the divine mysteries Of life
and death. The man who benches at the question,
Are you prepared to de?' or, than that,
puts it off with sneer is destitute of true courage.
Many nah who in times Of peace and safety, har
dens his heart and imagnes himself to be brave,
WILL when the battle is raging around him, howl in
terrified agony Of spirit to God for mercy, while
the Christian soldier stands before the red crash of
death, not in sight Of his Emperor, the French
soldiers at Solferino did, but in sight OF his God
We must remark the painful evidences of the loss
Of the sense Of our dependence on God the war
has progressed 1t did hot commence so. The city OF
Charleston is said to have been on the eve Of the
battle of Fort Sumter, like one vast altar, from
which assembled the incense OF prayer. The whole
nation from Virginia to Texas commemorated our
early and brilliant victory MANASSAS by thanksgv
ing in the ten thousand sanctuaries of the land But
there has lately been marked relaxation of this
sense Of our dependence on the God Of battles. 1t
has been np!ously said that the battle OF Belmont
was won by the energetic oathS OF our officers
There has been wrcched plaus:hility that has
preached in favor OF Immoral indugcnccs in our
army, that has given eciat 10 profanity IN battle,
and that has winked at drunkenness in the camps
by questioning the military virtues Of water drink.
ers We havea great work before us. /, may not be
assisted by the mere cant and whines OF reg ious
prctension but it certainly will be assisted by that
hearty and rererent sense o! dependence On Divine
Providence, and that earnest and practical habit
of religious supplication which strengthened Or
fathers in the times Of their trial. and has every
where left the evidences of reward on the pages OF
history RicAmoaI ECaisiner.
GEN JOHNSTON POLLING THE ENEMY.
The Richmond Examiner says:
We learn that the Government not only cordially
approves the strategic movement OF General John
sion in changing his line Of defence, but that the
question Of falling back from the old line of the
Potomac contided entirely to his OWN discretion
1t is now ascertained that some three or four
weeks before the army fell back, Gen. Johnston
visited the President and disclosed to him the ex-
traordinary plans conpassed by the enemy, which
made it vitality necessary his opinion. to fall back
and organize a new line of defence He Stated his
conviction that the enemy, 10y movement OF some
forty or fifty thousand troops through ilarper's
Ferry aud the Valley designed to fall upon his rear,
and proposed to defeat this object by confronting
him on a new line Of defence
For the space of three weeks before the army left
its entrenchments at Manassas, preparations were
being made for falling back, by the quiet and gradual
removal OF the vast Accommodations OF army stores;
and with such consummate address was this manag-
ed thar our own forces had no idea of what
intended until the march was taken up. The first
intimation the enemy had of the evacuation of Man
assas was the smoke Of the soldiers hus that had
been fred bv our army, aud as the last column of
our forces retired we assured that the advance
of the movement on Gen. Johnston's rear was al
ready at Snickersvile, gap in the Blue Ridge.
That the strategic plans of the enemy were COM
nletely foiled by this mastery movement of Gen.
Johnston is quite evident in the tone of disappoint
ment and yexation in which the Northern newspa-
nars refer to the evacuation of Manassas, which,
Unless there had been-some discomfort of their own
strategy by such an event. they would be likely to
regard as considerable advantage on their side in
letting them further into the territory Of Virginia
The advantages accomplished IN the Ialllng oach
IF orr army are that it has foled the strategic plan
Of the enemy almost at the instant of its accomplish
ment besides bringing our forces into a position to
! encounter any demonstrations that the enemy may
make in new directions The excitement of locomo
on and change of scene we're said, too to have had
the most happy effect upon the spirits our troops
who are, altogether, in better fighting trim than
thew have ever been since the battle of Manassas
| Our readers may rely upon it that the aspect Of
affairs in the direction Of the Potomac is in every
respect, cheering and encouraging
Sow OArs.-In our Confederacy hay is at this
time a scarce article. 1t is much needed for the
horses in our armies and if they do not get plenty
Of feed the severe work they have to perform soon
| reduces them to q worthless condition. 1t is also
wanted in the cities and towns, as we'll as on the
plantations. To obtain an early supply, planters
should SOW oats. 1t be cut before it is ripe and
cured as hay is cured then baed and sent to market
Do not be afraid Of having too much Of it. There
! will be sale for all you have and it will bring you
the money and cotton will not.
HERMEs The Richmond correspondent Of the
Charleston Mercury has the following:
THE Examiner, of yesterday morning is severe
on President Davis. 1t says that Washington fought
the battles Of the revolution under the direction Of
Congress, and there was no jealous, narrow minded
rancorous, political pgmy, vested with all the exc
cutiye power Of the State, refusing the counsel Of
every intellect not less paltry than his own, sur
rounded byparastes and foreigners, with the hurdy
gurdes Of the press grinding his praises to thwsr