The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-25
THE CHURCH BELL.


No more should the tongue of the village bell
Give forth it's cheerful strain,
Till freedom and peace together shall dwell
In this fair sunny land again
So, hastel To the founders let me 90
Wheie my brazen sides may yield
weapon of death to the insolent foe
And then away to the field
transferred again to my lowly perch
When the battles fought and done,
A peal III ring from the village church
For countless glories won;
And, anon song for the braves who bed
Ere victory crowned the day.
And dlrge for the named of the honored dead
Who fell in the fearful fray.
INTERVIEW WITH THE FRENCH MJN1srER.-
We understand, says the Richmond Erominer,
that yesterday, DR.. Lamione, the representa-
tive of 10000 French residents of Louisiana
held an interview with NJ. le Comte Henri
Mercier, the French Minister to the United
States, who arrived in this city, from Wash
lngton, on "Wednesday. The result of the in
tervlew we have not asccrtained; but it is very
probable that matters were represented in their
true light to the visiting minister, respecting
the war, its causes and policy DR.. Lemoine
is an enthusiastic sympathizer with the South,
and Is looked up to by those whose sentiments
he speaks with confidence and veneration.
The minister also had an interview on YES
tcrday with Mr.. Benjamin, and that for two
hours Mr. b. spoke French with the utmost
fucncy.
The objects of the French Minister'S visit
have not definitely transpircd; but it is said
that outside of his official communications he
has expressed great interest to ascertain what
commercial treaties the Confederate Govern
ment was disposed to make with France.
FROM THE WEsT--By private letter VIC
learn that General Kirby Smith, with large
force, is at Bridgeport Jackson county, Ala,
IL miles from Huntsville, where he will estab-
llsh headquarters for the present 1t was to
tins place that our forces, 1000 strong, re-
treated, when the Yankees entered Huntsville.
A gentleman just escaped from the latter town
gives the very pleasing intelligence that thcv
have found no sympathizers of their cause
there, and the ladies are very naughty and in
dlgnant to both Federal officers and soldiers.
AS our forces now have possession of Steven
son, and are being largely reinforced it is be-
lievcd that the Yankees will soon eyacuate
Huntsville, as point too much exposed to suit
their purposes. General Smith is rebuilding a
bridge across the Tennessee river, DESTROYED bv
our forces, and he will then, no doubt make
an attempt to form a junction with Gen. Beau
regard-Ahanta Commonwealth.
RAILROAD ACCIDENTAL destructive smash
up occurred on the Atlanta and West Point
Railroad, four miles South of Newman, on the
night of the 18th inst. A large number of
soldiers were on board, en- route for Corinth.
one of whom was killed "a Tennesscan) and
some twenty-five wounded, but not dangerous
ly. Nine of the front cars were completely
wrecked.
GEN. PRENTIss IN MoBrE-Among the
prisoners in our city is Gen. Prentiss, who act
ed the dog completely while here and whose
condition as a prisoner saved hm-and barely
saved him-from chastisement He probably
expected to be lionized and sympathizcd with,
and gave vent to his disannointDont IN ab,.;ro