earth: then she would start with a convulsive throb, and gaze on her husband's face with looks as piercing sad as if she already saw him struggling in the halter, herself a widow, and her son an orphan. While the child, distressed by his mother's anguish, added to the pathos of the scene by the artless tears of childish suffering. Though Jasper and Newton were undaunted in the field of battle, their feelings were subdued by such heart-stirring misery. As they walked out into the neighboring wood, the tears stood in the eyes of both. Jasper first broke silence. Newton," said he, "my days have been but few; but I believe their course is nearly finished."

Why so, Jasper ?

Why, I feel that I must rescue those poor prisoners, or die with them, otherwise, the remembrance of that poor woman and her child will haunt me to my grave."

"That is exactly what I feel, too," replied Newton; "and here is my hand and heart to stand by you, my brave friend, to the last drop. Thank God, a man can die but once; and why should we fear to leave this life in the way of our duty?"

The friends embraced each other, and entered into the necessary arrangements for fulfilling their desperate resolution.

Immediately after breakfast, the prisoners were sent on their way to Savannah, under the guard of a sergeant and corporal, with 8 men. They had not been gone long, before Jasper, accompanied by his friend Newton, took leave of his brother, and set out on some pretended errand to the upper country. They had scarcely got out of sight of Ebenezer, before they struck into the woods, and pushed hard after the prisoners and their guard, whom they closely dogged for several miles, anxiously watching an opportunity to make a blow. The hope, indeed, seemed extravagant; for what could two unarmed men do against ten, equipped with loaded muskets, and bayonets? However, unable to give up their countrymen, our heroes still travelled on.

About 2 miles from Savannah, there is a famous spring generally called the Spa, well known to travellers, who often stopped there to quench their thirst. "Perhaps,” said Jasper, "the guard may stop there." Hastening on through the woods, they gained the Spa, as their last hope, and there concealed themselves among the thick bushes that grew around the spring. Presently, the mournful procession came in sight of the spring, where the sergeant ordered a halt. Hope sprung afresh in the bosoms of our heroes, though no doubt mixed with great alarms; for "it was a fearful odds." The corporal, with his guard of four men, conducted the prisoners to the spring, while the sergeant, with the other four, having grounded their arms near the road, brought up the rear. The prisoners, wearied with their long walk, were permitted to rest themselves on the earth. Poor Mrs. Jones, as usual, took her seat opposite to her husband, and her little boy, overcome with fatigue, fell asleep in her lap. Two of the corporal's men were ordered to keep guard, and the other two to give the prisoners drink out of their canteens. These last approached the spring, where our heroes lay concealed, and, resting their muskets against a pine tree, dipped up water. Having drunk themselves, they turned away with replenished canteens, to give to the prisoners also. "Now, Newton, is our time," said Jasper. Then, bursting like lions from their concealment, they snatched up the two muskets that were resting against the pine, and in an instant shot down the two soldiers who were upon guard. It was now a contest who should get the loaded muskets that

fell from the hands of the slain; for by this time a couple of brave Englishmen, recovering from their momentary panic, had sprung and seized upon the muskets; but before they could use them, the swift-handed Americans, with clubbed guns, levelled a final blow at the heads of their brave antagonists. The tender bones of the skull gave way, and down they sunk, pale and quivering, without a groan. Then hastily seizing the muskets, which had thus a second time fallen from the hands of the slain, they flew between their surviving enemies and their weapons, grounded near the road, and ordered them to surrender; which they instantly did. They then snapped the handcuffs off the prisoners, and armed them with muskets.

At the commencement of the fight, poor Mrs. Jones had fallen to the earth in a swoon, and her little son stood screaming piteously over her. But, when she recovered, and saw her husband and his friends freed from their fetters, she behaved like one frantic with joy. She sprung to her husband's bosom, and, with her arms round his neck, sobbed out, "My husband is safe-bless God, my husband is safe." Then, snatching up her child, she pressed him to her heart, as she exclaimed, “Thank God! my son has a father yet." Then, kneeling at the feet of Jasper and Newton, she pressed their hands vehemently, but in the fullness of her heart she could only say, "God bless you! God Almighty bless you!"

For fear of being retaken by the English, our heroes seized the arms and regimentals of the dead, and, with their friends and captive foes, recrossed the Savannah, and safely joined the American army at Parisburgh, to the inexpressible astonishment and joy of all.

THE State of Georgia, the most southern of the original members of the Union, lies between 30° 21′ 39′′ and 35° N. latitude, and between 81° and 85° 53′ 38" W. longitude. It is bounded on the north by North Carolina and Tennessee, on the east by South Carolina, and the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Florida, and on the west by Florida and Alabama. The Savannah River separates it from South Carolina, and the Chattahoochee forms a part of the western boundary, separating the lower half of the State from Alabama and Florida. The greatest length of Georgia, from north to south, is about 300 miles, and its greatest width, from east to west, about 250 miles.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Along the coast, and for about 100 miles inland, the surface is flat and marshy, resembling the lower part of South Carolina. Rice is largely cultivated here. A fine rolling country occupies the centre of the State, while the northern and northwestern parts are traversed by the ranges of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which vary in height from 1200 to 4000 feet. The southeastern part contains a series of swamps, having a circuit of about 180 miles, known under the general name of Okefonokee Swamp. This is one of the wildest and rankest tracts in the South, and abounds in alligators, lizards, cranes, snakes, etc. The coast is lined with a chain of islands, similar to those of South Carolina, which produce the Sea Island cotton. The

waters lying between these islands and the shore constitute an inner passage along the coast, and are navigable for light draft vessels.

The coast is deeply indented with inlets, some of which afford good harbors.

The Savannah River, which separates the State from South Carolina, is formed by the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It is about 500 miles long, and is navigable for large steamboats to Augusta, 230 miles from the sea. Ships ascend to Savannah, about 15 miles from its mouth. It is lined with fine cotton and rice plantations, and above Augusta is an excellent mill stream. The Ogeechee River flows almost parallel with it, and empties into Ossabaw Sound, a short distance south of Savannah. It is navigable for small vessels for 30 or 40 miles, and for flat-boats to Louisville, near the centre of the eastern part of the State. Its principal branch, the Cannouchee, is navigable for small vessels for 50 miles. The Altamaha River flows into the Atlantic, south of the Ogeechee. It is formed by the Oconee and Ocmulgee, which, rising in the northern part and flowing through central Georgia, unite about 100 miles from the sea, and form the Altamaha. The main river is ascended by ships to Darien, not far from its mouth. The Ocmulgee is navigable for small steamers to Macon, and the Oconee to Milledgeville, the capital of the State-each nearly two hundred miles from the sea. The Santilla and St. Mary's drain the extreme southeastern part of the State, and are navigable for small vessels for about 30 or 40 miles, and much higher for flatboats. The Chattahoochee River rises in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Habersham county, in the extreme northeastern corner of the State. Flowing southwest to West Point, it strikes the boundary between Georgia and Alabama, and turns to the south, washing the western shore of the State to its southern extremity, where it empties into the Appalachicola River, of Florida. It is about 550 miles long, and is navigable for steamers, from November to June, to Columbus, 350 miles from its mouth. The rapids begin at Columbus. The upper part of the river flows through the gold region of Georgia, and is a fine mill stream. The Flint River is its principal branch. It rises in the western part of the centre of the State, and flows southwest into the Chattahoochee, just above the mouth of that river. It is about 300 miles long, and is navigable for steamers to Albany. The other rivers are the Tallapoosa and Coosa, the sources of the Alabama, in the northwest, the Hiawassee, one of the sources of the Tennessee, in the north, and the Ocklockony and Suwanee and their branches, in the south, which flow into Florida.

i

MINERALS.

The minerals of this State are gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, manganese, titanium, graphite, antimony, zinc, granite, marble, gypsum, limestone, coal, sienite, marl, burrstone, soapstone, slate, jasper, amethyst, chalcedony, cornelian, agate, rose quartz, garnets, and several others more or less valuable. Diamonds are sometimes found. The gold region lies in the northern part of the State, principally in and around Lumpkin county. Until the discovery of gold in California, it was the principal source of our supply. Previous to the war, the General Government maintained a branch mint at Dahlonega, in the centre of the gold region. In 1852, $476,788 were coined at this mint. These mines are far from being exhausted, and are worked now with considerable profit.

"The white marble quarries of Cherokee county are of great extent, a portion of them affording statuary marble. The slate quarries of Polk county are now attracting much attention. The slate is considered equal to the Welsh, and is now being shipped to New York. The quarry is of enormous extent. Hydraulic cement, nearly white in color, and of excellent quality, is made near Kingston, Bartow county. The indications of petroleum in Floyd county are strong. That section has been thrown up in the wildest confusion. The formation is the lower silurian, abounding in fossils, and both the limestone and shale are highly bituminous. Iron ore abounds in Bartow and other counties."

CLIMATE.

The climate of Georgia is the most delightful of any of the far Southern States. The southern and southeastern parts are cooled by the sea breeze, and the mountain regions are, though severe in winter, delightfully cool in summer. The spring comes early and is pleasant.

SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.

The soil along the coast and the rivers is fertile, and produces almost any variety of food. About 65 or 70 miles from the coast, the Pine Barren region begins. This soil is naturally poor, but is easily fertilized. It produces valuable timber and naval stores. In the southwestern part of the State, the soil is light and sandy, but, although fertile, is easily worn out, and requires careful manuring.