The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-12-20
From Columbus.

which would not be totally devoid oil In
terest, but, owing to the exceeding dull
ness of the times, have discovered my
collection of important events and start
ling facts to be almost as small as when
began TO hoard them, and have detcrmin
ed to w,it no longer--but dot down such
items as may present themselves for the
occasion. We have had some very dis
agreeable weather of raining. snow
ing, and sleeting alternately. twas very
amusing to see some of our Louisiana
boys trying for the first time their hand
at snow-baling. Some of them had new
er before seen snow lying on the ground
in such quantity, and were therefore per-
-fsotly -ienorant of the much admired
sport Of snow balling. From the natural
dread they exhibited of the article per Sc,
and the antic manUuvres displayed when
stricken in the face or on the head. was
fully convinced that fifty or sixty of our
East Tennessee girls could have combat
ted successfully in the frozen element the
whole regiment and put them to on in
glorious fight. Success to the brave and
gallant boys who prefer. the Mimic balls
to fly around their heads, to those of
snow. "e' Us Hn'aYf Q .!1J 4..i
The 18th Arkansas Regiment has been
sent from here to New Madrid for the
purpose, understand, of fortifying and
holding the same The 18th Louisiana
Vols. arrived here few days since, and
from the looks of the men bid fair to do
effective service in the coming strife
One company Of French Zouaves, dressed
in full Zouave costume, by their singular
appearance so shocked the delicate SEN
sibilities of an old Kentucky lady, who
was, at the time of the arrival Of the 18th
Louisiana, standing at the steam boat
landing, she was forced (so l presume)
from extreme delicacy to exclaim: "Oh,
bless my sodl-why didn't they put some
thing over them abominable red drawers?
They surely must have thought nobody
lived in town." (Columbus.) 1t was sug.
gested before leaving New Orleans that
the c. G. C's, the company to which be.
long, should don the Zouave .parapher
MALTA, an idea which tickled me consider.
ably at first, although 1 had seen the
counterpart in the dashing bloomer SC
extensively in vogue in Southern cite:
some time since, but after hearing the
opinion of the ladies in this section, au
truly glad the idea was not adopted-and
l am tempted henceforth to oswear agains'
the "swaddling Clothes" ~ y Il ase
Commodore Hollins is here with hi
fleet from New Orleans, and his valian
Manassas, alias Turtle, alias Cigar, Of low
er Mississippi notoriety, creates no little
astonishment among her eager spectator
on account of the novelty of her con
struction, and complete success as an in
fernal machine of Southern invention
The object of this fleet coming to thi
place, whether to resist an attack expect
ed from above, or in anticipation of q for
ward movement from this place, must re
main for the present subject OF conjec
ture. Several deserters from the Fedora
camp opposite Cairo, have arrived within
the past few days in Columbus. From
these deserters we learn that the Federal
are more apprehensive of an attack from
us than we from them, owing to our pre-
parations in this place, and the sudden ap
pearance of Commodore Hollins fleet
Probably their fears were supposed not t.
be entirely groundless by them on &C
count oil the unexpected demonstration
of our feet upon Fort Holt q few even
ings since. 1t is my opinion from infer
enco from circumstances that unless tn
attack is simultaneous at Bowling Green
or other points of strategic importanc
with this, this place will not be attack
ed, and if then, more as feint than rea
attack-as the strength of this position
too well known to them since the receI
ton we gave them at Belmont. While
express myself thus, am not unawar
that Gen. Pillow is expecting an attac'
on this place daily, but as to the groun
of his apprehension l am totally ignol
ant; more than the efficacy which on
would suppose to exist in the simultane
Gus attack above mentioned. Yet W
should not do their planning, nor sur
pose them to know our weak points, ful
ther than to leads us to make proper de
fence but not deter us from an onwar
movement if circumstances render it ex
pedient. As Price and McCulloch pres
the red column ofwar on toward st. Lou
is, fear begins to do its work upon tn
Federal mind, and the cry of "down tn
Mississippi" will be hushed so long as III
secession giant stalks SO threateningl
through Missouri. We are receiving lunl
ber at this place, and signs Indicate pref
aration for winter quarters. Capt. Jane
Veutris has been elected Major Of tn
llth La. Regiment in place of the ga
lant Butler, who fell fighting nobly at tn
battle of Belmont. Our men are in fin
spirits, which is no doubt partially tn
consequence of the extraordinary goo
health enjoyed by them in camp.
Several regiments Of Kentuckians hav
offered their services TO the Con!ederat
Estates in this section, for the purpose Z
q successful prosecution Of the war, and
speedy redemption Of Kentucky fror
abolition thraldom. JULIUS.
lra Free Press.
The 81. Louis Christisn Advocate says
Nearly or quite sixty. newspapers in th
| loval Rtafee havo been suppressed sine