The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-10-18
From the Potomac.
H AnMY or rnR Potomac,
Camp Blair, Va. Octobrt N. 1851

1pHe HdHorV Ne Athens I'on =. wish Ia
express through thc'Post, my thanks ana shat Of
my Company. TO- two Of your nobe-henrtcd Nc.
MINI ladies, Mrs. ----- and Mrs. ---s-, FOR their
generous contribution Of clothing to the members
Of my Company Tho articles were duly received
and tquithbly distributed. For this TIMELY and
volGptav donation, we htNc not words to.cxprcss
1.-THE dssplsrPtndc Of our hearts, nut the lind do
tnors may be assured tbatvhstier struggling upon
tho bloodstnino hfeld for,the inalonnble rights
of freemen or whether failing in the hast embrace
of liberty, The memory Of those fticfds we've left
behind Us; and who still so kindly remember us
though far away upon the tented fold, shall be
keptaufaainsto the last. All we have to offer
'yon yn return Is aso.jier's gratitude. and to
pledge you that VIC will stand bctwcch' you and
Our lovcd ones at home and the mcfcenary horde
that would dcseerntc the soil Of our noble, chiya.
rous Volunteer State, us long there is one froc-
man left to confront foc, or ms long as there s
ono strong arn left to deal blows in descuco Of
liberty and our sunny South. fhc bright cs-
cutchcpn Of Tenncssce's galant volunteers Mas
never been dimmed by disgrace and to day, when
tho morning drum beut alcng the lines of the
army Of the Po,oinar, Tennsssec's bnnly sons
answered. 10 the call, they responded tortlie sate
callJindcr our gallant leaders in Missouri. satfd
they answered to the reveiIle upon the dark and
bloody ground Of kentucky Youriay rest as
sured that Tcnnesseeens will in this, our second
War OF Independence. maintain bright and un-
sulltd our past glory and tepu1ation apeR every
felIwhcrc We shall mcct foem;tn, and hand II
down to onr posterity unimparcd while the bright
andcfIulgest rays Of liberty shall still continue
No rdeam'uroni the ofcsts of oar hill tops and its
gcnia;rqys continue to light up or fertile valleys
Orr future movements are shrouacd in mystery.
Our Generals wisely keep their own counsel. Our
camps, are daily rife with reports of marches,
couutermarchcs, skirmishes, &C., &c. II would
be useless as well us next to impossible to give
you even synopsis of the thousand and one ru-
mors that are aHoat. The past few weeks have
been spentin the somewhat dull routine Of camp
and picket duty alternately. Our Regiment is
just in from of picket duty upon small stream
called Atpuitink, tributary of Bull Run. We
Were posted at the ford of the creek where the
old Draddosk road crosses it. Marks of Brad
docks march through this then almost inpenc-
trable fores. aud his subsequent retreat are still
visible, although It fas been near Que hundred
years since the English General, with his boattcd
regulars, and our then youthful Washington, at
tbc.heaA Of tho cgitinontals, or, as they were de-
risively termed, Duckshns, passed along this
road with tho heavy tramp of an armed saiery.
1t was upon this road that the enemy transported
If tta;- ;uuf ,,r,nr IN fb,,tt &c
Manassas Plains. While out at this post, in com
pauy with Captain Saunders and several others,
y went some three miles beyond our picket line to
IA small village called Springfield, station the
Orange and Alexandria Rail Road. The cars are
not running TO this point from either direction
We have possession of the road in the direction
Of Manassas, and the enemy have it towards AL
cgaidris. Tho Yankees hnrc BEEN in possession
az the place arorticn Of the time. We deployed
skirnishcrs On either side OF the road and kept
sharp lookout ahead to gsarl against surprise
In this way VIC advanced as far as the above
named place, without finding the first Yankee
The Village was almost deserted, but one family
living in it. This thing of diminishing is rather
hazardous, being outside of our lines skirmishers
are liable to be cut Off by parties of the enemy,
or be picked off by their sharpshooters from adj
jsccnt hilltops or clumps of undcrbrush. The
evidences of civil war are painfully evident at
every stcp--dcsercd farm houses, stock roaming
atwill, fields Of corn with the fencing torn from
nround them. rugityes flying from their homes,
,exiles from,the family soof Verify, the Old Do
lnulan lhas sbarcd hor bosom to the storm, and
llcr soil hs. drank the blood of some Of her
noblcst sons.
II is impossible to give you any defnteinfor-
nation about the future movements Of our army.
Even if we knew it would not be policy that it
should he heraded abroad. / feel at liberty to
say. though, without the fear of impas;ns any
Information to the enemy, that you may LOOK out
for a decisive move within short time, and when
,5yc do come in collision with Lncoln:s ,hircings
,agdinstc will repeat the dose administered thom
lat Bull RIsl--rIaprk it.
The health of ms Company and .that of tho
centre Regiment is remarkably good--not more
than twenty-five sick ont Of entire Regiment, and
most of Them convalescent. i had not expected
to have occupied half this space when l COM
menced writing, but You will pardon this intru-
sion Of ysur friend, HAIRY Dill"
p. S,-We have Just received information that
the enemy are occupying Springfield in considcra-
BILE force, and are certifying themselves, Six
Regiments have been ordered there to dslodge
them. Our Brigade, consisting of the 10th and
18th Virginia, LIST Maryland and Sd Tennessee
Regiments, has been put under immediate march
ina. orJ,rs with throe DAYS provision. Our boys