The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-12-19
Athens, friday, December 10. 1859
''The News


A battle was fought last SATURDAY. on
the lines of the Rappahannock, between
the Federals under Burnside and q DOR
ton of the forces of Gen. Lee, which. ac-
cording to the latest reports, resulted in
favor of the Confederates, though the
engagement does not seem to have been
general and decisive, and another great
battle may occur upon the same ground
at any moment. The carnage was heavy
on both sides. All the particulars to
hand up to the hour of going to press
will be found in our columns
The battle yet TO be fought on the Rap
pahannock, We regard as involving more
important results. bearing upon the ques-.
ton of peace, than any. and all, since the
commencement of the war. IF Burir-
sides army should be whipped and de-
moralized, as we confidently believe it
will whenever the general Sight comes off,
it will terminate the winter campaign in
that direction, and by Spring the popu-
lar mind North, row in the transition
state, will be so thoroughly imbued with
the impossjbility of overruning, Selling
and holding the South, that Lincoln will
be forced to come down, or, to use his own
emphatic and euphonious language, to
"guv it up"
Advices from Middle Tennessee are
meagre and without large Importance
The Lynchburg Republican, of Tuesday,
reports terrible fight in the neighbor-
hood of Murfreesboro', in which the Con-
tederates were victorious. There is GER
tainly no foundation for the report-at
least none that we have heard of. We
suspect 'Old Reliable" has been paying
trip to 'Lynchburg town."
= In Mississippi affairs are beginning
to assume an imposing character, and
events Of great magnitude are daily look
ed for. At this time we feel easy in re-
gard to Virginia and Middle Tennessee,
but our hopes and fears will alternate for
awhile around VIcksburg and Mobile
President Davis, and. perhaps Gen. Jos.
E. Johnston, are now in Mississippi and
thrilling news from that quarter may
soon be heard. Large and formidable
fleets are lowering off the Southern At
lantic coast, and our friends must expect
to hear of occasional reverses wherever
the enemy's land and naval forces can
cooperate.
According to the dispatches, the Fed
erals are in heavy force at no great dis
tunce frop,ehe w aIdar. Railroad in North
Carolina. Last accounts represent them
to be in possession of Kinston-not King
ston-a small town on the Chowan river.
we believe, and which they have partially
destroyed. The reader is referred to the
proper department for particulars.
The Charleston papers report the enc
my as occasionally Smelling James Island,
with no other effect than an enormous
waste of Federal ammunition.
In East Tennessee things are quiet
enough. The conscript Is about played
out-or rather, the material upon which
it was intended to operate has pretty
we'll disappeared-seventy- per cent
of it having fed to Lincolndom, and the
remainder taken sanctuary in shoe
shops. slaughter-pens. tanneries. printing
offices. and other establishments and in
situations made sacred and holy by tn
exemption law. We are mighty fraid tn
pillow will have to stand still in the fun
row next year.
Thursday morning, the wires announc
call quiet along the lines in Middl
Tennessee; and that Rosencranz woul
not move from his base" until the Cum
berland is full enough for the gun boat:
There is slight rise in the Tennessee.