The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-04-18
Message from President Davis.

10 Ae Senate and House Of Representatives Of
he Confederate States Of America:
The great importance of the news just
received from Tennessee induces me to
depart from established usage, and to
make to you this communication in adj
vance of official reports.
From telegraphic dispatches received
from official sources, ! am able to an
I.nounce to you, with entire confidence,
that it has pleased Almighty God to
crown the Confederate arms with a glori-
oss and decisive victory over our invaders.
On the morning of the 9th instant the
converging columns of our army were
commanded by its Commander-in-C Chief,
General A. 5. Johnston, in an assault on
tie Federal army, then enoamped near
Piksburg on the Tennessee river. After
a hard fought battle of ten hours, tha.
eHensy was driven in disorder from his
f<.saen aud pursued to the Tennessee
river, where, under cover of his gunboats,
he wasssat last accounts, endsavoring to
effect his retreat by aid of his transports.
The details of this great battle are yet
too few and incomplete to enable me to
distinguish with merited praise all of
those who may have conspicuously earned
the right to such distinctions; and pre-
fer to delay my own qualification in rec
ommending them to your special notice,
rather than incur the risk of wound;ng
the feelings of any by failing to include
them in the list. Where such victory
has been won, over troops as numerous,
as well disciplined, armed, and appointed,
as those which have just been so signally
routed we. may we'll conclude that one
common spirit Of unfinching bravery and
devotion to our country's cause must have
animated every breast, from that of the
Commanding General to that of the hum
blest patriot who served in the ranks.
There is enough in the continued pres
ence Of invaders on our soil to chasten
our exultation over this brilliant success,
and to remind us of the grave duty of
continued exertion until we shall extort
from proud and vain-glorious enemy
the reluctant acknowledgment of our
right to government But an all-wise
Creator has been pleased, while vouch-
safing to us His countenance in battle, to
atfiict us with a severe dispensation, to
which we must bow in humble submis-
sion. Th6 last lingering hope has disap-
peared and it is but too true that General |
Albert Sidney Johnston is no more The
tale of his death is simply narrated in
dispatch just received from Col. William
Preston, in The following words:
General Johnston fell yesterday, at
half past two o'clock, while leading
charge turning the enemy's
right and gaining brilliant victory. A
Mimic ball cut the artery Of his leg, but
he rode on till from loss of blood he fell
exhausted, and died without pain in
few moments. His body has been intrust-
ed to me by General Beauregard, to be
Iaken to New Orleans and remain until
directions are received from his family"
Ny long and close friendship with this
departed cheftain and patriot, forbid me
TO trust myself in giving vent to the feel
ngs which this sad intelligence has evok-
ed. Without dong injustice to the liv-
ing, it may safely be asserted that our loss
is irreparable, and that among the shin
ing hosts Of the great and the good who
now cluster around the banner of our
there exists no purer spirit, no
more heroic soul, than that of the illus
trious man whose death join you in la
nj
In his death he has illustrated the chas
racter for which through life he was con-
,picuous-that of singleness OF purpose
and devotion to duty. With his whole
energies bent on attaining the victory
which he deemed essential to his coun-
Iry's cause, he rode on to the accomplish
ment of his object, forgetful Of sell while
his very ife-blood vast fast ebbing away.
His last breath cheered his comrades to
The last sound he heard was
their shout of triumph. His last thought
was his countrys, and long and deeply
will his country.mourn his loss.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.