The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-12-26
The Battle of the Rappahannock

The Battle of the Rappahannock.
All the circumstances considered, the
battle of the Rappahannock is the most
important and decisive of any that has
been fought during this gigantic war. 1t
has been a matter Of common remark
that the war has been more barren Of re-
suits than any known to history, notwith-
standing the many and bloody battles
which have beer fought. This fact has
all been on the side of the South, and of
right, because it is the Abolitionists who
have been seeking positive results, name
ly, to subjugate and destroy the people Of
the South. 1t is great result. in itself,
for the Confederates that their obstinate
courage, high spirit and stubborn endu-
rance have held at bay the cohorts OF
tyranny and prevented them from carry
ing out their fiendish purposes. But the
battle of the Rappahannock was fought
by Burnside under positive orders from
Lincoln to press right onward to Rich
mond, at any and every hazard, by the
way of Fredericksburg. He was told to
fight desperately and with the determine
ton to make a clean victory or q clean
defeat. The Federal papers heralded
the movement, in advance, as a certain
achievement of success, and announced
that Burnside's army would make its en-
trance into the Confederate Capital be-
fore the Goth of December. This redoubt-
able chieftain crossed the Rappahannock
ana zzc0nntered the steady and heroic
legions of the modern Washington, Gen.
Lee, only to meet with terrible slaughter
and decided defeat of his grand army.
He re-crossed the Rappahannock in a
stormy night, thus sneaking off from
the foe whom he had so lately boGstf,,llv
threatened to overrun. These circum-
stances can not out produce a powerful
moral effect in the North, by demonstra-
tip3 to tie people there what delusions
Their villainous rulers have been practic-
ing upon them, in pretending to possess
such extraordinary power and proves in
REFRESHING the rebellion and accomplish
ing their infamous purposes. They will,
in corresponding degree, raise the con-
fidence and elate the spirits of our own
people, who are now prepared soberly to
estimate the advantage Of victory won
with such skill and valor, and with COM
paratively such little loss on our side, al
belt the blood that was shed by our hero
ic soldiers is richly worth all the worth
less blood of every Abolitionist in Yam
keedom.
The value Of this great victory may be
better estimated by reading the following
extract from leading article of the New
York Times, on the absolute necessity TO
the Abohtionists of taking Richmond
In this article, the Times declares that
Richmond is the heart of the Confedera-
cy, and that the rebellion can never be
crushed without its capture. 1t then
proceeds to deliberately urge upon the
government to concentrate half a mil
lion OF men for this purpose, and not frit-
ter away its strength by dividing its col
umns all over the South. The article
concludes thus:
Let US then strike with our utmost
force upon the rebel capital, as Napoleon
did upon Moscow and the allies upon
Paris. Not soldier should be moved in
a different direction, until the numbers
here are mighty enough to put this SUI
preme, this vital success beyond all con-
tingency. The third attempt will, in all
human probability, be the last one. At
least the foreign powers will consider it
the sovereign test. Woe to the republic
if it fails, and triple woe to the admins
tration through whose short coming such
fallue can alone come, if it come at all.
The "SovEREIGN TEST" has failed-ig-
ANONYMOUSLY failed. What will be the
next dodge of the baffled Williams at
Washington city?