The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-06-27
"Tempting Proyidencs. d

Acotemporary saysitis, perhaps, chiv-
alrous fault Of our most gallant and yalua-
bic officers that they make themselves
too Conspicuous in the battles front by.
placing themselves in the van OF their
men, shd encouraging them to the as,
sault on the enemy by waving their
swords and hats. thus drawing the
beads " of the Yankee sharpshooters
upon their persons, as was the case. in
the battle Of the Cbickabominy. This
exhibition Of bravery may be very neces-
sary as an Inspiration to the rank and
file, and ia highly commendable in Off.
GERS Of all but the first rank but com.
mapder-in-chief at least should estimate
his value TO the cause and 70 his com
mand, and weigh it with the probable adj
vantages to'be gained by the sacrifice Of
his e-,A Ises- FSesz .-si- =. tiAi-e -
tempting Providence too.far, II is said,
of the late Turner Ashby that he was
fatalist; that a special Providence was,
exercised in his favour, which would pre-
serve him till his mission was done and
his time come. And, indeed, his many
wonderful escapes from death, when it
seemed most inevitable, stamps his belief
with the seal of plausibility. But he
tempted Providence too far, and fell.
We might enumerate other cases that
have occurred in this war, but they will
readily present themselves to every read
er. Generals who, after running the
gauntlet of an hundred death-searching
messengers, eyading them in turn. are
cut down at last while tempting Provi-
idence too far.
The engineer on the railroad, the ope-
rative in the powder mill, grow reckless
under repeated escapes, and toy with
deaths agents until, at moment, by a
lack of water in the boiler and spark of
fire in the powder, they are both blown
out of existence. 49,
Men of morbid minds most desire 10
die by the instrumentalities they en-
ploy in their life occupations, and carry
) with them presentiments of their fate
: They grow resigned as life wears on, and
carry no shield of caution to ward of
r their destiny, just as if it was inevitable
and impending. Thus the soldier. has
Il reasonable expectation OF dying in battl
n by steel or shot, the sailor in the sea, an
q the manufacturer of Illuminating powde
d in his laboratory and Providence has n
le succour for them. /" Prudential prese
rs vations from death" is term not to
'f. taken in its literal sense.
no Washington. came highest of any i
ne s:--s,-Al-A-is~i;-zi 1855 r--.>.-
ne century the object of supernatural p
an lection, and every school child in Am
IN lea has been taught to believe him SO.
10 But time and history has thrown such !
nance around bis image that IL nc
p stands in every niche in the land Il
o. demi-god of our liberties-son,ethir
X above humanity. The plain fact, mo
. probable is, that, though surrounded
'e danger, he did not tempt Providence tc
Y far, and lived.
a. The Yankee Generals have learned
"a respect Providential interference to
: nicity. In fact, they don't tempt Prov
10 dence at all, and hardly run themselvt
u within range of MIME bullet and. ma
u ural occurrences"
i, The Quickest Way to End the WA
!, A good story is told about Congress
W cupnher IF whom Dr0caeded