The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-03-06
Athens, Friday, March o, tsG3.
"The News"


ties from Middle Tennessee, that on last
Sunday Gen. Van Dorm, with his cavalry
and two parks ofartillery, attacked Frank
lin, where the enemy was posted in force,
and after severe engagement captured
it, taking three thousand prisoners, to-
gether with large amount of stores, mu-
nitions &c. All of which we hope may
turn out to be true. Franklin is eigh-
teen miles south west of Nashville.
The same paper states that an engage
ment had occurred near Readyville be-
tween a Confederate regiment and su.
perior force of the enemy, and that the
Confederates were finally forced to retire
with loss of txealy killed apd wounded,
1t is stated tlmtwherever the Federals
have possession in Middle Tennessee,
they are committing the most wanton de-
struction, despoiling the farms of every
thing they can lay their theving hands
upon. Hundreds of farms have been
stripped of every thing, thefencing burn
ed and are now waste and idle. Rosen-
cranz is reported as being at Nashville,
confined TO his bed with fever.
From the Mississippi, the report of the
capture Of the Federal gunboat, Indianola,
is confirmed. With that exception the
advices are without special Importance.
We learn from an officer just in from
Vicksburg that it is now doubted whe-
ther an attack will be made upon the
place at all There is good deal of sick
ness among the troops, but comparatively
few of theicases prove fatal The army
is subsisting upon beef as tailowless as
Pharoh's lean kline, and bread No ba.
con is issued.
From the South there is nothing of in
terest. Thepromised attack on Charles
ton and Savannah has not been made,
and it is now believed will not be until
the Yankees build six or eight more iron
. clads. There are frequent arrivals of YES
sells at Charleston and other Southern
ports, laden with goods, and running the
blockade seems to be almost an every day
business.
The Confederate steamer Nashville in
attempting to come into Savannah few
days ago, got on sand bar, and was de-
stroyed by the blockaders.
1t is said that the Yankee teachers at
Beaufort are in despNirlat the want of APP
probation on the part Of their sable pu-
pills, and threaten to abandon the expe-
riment. They have demonstrated that
they can reduce themselves to the level
OF the negro, but they will never be able
to elevate cuffee to the standard of the
white man.
From Richmond, we have little, very
little, that anyone need care about. The
exemption bill has passed the Senate
1t spoils the clause in the old law for the
benefit of overseers, and has another fea.
ture that will arrest attention and call
down blessings upon its originators and,
we hope, ernbalm their memories for fu-
ture reference. | provides, in substance,
that any farmer who has family of ten
white women and children, the precise
number that followed John Rogers to the
stake at Smithfeld, solely dependent up
on him for support, shall be exempt--if
he has only nine, he shall not be exempt,
but must toe the CONSUMPTION and leave
them to scratch for themselves. Happy
man, who can muster ten-unhappy he.
who, with all his well-intended ef
forts, can only count up nine, "wo-
men and children" Immediately after
the passage Of the bill the Senate went
intosecret session--and we'll it might.
A rrierd at Richmond writes that the
Northwestern humbug is about played
out.N There never have been any COM
missioners at the Confederate seat of gov
eminent, male or female, from that re-
gion, and there has not been the slightest
indication of an overture to our authori-
ties from that quarter. We never sup
posed there had. But we attach more
importance to the movements in the
Northwest than our friends at the Capt..
toll do. We, in East Tennessee, know
mope about popular sentiment in that re.
gion, the simple mention of which seems
\ TO horriiy the Richmond Enquirer so much.
The comings and goings from that direc.
tion are constant, and Postmaster Gene
raj Reagan's great Southern line is not
more certain than the hi monthly mails
from beyond the Ohio. The North west
means peace and reconstruction. If it
cannot get the latter peace anyhow, with
the privilege of free outlet to the world
ria the Mississippi That is the policy
foreshadowed in Valandigham's great
speech, which we pead with due care,
but have never reprinted for good and
sufficient reasons, and toreshadowed in
hundreds of popular meetings, through
the press, and even the pulpit. Conway's
speech indicates nothing--a mere dodge
to take the wind out of the democratic
sail. We are surprised that the Rich.
monites should be so stupid. Did they
think that the work of revolution, once
begun, would stop abruptly at the slave
line. II it had, the recoil would have
been terrible, overwhelming. They are
lust in The b abs Of the business but US
the work progresses, wdens and deepens,
we shall learn more and perhaps grow
wiser, especially at Richmond.
The currency question draes heavily in
d, ~ t-...t T. II. ..,..... Al. IL 80.