The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-01-30
From Cumberland Gap.

Friend IUiHs-l our valuable paper binds
its way occasionally 10 this mountain pass,
and is borrowed and re-borrowed, and
read and re-read until entirely worn
out. ! see you are not .fapored with any
special army correspondents" and
concluded you might be interested in an
item or two from this branch of the YAM
kee destroyer. ! do not expect to give
you any important news-I know you do
not expect any from this meek of the
woods" No Yankees in a thousand miles
Of this place that we know of, the decla.
ration of the Richmond Examiner to the
contrary Notwithstanding; and feeling We
ry safe with Humphrey" blockading the
Gap above US, may have time to fill up
my letter with many complaints, and, as
think, just ones.
The Richmond Examiner is, think, an
alsrmist, and says many foolish things;
yet he "hits the nail on the bead" some
times. His structures on the Exemption
Bill of the last Congress are Just, and ey-
cry editor should take the subject in
hand and press it upon our Representa-.
tives until they take some action. There
are two classes of individuals in the co. NJ
try, one as odious to every patriot as sac
other. One class, which | shall desig,f e
as the first, are open sympathiSrrs %ssh
the enemy, as plainly manifested the 9th
err day when the Yankee prisoners passed
up the railroad. Why such are permitted
TO stay among us, am unable to see
Why not do them like Lincoln does the
rebel sympathsers" in and about WASH
ington2 Send them beyond the lines
The second class are ardent Southern men,
as manifested in many ways. Some plan
ming, fighting and winning brilliant vic
tories on the treet-corners-some riding
over the country hunting up clothing for
the naked soldier, but never cd it-some
toilng in the shoe shop ms featuring
good shoes for the bareGooted, selling them
to the government at very reduced price,
not making any money only making eX-
penses, giving their whole time for the
benefit of their glorious country-some
making government barrels--some hold
ing State offices, which cannot be left va
cant--some one thing and some another;
and all are thus engaged purely from pat
riotic motives. And ninety-nine hun
dredths are young men, ableybodied men,
who can do military duty, and stand it
better than thousands who are now in the
field and who would be in the field per-
forming their duty if their professions of
patriotism come from behind their teeth.
Now, sir, our army needs the service of
every young man; and 1t is your duty, it
is my duty, it is the duty of every lover
of his country to brand all these patriotic
Office holders, shoe-makers, barrel-mak-
ers, overseers oftwenty negroes, flour and
bacon spectators pretending to have 60
vernment contracts, as hypocrites and
vile pretenders, preying upon the vitals
of our Confederacy, unless they at once
enter upon the duties incumbent upon
them as citizens Of the South, take their
arms and knapsacks and help these poor
soldiers, for whom they seem TO have so
much sympathy, end this contest. ! hope
Congress Will 60 ahead in the work al
ready begun, and press the last one ofthem
into the service. There aIe plenty of old
men to fiji all the offices, and every man
able for duty should be enrolled and then
such detailed as are necessary for the
public service.
One other subject wish to mention,
and which | think you ought to urge up
on our Representatives Il believe we have
one and that is to devise some niews 10
improve the soldiers ration. If wses 10
tell you the kind Of meat we have Is eat,
you would scarcely credit it. Oh! that the
Confederacy would use her F0Ots on our
Commissariat until he mends his way of
doing There can be no other Gauss for
so much sickness in as healthy a locality
as this, but the tainted meat the men
have to use. We have had some new Ba-
con, and it is no better than the old,
tell you there has been many soldier
consigned to his last resting place t y eat
ing the bacon put up by some of those
enterprising gentlemen called govern
ment contractors" The soldiers have to
eat it or starve-as sometimes they are so
situated that they cannot buy from the
country.
see from today's paper that some steps
are being taken to allow the soldiers COM
putation in money for the rations they
fail to receive in kind. 1t certainly ought
to be done, and then he would be able to
buy something to eat without using his
wages, and would thereby be enabled to
assist his family.
But enough for the present, hoping
that some evils now in existence may be
soon remedied. We cannot expect every
thing to be just as we would wish it. Our
prospects are by no means gloomy-in-
deed we have much to be thankful for
God has blessed us with bountiful hand,
and if we expect to have His help we
must also help ourselves. A united eff
fort will work out our salvation. Let us
have it. Yours, with respect, Y.
Decatur Mail.
Editor Athens PoSt-Dear Sir-Although
MT uiynn IN tho OriIn, hlipg unno1 vpt