The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-04-17
body, but his spirit has long since joined
the redeemed hosts above.
CHAPLAIN.


Camp 43d Tenn. near Veksb'Gy,
April 5th, 1868.
Editor PoS:-We are having pretty wea
ther now. 1t is little cool. but fair. The
health Of the Regiment is tolersbly good
at present. There are a few lingering
cases, but in the main the health is i'm.
proving. and our men, with few excep.
tons, are in fine spirits. But, Mr.. Editor,
there is one subject to which | wish par.
ticularly to call the attention of the peo
pie of East Tennessee. mean the provi.
sion question. An impression has gone
abroad throughout that region, that the
Tennessee soldiers are really in starving
condition down here; and this impres.
sion has, am persuaded, grown out Of
the manner in which some men, i'm writ.
ing TO their friends, misrepresent things;
and then when thing Of that sort gets
started, it never loses any thing. Why,
sir, mems wives are writing to them to
know If they are not about to starye, and
what they must send them, &C. Now,
sir, how do you suppose these dear wives
and daughters must feel when they hear
such rumors as these, and are made to
believe that their husbands and fathers
are literally starving to death? | envy
not the feelings OF the man who can thus
crush the heart of his poor wife, already
burdened with grief as much as it can
bear, with such lamentables accounts a.
some are giving, even with slight grounds
for, much less where there are none
Now, do think these statements ought
to be corrected and the public mind dis.
abused. And, then, half the provisions
that are sent here is so spoiled that they
cannot be eaten, so that it is clear loss
to those at home and but little advantage
to them here. | have no doubt it would
in many instances, be moro praisewor.
thy act, and one that God would approve,
to appropriate those provisions to the
feeding of the wives and children of ma.
ny of the poor soldiers, who will doubt
less want for bread before the war closes,
seeing that the money-mongers have got
corn up to three and four dollars bushel,
instead of sending it down here where
the soldiers don't need it, Well, will
give your readers the facts in the CASE
There was while, grant, after we came
here that we got no meat but beef, and
that so poor that for the most part il
could not be eaten; but, then, we had
plenty of corn bread, and molasses, some
peas, some rice, and pretty plenty of su.
gar, and for some time we have been get
ting plenty of good pork; so you see there
is no danger Of starvation in this quarter
1t is slur upon our Government to talk
as some do, charging her with starving
her soldiers to death in the midst of plen'
ty. For I know she has got the provis
ions to keep us from starving, but she
may not always have it just at hand
when it is needed, II mean where the ar.
my is, owing TO the fact that so many
movements take place. But even should
we run short OF rations for few days
must we go and publish to the world
that we are starving, and break the hearts
of our friends with tales of wof trust
those who are guilty will learn more pru
dence in the future, and endeavor to cul
tivate more Of self sacrificing spirit
and one more worthy noble Tennes
seean.
If this does not weary your patience
you will hear from me on another subject
CHAPLAIN.