Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

siderable apprehension at the north re-
gardins the attitude of
ATTITUDE OF the Indians in the west
rl: ern states and territories.
Some of the Cherokees,
Creeks and -Seminoles affiliated with the
secessonists. In The Star of December
o. 1861. is news article telling of a con-
ference in this city on the subject:
This afternoon the commissioner OF
Indian affairs brought up to the Secre
tary OF the Interior a delegation of eight
Cherokees, Creeks and Seminoles. sent
hither by friends of the Union cause in
the respective nations. to examine and
report at home, in due time. the actual
state Of affairs in the eastern part of
the United States-that is, as to the
power of the government to maintain it
self against the rebels. They explained
through interpreters the circumstances
under which their nations had apparent
ly joined the rebel cause: the fact that
our troops had been Withdrawn from
| among them: that even the semblance of
United States authority had seemed to
cease there. and that the rebel authori
ties had urged that the only government
left in our country was theirs, which
stood ready to be to them precisely what
ours had been: and further that they
gave assurance of making war on the
tribes unless they consented to the pro-
posed change of their allegiance. They
expressed surprise and satisfa ,tion at
finding affairs so different from what
they had been led to believe and the con-
fidence that on their return home their
explanations. especially if backed by the
appearance of United States military
authority in that quarter would at once
bring all their respective nations earnest
ly up to the work of sustaining the
Union cause Secretary Smith addressed
them in appropriate remarks concern
ing the state of the country, their duty
to the United States. and the prospects
of the war, etc. They are to have q
similar interview with the President this
doubtless be conducted across the river
to see for themselves something of the
military strength of the government, ere
departing for the great west
A good deal of difficulty was expert
| enced in the handling of the war balloons
that We're in use with the
Ra1lonn Army of the Potomac in the
early stage of the war, ow-
WORK. ing to unfamiliarity with
that mode of field observation. In The
Star of December II, 1851. is paragraph
telling Of an Improvement which was
expected to make the balloons much
more efficient:
Much Inconvenience has attended the
operations of Prof. Lowe in making Cd
servations at points distant from the
city from the fact that his balloons had to
be inflated in the city and transported
to the point where the observations were
to be made-a slow and tedious process.
This will now be obviated, as portable
gas generators have been constructed
and are now ready for service. Two of
| them, Nos. and ., are now in the city
| and attract much attention in Armory
| lot. The apparatus is contained in
| box very much resembling the cages used
| by itinerant showmen for their curiosi-
| ties and being fixed upon fouI-wheeled
| carriage, strongly constructed, the whole
machinery. balloon and attachment. may
| be transported to any point as easily as
| an ordinary train wagon"
From the beginning of the war amateur
strategists were busily engaged preparing
schemes for the conquest
| Amateur of the south. which We're
laid before the authorities
0tAoIe6y. at Washington in great
number, to their mingled amusement and
embarra ssment. One of the most persist
ent propounders of these military plans
was one Charles Elicit. jr., who at about
this time fifty years ago published PAM
phlet one of a series from his pen. Sc
verely attacking Gen. Mcclellan and pro-
posing his own plan Of campaign. 1t is de-
scribed in The Star of December IA. 1861
His plan is substantially as follows: 70
end the campaign by pitting single regi-
ment against the rebel army on the other
side of the Potomac; to land somewhere
about AQUA creek regiment at one or the
nearest points to the Orange ana AleXan-
dria railroad: to push 1t as rapidly as
possible up to the line OF that work, ana
cut down the telegraph wires there ana
to seize the first passing train-all. of
course without the knowledge OF the reD-
els wherever in force. His regiment was
then to steam down to Gordonsv1lle, oe-
stroying the bridges. etc. peh1nd them
and there to seize another passing train.
One-half of the regiment was then to pro-
coed on the last seized train in the direc-
ton of Lynchburg. burning the bridges
behind them, while the other half was to
Journey on the first seized train in the
direction of Richmond. also burning the
bridges behind them. BY such means he
expected to cut off the supplies and rein
forcements of the rebel army: forcing
them to scatter in double quick time.
It is needless to say that this brilliant
proposition was not adopted by the United
States government, which had no regi-
ments to spare in doubtful experiments
just at that time.
y
x :.
In The Star of December H. 1861. is an
account of the first execution of a soldier
for desert'Cn in the POto-
Deserter mac army since the out
Shot. w;,,ism n Johnson a
private in the Lincoln cavalry. having es-
capped from his own camp. found his way
10 the headquarters of another command
which he thought to belong to the enemy.
and there gave the officer in command in
formation which would have been OF great
importance to the Confederate cause. He
was arrested, tried and sentenced to
death, the execution taking place on the
afternoon of December 13 in the presence
of 1900 soldiers of Gen. Franklin's dlvi-
Sion AS an example TO the army the
prisoner was placed in a cart seated upon
his own coffin. and thus sent around TO
the various encampmentS of the DIVISION,
the troops being drawn into line and the
varjouS rapimental hands Dlaying fu-