Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-16

Early In the civil war there was con-
siderable skirmishing In the immediate
vicinity Of Washington,
Brush at so that jewellers in the
o.r,, region around about the
u1eat EailS.capital had q view OF ac-
tual hostilities In The Star Of July S,
1861. is a description Of a skirmish at
Great Falls: .
Yesterday Sunday morning at an
early hour a considerable body Of seces-
sionists made their appearance at the
Great Falls. opposite Maj. Gerhardt's
command, Sth German Battalion, Of about
200 men, and commenced firing. Maj.
Gerhardts Battalion returned the fire and
after the exchange of a few volleys, mo-
body hurt the enemy retired, but return
ed again in the afternoon about s O'Clock
with reinforcements comprising a body Of
cavalry. The firing was kept up with
spirit on both sides for several hours and
two men of Maj. Gerhardts command
were MORALLY wounded and have since
died. Privates George Riggs and Martin
Ohl No other men were wounded on our
side. but Maj. Gerhardt's shareholders
emptied several saddles on the other side
and suppose they must have killed at
least a dozen before the enemy retired.
A company of Federal cavalry passed
through Georgetown this morning at 2
O'Clock In pursuit of the secessionists.
The firing from the other side was all
along the shore. from near Dickey's tav-
ern to above the falls"
great sensation was caused in Wash
ington at this time fifty years ago by the
circulation Of a report
Flag OF that overtures had been
w. opened by the Confed-
crates for a settlement of
differences. This was traced to the re-
ceipt of letter from the President Of the
Confederate States, sent to Washington
by flag of truce. The Star of July 8.
1851. thus tells the story:
Yesterday, while Col. Andrew Porter,
U. s. A.. was scouting at the head of a
party Of eighteen in the immediate vicinity
of the disunion lines on the other side of
the river, party Of twenty-five mounted
disunion troops was observed approaching
them. Col. Porter Immediately placed his
men in position for brush and awaited
their nearer approach. Perceiving when
they got in hailing distance of him that
one Of them had In his hand, trailing, a
white flag, he demanded that they should
halt where they were and explain their
errand. They came to q halt and de-
clared that they bore an important COM
| munication from Davis to the President
of the United States. Col. Porter re-
quested them to dismount and approach
with 1t on foot. a measure OF precaution
rendered necessary by the fact that the
officer bearing the flag was accompanied
by larger escort than that twelve mem
incident to the presence of flag of truce.
His request was complied with and he
found their representation correct The
disunion officer proved to be Capt. Tom
Taylor Of Frankfort. KY, who bore a
sealed letter from jeff Davis to President
Lincoln. according to a representation
upon its back. written and signed by
Beauregard at Manassas explaining the
fact and asking that Capt. Taylor might
be facilitated in his mission. Col Porter.
accordingly sent Capt. Taylor and his
missive forward with an officer and an
orderly and directed Uncle Sambo's es-
cort to return forthwith into their own
lines. himself and the picket guard with
him following them for some distance to
see that that direction was properly car
ried out.