Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16
YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

NV AA ~ i XXAN
Sumter was fired on April IL, 1851
Owing to q heavy storm the telegraph
lines were demoraltzed and
The War the news did not reach
Washington in time for the
Begins. regular edition of The Star
OF that day. The issue Of April Ii. how
ever, contained the fateful tidfngs under
what would now be regarded as a modest
headline but which then was a sensa-
tional announcement, beginning: The
War Commenced" The dispatch itself
from Charleston, dated April II, read as
follows:
1.-The excitement prevailing here Tor
several days past rose to the very high
est pitch this morning, when It was as
certained that war had been actually
commenced and Fort Sumter attacked by
the forces of South Carolina. 1t appears
the 1lre was opened on Sumter about
o'clock this morning. with conslderaoie
spirit from the batteries on Sullivans Is
land (where Fort Moultrie is stuatey.
Cummings point. Morris Island and other
points. Maj. Anderson returned the hre.
and a brisk cannonading has been kept
up throughout the day after the hour OF
sending off this dispatch. We nave no
gard to the movements of the United
States vessels outside. The militia Is
under arms and the whole Of our popu-
lation are on the streets Every avaiia PIE
space facing the harbor Is nlled WIN
anxious spectators"
Further dispatches printed in the same
issue tell Of the progress of the lombard
n:ent. the opening of breach In the
walls of Sumter. an explosion OF the mag
azine and the increasing distress Of the
defenders. When The star went to press,
however. the Federal flag still waved at
the masthead.
X X
The intense excitement which the news
from Charleston caused in Washington
Is rejected in the
Troora in news columns Of The
Star OF the 18th of
washington. April. Two troops of
cavalry reached the city on the morning
of that day from Camp Cooper, Tex.-about
tered opposite the War Department and
| the other company on T. street. They
| had come overland 600 miles from Camp
| Cooper to Matagorda bay, where they
| embarked for Key West and New York
| BY way of Havana.
The various local militia companies
| were being enrolled into the service. but
l
| whether these volunteers could be used
| for any other than local defense. The
muster rolls of the militia companies
| were being carefully scrutinized to elm
/ the volunteers openly declared that while
| they were ready to fight for the defense
| Of the District they could not leave their
| business and families.
For the last two days." says The
Star of April 13. 1861, "the United
States Cavalry quartered
Capital at Birch's stable have had
rr,-a.a picket guards stationed
~~' at the various approaches
to this city. The force is exceedingly
| we'll mounted. and in moving about to
relieve their comrades every two hours
| attracts much notice. So far as we
can learn, the guard is stationed at the
| Chain bridge above Georgetown, at
Rock Creek bridge at Paper Mill
| bridge. at the Long bridge. at Ben
ming bridge, at Eastern Branch bridge
| and at the tollgate near Bladensburg.
What the government apprehends as
a reason for this precautionary meas
ure has not directly TRANSFERRED. but 1t
| is supposed to have something to do
| with the talked-of raid Of the seces-
military companies enrolled into the
service here the last two days are
quartered at their company armories
except the following: Metropolitan
patent office; Mechanics Union Rifles.
Capt. Rutherford. in the south wing of
the Capitol"
The following. printed in The Star
of the same date. had been clipped from
the Alexandria Gazette:
Fifteen boxes Of arms
In Old from the Colt factory in
u;. Hartford, directed to New
sAnA"' Orleans. passed through
| this city yesterday in charge Of Adams
Express Company.
THE appearance yesterday morning on
our streets, after the arrival of the north
ern mail boat, OF several members Of the
Washington Light Infantry, in full uni
form. who had, after being on guard ali
night, escorted some of their friends to
| this city. and who went back to WASH
ington during the morning, was the &C.
casion Of various conflicting reports.
THE cars on the Orange railroad went
out yesterday morning filled to their ut
most capacity with passengers for the
south. The stoppage Of the other lines
leading south, caused by the late severe
storm, has thrown the whole travel upon
this road, and SO great was the pressure
yesterday morning that the omnibuses
which connect the steamer George Page
and the cars were unable to accommo-
date those wishing seats and many footed
the entire distance
4 4
The following dispatch in The Star OF
April Is, 1861, is the first reflection OF
the effect I'm tho mort n.
Pennsylvania ern states Of the firing
Loyal. HARRISBURG. Apr,l H.
The announcement of the attack on Fort
Sumter was received here this evening
and produced a profound sensation. In
the legislature tonight, the war bill was
passed by both houses without an amend
ment. Gov. Curtin waited in the execu-
tive chamber to sign 1t and 1t is already
signed and become a law. The Charles
ton dispatches about the commencement
Of hostilities were announced In both
houses and produced a most intense
sensation. Mr.. Smith. democratic men,
Der of the house, after the Charleston
dispatches were read, changed his vote
to aye on the war bill. All the democrats
in both houses voted against it. The
bill appropriates 100000 for the purpose
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