Evening star., 1911-06-11
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR.

IOICeS pTlOT 10 tle
Southern opening of hostilities in Vir-
ginia In The Star of June
EV1ceS' 4, 1881. is the following par
agraph:
"It Is being said here that the dis
unionists are moving in considerable
force-some thousands-upon Leesburg,
Va. thirty-five miles from this city. from
which direction is not stated. If it be
true they can be marching thither only
either from Harpers Ferry Involving the
design OF abandoning that position with
out a struggle for its maintenance or
from Manassas Junction. If from the lat
ter point the purpose is to set into the
rear Of either Gen. Patterson or Gen.
Mcdowell. when they may move In the
direction they evidently aim to proceed
in-the first directly on Harpers Ferry
from Chambersburg. and the second to
Manassas Junction to cut off the retreat
Of Gen. JohnsOn's forces by rail. We do
not. however. credit the story, as. If true,
whoever directs the strategy of the dis
union troops would be insuring the defeat
Of his forces in detail, for Gen. Mcdowell
could as soon arrive before Leesburg by
a forced march as before Manassas juno
tion, and that. too, when 1t would be
those points to succor their friends at the
other point. Indeed, they could adopt no
surer way of expediting their own eventu-
al entire defeat in this vicinity than by
thus essaying to occupy positions distant
from each other and whence it will be
impossible for either Of their divisions
to support the other
X
Naturally, there were many wild, ur-
true, speculative stories afoat in the
early stages of the war.
False owing to the unfamiliarity
of the newspaper corre-
AepoiSs' spondents with military
matters. The Star was kept busy cor
recting these mistakes. In the issue OF
June 5. 1851, is the following example OF
this sort Of publication:
almost every Washington letter con-
cerning military affairs embraces more
or less errors of fact Of greater or less
New York Herald alleges that the rolling
stock with which the government is sup
plying the Orange and Alexandria rail-
road comes from the Baltimore and Ohio
road On the contrary, 1t comes from
Pennsylvania railroads. Another letter In
the same number of the Herald tells
cock and bull story of an attempt at in
surrection near Winchester. Va, some
nine days since in which three negroes
and white man were shot. etc We nave
wholly destitute Of truth-positive. Again:
recent number of the New York Trib-
une contained an account OF second
attack upon Fairfax Court House by a
company Of United States cavalry and
the rescue Of two prisoners, which was
a wholly imaginary affair. Further: A
letter in the Tribune represents the Mr..
Washington taken prisoner at Fairfax
Court House as captain in the d1sunlon
service and as being the son of Col.
washington. U. S. A. The truth is he is
a youth not of age and holds no COM
mand and his father was drowned years
and years ago"
In The Star Of June 6. 1851, is printed
an extract from an exchange calling at
tention to a circumstance cal
Unlucky culated to appeal strongly to
superstitious persons:
0ay' 1T is very singular that in
this most unlucky war every prominent
movement has taken place on the most
unlucky day-Friday. The bombardment
of Sumter was commenced on Friday; the
troubles In Baltimore took place on Fri
day; the first and bloodiest riot in st.
Louis occurred on Friday; the attack on
SewaIrs point was made on Friday; the
attack on Alexandra was made on Fri
day. and Ellsworth was shot on Friday.
It has all been q Friday business"
Another mishap was even then due Fri
day. In The Star of Saturday. June :,
1861, is a quotation from the Baltimore
American of that morning telling OF
mishap at Locust point the day before.
when the great gun Union, weighing
80. 500 pounds, intended for service at
Fortress Monroe was accidentally dropped
overheard in twelve feet Of water from
the schooner Barrille. which had been
prepared to carry 1t down the Chesa-
peake.
X
The occupation Of the Capitol by troops
during the first stages Of the military
preparations in this city did
CanitOl not improve the appearance
OF that building. The SOL
OAedAou. diers were moved out. how
ever, in good time for the reconvening OF
Congress in extra session. In The Star
of June 8. 1881. is the following:
"All the troops save a few necessary to
guard the apprOacfe to the grounds have
been removed from the Capitol, and the
work Of cleaning for the approaching ses-
sion Of Congress is now in full blast. On
the lower floor the long and spacious
passages are almost completely bloc ed
up with barrels of -four, leaving only SUI
ficient space for two persons to pass
abreast, consequently no cleaning has
yet commenced in that portion of the
building. But on the floor of the Senate
and House. In the galleries. committee
rooms and adjoining passages. although
but one dose of soap and sand has been
applied, all grease. tobacco and filth.
which SO much abounded a few days
since, has completely disappeared. and
another application will fully restore the
rooms to their pristine neatness and
beauty. The large mirrors. gorgeous
chandeliers and magnificent frescoes are
as bright and sound new, and but lit
tie remains to remind the visitor of the
1900 men who occupied the building at
one time. The white Italian marble of
the Speakers desk is as pure and bright
as when first polished, and the seats in
the galleries show not scratch or cut,
Notwithstanding the whiting propensi-
ties of the Yankee boys"
MAJOR PIERRE CHARLES L'ENfANT