Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-28
civil, WAR
fifty VARS AGO TO-DAY
May "a, 1894 Federal Army Crossed the Potomac
From Washington and Advanced Into virginla-The Be-
ginning of Field Operations in the War

in the chain around washington. For
their colonel, they named it fort Corco-
ran.
While the two columns were crossing
the bridges and spreading out over the
Virginia hills. the expedition by water
to Alexandria was progressing favor
ably.
The troops to be moved by this nreans
were a small detachment of the list
New York regiment and the New York
Fire Zouaves d1th New York;, Col E. e.
Ellsworth. This regiment, composed
largely of New York firemen. was one
Of the best known among the volun-
teers in the capital, and it's young col
onel was very popular.
I The regiment had been encamped for
some days near the navy yard, on the
east branch of the Potomac. The scene
at the camp after midnight was thus
described by a correspondent of the New
York Tribune:
For more tnan an hour the encamp-
,ment was silent. Then it began to stir
again and presently all was alive with
action. At 2 o'clock steamboats, appear
ed off the shore, from one of (which
Captain Dahlgreen, the commander OF
the navy yard, came to announce that
all was ready for transportation.
1.-THE men marched forward in line,
and were drawn up by companies to the
beach. At that time the scene was ami
mated in the highest degree.
1.-THE vivid costumes of the men
some being wrapped from head to foot
in their great red blankets, but most
of them clad in their gray trousers and
Jackets and embroidered caps; the peaks
of the tents, regularly distributed. all
glowing like huge lanterns from the
fires within them: the glittering rows of
rifles and sabers; the woods and hills
and the placid river, which here meet
in exquisite proportion, Unfolding all
and all these suffused with the broad
moonlight were blended in such novel
picturesqueness that no man among the
throng could fail to be moved by It.
1.-THE embarkation was rapidly con-
Quoted, and was completed in two hours.
The entire regiment, excepting the small
guard necessarily left behind, nearly 1000
men, were safely bestowed and on their
way down the river by A o'clock, just as
the dawn began to shine over the hills
and through the trees"
OCCUPATION OF THE TOWN.
At Alexandria the steam war vessel
Pawnee was found anchored off the
town. to cover the landing. A demand
had already been made by her COM
mander on the Confederates in Alexan-
dria-a force OF ABOUT 0OO, IL was DeleNeu
to surrender, and negotiations were in
progress when Colonel Ellsworth's COM
mand arrived
Not being appraised of this fact, Colonel
Ellsworth at once landed his men and
posted guards. The Confederates' pick
cts retired as the Zouaves advanced,
and few shots were sent after them.
They withdrew rapidly to the railroad
station, where train was waiting, and
on this they escaped toward Manassas
junction. A small detachment of caval-
ry, about IS men, under Captain Ball. of
Virginia, having tarried too long. later
surrendered to the First Michigan as it
neared the town by land
Aside from Selling the rolling stock
at the railroad station, taking up a few
rails to prevent use of the road. and
cutting tile telegraph wires to the south.
there was little for the union me to do
in Alexandria.
The city had been peacefully sleeping
when they arrived, and hearing the few
shots fired at the fleeing pickets, its i'm
habitants had come drowsily from their
beds to see what was the matter.
They offered no resistance. though In
many a breast there was bitterness at
the sight of the invaders. This bitter
ness was to find expression In action in
one instance for before an hour of Union
occupation had passed the dashing young
colonel of the Zouaves was stretched in
death by the hand of a citizen of Alex
andria.
Copyright, 1911, Associated Literary
Press)