Evening star., 1911-05-28

The camps OF the troops in the neigh
borhood OF this city were objects OF
great interest to the
Rhode Island residents of Washing
ton In the early days of
AiVVPs. the civil war. In The
Star of May 20. 1851. is the following
description Of one of these military
establishments:
The Rhode Island boys are now COM
fortably installed In their new quar-
ters near Glenwood cemetery. where
they rejoice in plenty Of fresh air and
room for exercise. The camp is con-
structed of plank and divided into
streets and avenues. each bearing an
appropriate name The buildings are
ornamented with quaint titles, such as
Chateau des Plomb Morris only Nine
Miles to the Junction. Lincoln House.
Woonsocket Hotel etc The roofs are
covered with felt and the entrances
tastefully ornamented with curtains Of
red. white and blue. With the usual
ingenuity OF Yankees. several have dug
small cellars beneath the floor. where
they keep their provisions as cool as
"a cucumber In an establishment bear
ing In large capitals The Sprague Boys
extremely sedate crow. whose atten-
ton seemed to be wholly absorbed In
comparing a peacock's tail with his
own plumage. save an occasional glance
OF fneffable disdain at visitors, as If
none but uniforms deserved his notice
The battery is posted in the rear OF
the camp and seems to be the chief OBJ
Ject or attention. These infants (as
the boys style them) are alone worth
IN tn yfntf
were really anxious to kill somebody.
Their shells are fired by means OF a
small percussion cap arranged upon the
inside. which fires the contents as soon
as the shell meets any obstacle. The
gunnerS think that with ball an
enemy could find 1t unhealthy within
four miles of them and at close quar-
ters they could dispose Of them with
their canister shot just as fast as thew
coulo furnish customers. These guns
can De nred four times a minute with
out cessation for any length of time.
and, arranged with telescope sights.
can take Off a man at almost any range.
The Rhode Island boys think they are
10 remain In their present quarters
ior some time and express regret that
they did not reach there early enough
to get in patch OF vegetables. All
hands are spiling' for fight and are
determined to stay three months. three
years or longer II necessary"
S:
Tho expected conflict near Fortress
Monroe opened Saturday, the 18th OF
May. 1851. the news being
naval printed In The Star of the
Ao+;o,, 21st, having been brought up
the river by the steamer
F'reeborn. the flagship Of Commander
Wards fiotilla. organized to chase priva-
teers The steamer Star, formerly the
Monticello, went out from Hampton
roads to shell the Confederate works at
Sewalls point and Craney Island. where
the guns taken from the navy yard at
Norfolk had been mounted. The con-
fiict was indecisive. but furnished a dra-
matte prelude to the exciting scenes en-
acted In the same waters later in the
course OF the war
Washington was served with an efYec-
tive reminder Of the fact that war was
on in earnest by the hap
Ellsworth penings at Alexandria May
v:,,.1 "a. 1861. when Col. Ellis
AA"' worth, heading a squad Of
his zouaves. who had been ordered to AL
exandria with other detachments to oc-
cupy the city, entered the Marshall
House to lower the secession flag which
James Jackson. the proprietor. had hoist
ed. The Star Of May "a printed the
story. thus telling the tragedy:
proceeding up town Col. Ellsworth
saw a secession flag waving over the
Marshall House. kept by James Jackson.
a we'll known secessionist. Instantly en-
tering the house. with four or Ave OF his
house top. tore down the flag and
trampled It on the roof. In descending
the stairs the party were encountered by
the keeper of the house, double-barrel
gun in hand. He raised the gun to shoot
the foremost ZOuave, who knocked aside
his aim. and Jackson instantly turned it
upon Col. Ellsworth, and. firing. dis
charged the load OF one barrel into the
heart of that gallant officer. who fell
dead upon the stairs. Jackson as quickly
snapped the other barrel at zouave
standing next to Col. Ellsworth, when
Private Brownell. another OF the zouaves
accompanying Ellsworth to take down
the flag. discharged the contents of his
musket into Jackson's brain. bayoneting
his body as he fell. pinning 1t to the
steps"
The affair at Alexandria aroused great
excitement in Washington. and rumors of
active fighting following
Rumore ~ the advance OF the federal
troops across the river
F1ghtlng. swept through the city.
In The Star OF May .. 1861. are printed
reports OF an engagement at tho south
end OF the Long bridge. The following de-
scription OF the situation gives an i'm
preston Of the animated scene In and
around the city:
SHORTY before pm. one Of our reliable
messengers reached The Star Office from
tho other side OF the river-direct from
the camp and intrenchments being thrown
up by the 18th New York Regiment All
was quiet there at that hour. On reach
ing ION his way to The Star office) tho
camps OF the Jersey regiments he found
them rapidly forming into line for a
movement to the relief OF the New York
18th. in consequence OF a rumor that that
regiment had been attacked. brought them
by some countryman who alleged that he
had just heard much firing around their
camp. Travelling toward Washington. On
reaching the 7th Regiments encampment
at the race course he found that regiment
had just. heard that the New Jersey camp
were in such commotion as to justify the
belief that they had been attacked On
crossing the Long bridge he met detach-
ments Of flying artillery and other
United States troops in full run for the
other side of the river: and between the
Long bridge and The Star Office the Mas
sachusetts 9th and another regiment close
sIyn thav,n Vprnr ,g,ey AAv~y ri No