Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-14
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

I'm THE STAk
During March. 1880 the keenest inter-
est was felt in the operations on the
Mississippi. especially in the
Island endeavor to effect its open
M IN ing to the Federal gunboats.
~ Island No. 10 had made stub
born resistance, and the dispatches for
some time had dealt with the military
and naval maneuvers looking to it's cap
ture. In The Star Of April 8, 1852, Is
the announcement Of the Federal success
at that point under the headline, "A
Thrilling Dispatch" giving the text Of
the ohfcial announcement by Commodore
Foote to Secretary Welles:
MY telegram three hours since in
formed the department that Island No. 10
had surrendered to the gunboats Capt.
Phelps has this instant returned after
having had an interview with the late
commandant. I have requested Gen. Blu
ford, commanding the troops, to proceed
Immediately in company with two of the
gunboats and take possession of the is
land. The batteries on the Tennessee
snore have been hastily evacuated, where
we shall find, no doubt in the morning
large quantities Of munitions Of war. I
communcateo with Gen. Pope. who has.
under cover OF the two gunboats, which
calamity ran the blockade in the thun-
derstorm. crossed the river In force and
was ready, as we'll as the gun and mortar
boats, and with Gen. Buford and his
upon the rebels had they not 90 hastily
evacuated the Tennessee shore and sur
rendered Island No. 10. A full report
Will be made as soon as We can obtain
possession Of the land batteries, and
am in communication with Gen. Pope"
4 4
In the same issue Of The Star. April
8, 1852. is the first news from McClel-
lan's campaign in the
Peninsula Virginia peninsula, from
r.-~.;- which great results were
SanpeaeA' expected by the north.
cisive engagements. The Stars summary
OF the dispatches says:
AT 5 pm. yesterday (Monday) 1t was
known at Fortress Monroe that through
out the day Gen. Mcclellan had been en-
gagged at long range with the York
town Notifications. though the engage
ment was not brisk one, the firing on
both sides being occasional. No casual
ties to speak Of on our side were known
to have occurred up to the hour e pm.
there 1t is evident that Gen. Mcclellan
is proceeding as methodically and surely
with his work in hand on the peninsula
as Commodore Foote and Gen. Pope
We doubt not, however, that he will
make shorter work with his, as York
town can hardly hold out more than for
ty-eight hours longer"
4
Hard on the heels Of the announcement
Of federal victory at Island No. 10 came
the report Of the Union
Pittsburg success at Pittsburg Land
r,. ing. Tenn. In The Star Of
0AuAA6' April 8, 1892 are dispatches
giving the details OF this great engage
ment. One Of the dispatches reads:
1.-THE fight was brought on by a body
Of 800 OF the 10Th Missouri, the. right OF
Gen. Prentiss attacking the advance
guard Of the rebels, supposed to be pick
cts of the enemy. in front Of the camp.
The rebels Immediately advanced on Gen.
Prentiss. Our forces soon formed into
line. Hurbert's division was thrown
forward to support the center and q des-
perate conflict ensued. At 8 pm. the
rebels forced our left wing back so as to
occupy full two-thirds Of our camp and
were fighting their way forward with
desperate courage in their efforts to drive
US into the river. and at the same time
heavily engaged our right. Gen. Grant
and stan, who had been recklessly riding
along our lines the entire day amid a
storm If hn11ota Ynda from right n
left. melting our men to stand I'm until
reinforcements could cross the river.
The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which
lay q short distance of, kept raining shells
ragged till night During the night Maj.
Gen. Wallace arrived and took position
on the right, and Gen. Buell's forces from
the opposite side and Savannah now being
conveyed to the battle-ground, the entire
right Of Gen. Nelson's division was or
dered to form on the right, and the forces
under Gen. Crittenden were ordered to
his support early In the morning. The
battle of the second dsy ragged with vari-
Gus successes and repulses until pm,
when the whole rebel army was in full re-
treat to Corinth, with our cavalry in hot
pursuit. Gen. Buell. followed the retreat
ing rebels, driving them in splendid style.
We lost q number Of our forces as prison.
ers yesterday, among whom II Gen. Prem
tiss, who is reported as being wounded.
their chief general, Albert Sidney John
Ston.''
~
On the 10th Of April, 1852, President
Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for
general public thanks
Thanksgiving giving for the successes
c.-r;... Of the northern armies
sSA vASSCs achieved during the fouv
days Immediately preceding. the text
being printed in The Star Of April Ii:
Tt has pleased Almighty God to vouch-
safe signal victories to the land and naval
forces engaged in suppressing an internal
rebellion and at the same time to avert
from our country the dangers Of foreign
Intervention and invasion. It is therefore
recommended to the people Of the United
States that at their next weekly assem-
blages in their accustomed places of pub
lie worship. which shall occur. after notice
Of this proclamation shall have been re-
ceived.s they especially acknowledge and
render thanks to Our Heavenly Father
for these ineStimable blessings; that they
then and there implore spiritual consulta-
In