Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Travel between the north and south did
not entirely cease with the opening of the
civil war. although the
SOUTHWARK fighting lines We're tightly
Troral stretched over the greater
part of the territory tina.
of November "a. 1861, is the following
official statement:
I'm answer to daily inquiries and in
formal application, notice is again given
that all applications made by ladies TO go
to their friends and families in the south
must be made in writing and verified by
oath previous to the 10Th day of Decem-
Der next, and each applicant must ate:
First, her name. age and residence; sec
ond. the date when she came within the
military lines of the United States. for
what purpose and where she has since re-
sided third, the place she desires to so
to and the purpose or object thereof. The
persons to whom these may be granted
will be provided with a suitable escort
from Washingt on to the lines of the
United States forces in Virginia, with
such personal effects, and shall be allow
ed to pass. No person will be allowed
to take more than one trunk or package
of female wearing apparel, weighing not
over 100 pounds, and any contraband
property will forfeit the same and sub
ject the party 20 Imprisonment during
the war Applicants are also notified tina,
Immediately after the expiration of the
time for making applications a list of
the names of the persons 20 whom leave
is granted will be published and the time
and place of leaving designated.
X
Washington was very much interested
at this time fifty years ago in the ses-
sions of two military courts
Military then meeting in Washington,
49,. one a court of inquiry to
TO- ascertain the truth regarding
certain charges rejecting upon Maj. Gen.
McDowell's plan of campaign, and the
other the court-martial to try charges
filed against Gen. Fitz John Porter. The
former court met in Washington the 18th
of November, 1862, proceeding slowly be-
cause of the fact that the charges We're
not distinctly defined and the program of
procedure was undetermined. The charges
involved accusations or imputat ons of
treachery on Gen. McDOwells part, grow
ing out of his relations with Gen. Nc
Clellan The court in the case of Gen.
Fitz John Porter was slow in getting
| under way because the government was
not yet ready with it's preparations After
several preliminary sessions the court
adjourned, to meet on the first of De-
cember.
Occasional excitement was furnished to
residents of Washington through the ar
rests of deserters who
DeSerterS We're caught without being
a1 able to give satisfactory
AAAAS'N"' explanations for their pres
ence in this city. In The Star of No
vember 26, 1862, are two cases of this
sort. In one instance a man named
Halves of the 1st Maryland Cavalry. who
| had deserted and come here, where he
had been living for several weeks in
Southwest Washington, was arrested and
was about to be sent back to his regi.
ment when his mother asked that he
might be transferred to tho ~ >@-~-
Regiment In the course of the negotia-
tons to effect this arran e.lc.I. -
was taken back to his house. and the
deserter was in some manner spirited
away. His mother. wife and sister were
arrested, but later were released.
In the other instance The Stars report
runs as follows:
"On Monday night man, dressed in the
earb of a corporal of cavalry. came to the
encampment of the Sth New York Cav
airy on the BladenSburg turnpike. near
the toll gate, and represented to the
guard on duty there that he was bearer
of dispatches from Gen. SigeIs corps at
Fairfax, and that his dispatches were of
a very important character for the quar-
termaster at Baltimore: that he had left
his quarters SO hurriedly to FORGET his
overcOat, and he wished to borrow an
oVercoat from one of the Sth boys. Capt.
Meiss considered that such a request was
braZen enough for a thief, and ordered
the bearer of dispatches to be placed in
the resimental suardhouse. When con-
fronted by the captain he contradicted
himself in almost every assertion he
made. On searching him no dispatches
were found, nor anything else by which
he could be identified. The horse he rode
appeared to be very much fatigued, as if
it had been ridden very hard. Yesterday
the corporal was placed in the central
guardhOuSe.
All sorts of thievery was practiced
during the war days. In The Star of
November %, 1862, is the
BraZen following report of an
instance of wholesale
AAAe'eS' looting:
"The 141st New York Volunteers,
which passed through the city the day
before Yesterday on the way to their
new camping ground at Miners Hill,
did not receive the wagons containing
their baggage until the next morning
and an examination Of the contents, by
order of Col. Hathaway, showed that
officers boxes had been opened. the
knapsacks of privates rifled and the
distracted articles were found in pos
session of the jovial teamsters. who
were making their way eXultingly back
to Washington with their booty. Their
wagon boxes and pockets were filled,
and some of them had secreted clothing
on their persons by wearing 1T under
their own From one tall lank-visaged.
but apparently portly individual six
understands were successfully stripped
till at last a corporoSity was developed
much more in keeping with the visage
than was the rotund form which he
previously exhibited. Shirts, drawers,
shoes, socks, tobacco. knives and vari-
Gus other articles of use or luxury were
found among their trophies. The whole
party were placed under arrest, and
will be indicted for robbery.
PASSING OF The OLD JOKES.
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