Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-22
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

Gen. Burnside's army recrossed the
Potomac at Fredericksburg December ID.
following the unsuccessful
Burnside's attempt to carry the Con-
federate position at that
ASt1e@t. point In The Star of De-
cember IL, 1862, is the following account:
See elsewhere in today's Star for
dispatch from Gen. Burnside. announcing
that he has recrossed the Rappahannock
without the loss of a man or any prop
erty whatever. The movement was one
Of great difficulty and no little risk Tnat
1t should be thus accomplished and In SO
short a time proves beyond question the
fine condition of the Army OF the Poto-
mac, and that its commander holds II az
well In hand at this moment as an army
was ever SO held. Else. so soon AFTER
such q battle as that of Saturday last, no
such movement OF SO great a force could
possibly have been made in SO short time.
without at least serious loss OF material
necessarily left behind. 1t Is clear to us
that 1t is but preliminary to prompt ap-
proach upon the enemys position by
flank or rear movement--Our army being
evidently in q condition to make one
strengthened as 1t has been by the 'aaoi-
ton OF 6lGct 8 COTpS u 0ItucC, 0iih W Wv
juxtaposition of Slocums corps d'armee-
now fixed facts. Basing their calculations
upon this movement. We doubt not, the
rebel leaders have already detachen
considerable portion of their force OPP
posed to us Saturday last and sent them
to make a dash on Fosters army. now
threatening their southeastern railroad
connection. It is to be presumed tnat.
foreseeing such a movement, our military
authorities here are taking due care that
ntA AYN YNf0 Oh NJ
have every reason to believe that 1t Will
cost the rebels severely: insomuch as ere
the end Of the week we shall probabiy
hear OF another advance over the Rap
pahannock. which will compel Lee to
come out Of his Notifications and risk
fair field fight. or to fall back on Rich
mond precipitately.
News from the other side of the lines
was eagerly sought by the north through
out the civil war, one or
Conditions at the chief means of in
GU formation being the
CAat1estOn. squads OF refugees who
from time to time made their way
through the lines. In The Star OF De-
cember Is. 1862. is the. following extract
from the Port Royal Is c., New South
under date Of December 6:
Early in the week party of Ave
negroes. four men and a woman, arrived
here from the blockading fleet off
Charleston. They are refugees, having
escaped from the city on the night Of
the 22d ultimo, and made their
way past the rebel batteries and Fort
Sumter. THROUGH the darkness to one Of
our vessels The condition of affairs in
the city charleston they describe as
being wretched. Provisions of every kind
are scarce and the prices above the reach
OF the poor. who mainly are dependent
upon public Charity for support. Ant'ci-
pat'ng an early attack by our ironclads.
the people are flying from the city to
Greenfield and Somerville where immense
frame buildings have been constructed by
the Charleston municipal authorities for
the temporary shelter of the poorest
classes. AMONG the rulers there are dis
sensions and divided eOunsels resDecting
what shall be done in case our fleet run
the gantlet of the batteries and appear
before the city. The destruction before
surrender party. however, was fast losing
prestige and rather than lose all there
was general WILLINGNESS expressed that
the Yankees should occupy the city even
as New Orleans was occupied. The two
rams which were built for the protection
Of the harbor have proved partial fall
ureS. as the engines were not of sufficient
power to drive the vessels through the
water at the requisite speed"
* x
The following description of the draft
in Montgomery county, reprinted in The
Star Of December Is. 1862
Draft In from the Rockville Senti-
M.-,1 mel affords an interest
ing view of the workings
of the CONSUMPTION system during the
civil war:
THE draft in this county took place
ratfler Unexpectedly to some folks Tues
day last under the supervision of the en-
rolling commissioner. L. A. Dawson. esq.,.
assisted by Richards M. Williams. esq.,.
as clerk. J. T. Dezullum. esq. after being
effectually blindfolded for the occasion,
officiated as craftsman. and 1t must be
admitted performed the duties assigned
him with much exquisite exactness as
could be expected from the most eco
nomical grandfather that ever sweet
ened tea for her household. Dame For
tune was especially pranky. and distrib-
uted her favors with much seeming par
TALLY. clinging with remarkable perth
nacity to some families. whilst she flirt-
ingly sighted others equally prominent
Her visits to some localities were particu-
larry striking, the effects of which were
plainly discernible in the unusual discon-
certment apparent among their respective
inhabitants. Several private clubs had
been formed previous to the draft, each
member of which contributed to joint
fund to be distributed among such of
their number as might be SO unfortunate
as to fall within the draft. to enable them
to procure substitutes. AS an incident Of
the occasion. we notice that four out of
the five enrollers i'm this District are
among those drafted. and it is thought
the venerable locks of the fifth alone saved
him from sharing like fate. A consid-
cradle number of those drafted were alb
sent from the county at the time, and it
is supposed are now in Dixie
Had Abraham Lincoln Welded to the
demands of republican members of the
Senate at this time fifty
Secretary years ago he would have
g., lost the services of Mr..
9o""Au' Seward as Secretary Of
State The incident is thus noted in The
Star of December 10. 1862:
"A majority of the Senate in caucus on
the 18th instant adopted a resolution
which as first prepared declared a want
Of confidence on their part in the Secre-
tary of State. but which was modified so
as to express to the President an unani-
nous recommendation of partial recon-
struction of the cabinet. \ committee
was appointed to wait upon the President
and communicate their action. On being