Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

xAV I'LL VIM
The week of March 1917, 1862. was eS-
ceptionally interesting from the military
point of view. The is
Fight of the sues of The Star for that
r-.no1.l. period carry many items
oneAus' Of first Importance in
the history Of the war. the initial one
of which was a naval engagement in
Hampton roads between the Merrimac
and the federal fleet and, on the next
day, between the Monitor and the Merri-
mac. The Star of March 10. 1862, de-
scribes the attack upon the fleet by the
Merrimac and proceeds:
AT s pm. Saturday the Monitor ar
rived. and Capt. Marston instantly or
dered her to the assistance of the Min
nesota. Yesterday Sunday morning the
Merrimac renewed the attack on the
Minnesota, and was promptly taken in
hand, to her surprise, by the Monitor.
The fight, which soon became close
quarters one, continued for several hours,
the Monitor going around the Merrfmac
and hammering on her like cooper
around a cask. Finally. near evening.
the Merrimac abandoned the contest.
running back toward and past SeWails
point. When last seen the Merrimac was
apparently in tow Of her consorts, her
crew being on the upper deck as she
disappeared. 1t is not doubted by Lieut..
Worden commanding the MonitoD that
she is seriously crippled. The Minnesota
had about five killed and nine or ten
wounded, no officers among either. The
Cumberland had her chaplain. probably,
drowned, Masters Mate Harrington and
twenty men killed and about 100
drowned. including some fifty who were
wounded. Acting Commander Joe Smith.
jr.. Commodore Joe Smiths son, OF the
Congress was killed. Paymaster Buchan-
an was her only officer not taken pris-
oner None OF the rest Of her officers
We're killed or wounded. Lieut.. Morris.
who Is safe, fought the Cumberland I'M
til she sunk, which she did with her flags
flying, worthy son. indeed, OF glorious
naval sire. The Monitor had not man
killed, Lieut.. Worden, her commander.
only being wounded on her. His eyes
and face are badly, but not dangerously,
powder burned"
After months Of waiting and prepare
ton, with the two armies lying face to
face few miles west
Retreat From of Washington. the Con-
49, fede r ates abandoned
WdHdSSdS. their advanced position
near Mana ssas and withdrew to the west
ward In The Star of March II. 1862. is
the following description of the change in
the situation:
ERE nightfall last night Col. Averill
with a large body of Union cavalry en-
tered the rebel works at Manassas and
hoisted the Stars and Stripes over what
remains of them. They bivouacked in
them throughout the night. No rebel
forces We're in sight and from the best
information at hand it was clear they
had entirely fed from that immediate por-
ton Of Virginia. 1t is to be presumed
that in the course of today our military
authorities will learn through refugees
and others from beyond Manassas wheth-
err they have essayed to make any pre-
tense of a stand whatever at the Rap
pahannock river. twenty-four miles in the
rear Of Manassas, and up to which point
and indeed nine miles beyond 1.-THE ter
ritory bordering the railroad Is almost a
continuous indefensible plain, interspersed
with but few patches of woods, none of
which will furnish available cover for
troops. Ere leaving their works at Ma
nassas the enemy destroyed everything
they were Unable to carry off that might
be likely to prove servlceabie to our
army The country. therefore. from Ma
nassas to Washington at least, has been
cleared of rebels in arms and we think
for at least thirty or forty miles back of
Manassas. Without knowing aught OF
the intended movement of our army our
impression is that the reconstruction of
the Orange and Alexandria railroad is
absolutely necessary to enable 1T to ad-
vance any distance to speak OF beyond
Manassas The rebels have doubtless de-
~, hoh in their o.
treat so that it cannot be made available
for our armys purposes, except with Ia
Dor and trouble. say at the rate of not
more than three Or four miles per diem.'
In The Star of March IL. 1862. are pub
lished, under the general head WAR Ca
zette," three executive or
Presidents ders signed by President
Lincoln outlining the gen
VIue4S' eral campaign for the
spring. The first was dated January -
and ordered a general movement on the
22d of February of the land and naval
forces Of the United States against the
insurgent forces 1t was especially or
dered that 1.-THE army at and about
Fortress Monroe. the Army of the Po-
tomac, the Army Of Western Virginia,
the army near Munfordville, KY. the
army and flotila at Cairo and the naval
force in the Cuff of Mexico should be
ready for movement on that day. The
second order was dated March and
commanded the major general command
ing the Army of the Potomac TO or
ganize his army into four corps. under
the respective commands of Maj. Gen.
Mcdowell and Brig. Gems. Sumner.
Heintzelman and Reyes. 1t also ordered
that the forces left for the defense OF
Washington should be placed under the
command of Brig. zen. Wadsworth, who
was also to be military governor OF the
District of Columbia The third order,
dated March II, relieved Gen. McClei-
Ian of all other duties than the command
of the Army of the Potomac; gave Gen.
Hallcck command of the consolidated de-
partments of Halleck and Hunter and
created the new mountain department.
under command of Maj. Gen. Fremont.
Great interest was felt in the Monitor,
the sudden appearance of which at
Hampton Roads had
Purchase OF surprised not only the
Conf e err a ties, but
the Monitor many people in the
north as we'll. In The Star of March IA.
1862. is the following paragraph about
her:
.E,rroneors impressiOnS as to the cir