The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-05-17
8e
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK

May 8, 1862.
The C~onfederates having evacuated
the works in front Of Williamsburgh,
Va, on their %retrograde movement
toward Richmond, General Mcclellan.
riding at the head of the Union army,
occupied the place.
General Franklin's division of the
army Of the Potomac left Yorktown to
proceed up the York river in trans
ports to West Point.
The Fifth New York cavalry got in
to trouble with two hundred Of Ash
by's cavalry when on a reconnaissance
from New Market toward Harrison
burgh, Va. The Federal horsemen,
heavily outnumbering the enemy, ex-
tricated themselves, and inflicted con
siderable damage to the enemy in a
pursuit OF them that lasted to within
two miles of Harrisonburgh.
The Confederate schooner c. > c.
Pinckney from Charlestown, s. c.,
for Nassau, N. p, was captured by
the United States gunboat Ottawa.
May !! 1862.
The Confederate pickets about Co.
lumbar Bridge, on the east bank of
the Shenandoah river, Virginia, having
been driven from their posts by a
Union detachment under Colonel Fos-
ter, rallied in the woods, ambuscaded
their enemy, and inflicted a serious
damage upon him before he could ex-
tricate himself. One company of Yer
mont cavalry saved itself only by
swimming the river.
General Franklin's division, Army
Of the Potomac, was attacked by the
Confederates when it attempted to
land at West Point. After a brisk en-
gagement the landing was effected,
with heavy loss to the Federal forces.
General Cox's Union advance occu-
pied Giles Courthouse and the Mar
rows of the New river, surprising and
driving out the small company of Con.
federates.
May 8, 1862.
Gems. Milroy and Schenck, COM
handing nine Federal regiments,
fought off a heavy force OF Confeder-
ates under Gems. Jackson and Edward
Johnson in Virginia, retiring in good
order upon the town OF Franklin.
Gen. Johnson was killed.
President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton were entertained by the bonn
bardment of the Confederate batteries
on Sewell's Point and Craney island
by the Monitor and Saugatuck and
other vessels of the Union fleet. The
Merrimac appeared and made a dem
sought by either side. No one was
reported as injured on either side by
the bombardment.
Major Arlington of the Seventh I'LL
nois cavalry vas killed leading a
charge against two companies of Con-
federate infantry that had ambuscad.
ed the cavalry on a reconnaissance
near COrinth, Mississippi.
The United States senate passed a
bill establishing Beaufort, S. C., as a
! port of entry.
Three brigades of Gen. Buell's divi.
sion seized and destroyed the railroad
between Corinth and Grand Junction.
Gov. Clark of North Carolina, in an
swer to a demand by the Confederate
government for more troops, informed
the government that it had re
ceived all the aid from North Caro-
lima that it could expect, and that no
more troops would be permitted to
leave the state"
Gen. Stonewall Jackson began his
famous campaign In the Shenandoah
valley, which tied up 10000 Federal
troops in the defense OF panic-stricken
Washington.
May 9, 1862.
The C%onfederates evacuated Pen
sacola, Fla, during the night, burn
Ing and destroying the forts, navy
yards, marine hospital and two YES
sells. Gen. Arnold began a lombard
ment when the destruction Of proper
ty was begun, hoping to interfere
with it, but only the barracks and
blacksmith shop We're saved.
A company OF Confederate cavalry
made a bold dash on Washington,
N. c., in an attempt to capture the
Federal officers in the town. The
daring of the attempt nearly brought
it success.
Gen. Hunter of the Federal army de.
clared 1.-The persons of the three
states, Georgia, Florida and South
Carolina, heretofore held as slaves. to
be forever Free"