The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-02-02
THE WAR FIFTY
YEARS AGO
By Captain GEORGE L. KILr1ER. Late
H. SV.

BY Captain GEORGE L. KILMER' Late
U. S.V.
.THE last week in January was
quiet one for the armies in the
field. Nevertheless the war
moved on apace. On the 22d
President Lincoln returned thanks to
Thomas army for it's victory at Mill
Springs on the 10Th, the first formal
congratulations to troops by the Fed
eral commander in chief. This was the
beginning of praises to troops and to
leaders which was not only their due,
but was beneficial in many ways. 1t
announced to the folks at home that
the government appreciated the sacri-
fees of their brothers and sons at the
front. Napoleon Bonaparte set good
example in this respect by prompt rec
Ognition given sometimes on the field
of batale.
On this day congress took up the
famous war financial measure provid-
ing for $1OO,O0O,O0O demand treasury
notes and $5Oo,OOO,OOO 6 per cent
JULIUS. L LIS uGdouACf bANNA pNA@NS
amendment, became law and estab-
Hshed a financial sys, which mas
lived until the present time. The i'm
mediate object Of the law was to
bridge over a grave financial crisis ana
gather the sinews Of war into the
treasury in Washington. Before the
bill became law the amount OF treas
ury notes was increased by % per
cent. The principal opposition to the
measure came from the bankers, VINO
thought that this method Of filing the
war chest was not favorable to their
profits.
A Storm Bound Fleet.
At this time the Confederates were
expecting that the Burnside fleet,
storm bound at Hatteras inlet, was
about to attack Newbern, n. G. Ihe
expedition just at the time was Sc
riously threatened with the fate OF the
Spanish armada. For nearly q week
this expedition had been trying TO
cross the bar into PamlicO sound. The
bar separating the sound from the IN
let was, covered with only six feet OF
water, whereas all the vessels in the
feet, as well as the warships' Grew
at least eight feet, although most OF
the troopships had been guaranteed
by the owners who chartered them 10
the government to draw less than
eight feet Transport ships consisted
Of river barges, propellers, passenger
steamers, tugs and ferryboats anu
were transformed so as to be service
able in carrying soldiers and cannon
and rationsj and baggage. On some
were stored building material Ior
bridges, ra fits, scows, intrenchlng I'M
plements, tools, etc. The naval END
of the outfit comprised about lOO YES
sells, all Of them steamers which had
been converted from the passenger ana
merchant service.
Fort unately the current over the
bar, or, more properly. the "swash,
was very swift, circumstance when
proved favorable to the fleet. Large
Vesst els were sent ahead under full
stea m on the bar when the tide was
run ming out, and then anchors were
carr ied out by boats in advance so az
to hold the vessels in position. The
swift current would wash the sand
from them and allow them to float
af ter which they were driven farther
ola by steam nd anchored again, when
the sand wou Id again wash out from
Umder them. This process was con
tnued for da:Is until broad channel
of over eight feet was made deer
enough to allow the passage of the
feet from Ha tteras inlet into Pamlico
sound, poin I from which attacks on
the Goa st coU I'd be made. Before the