The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-01-12
75e
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY A AGO
THIS T.

December 81, 1851.
General Pope's cavalry sent to Lex
ington, Missouri. They captured two
Confederate captains, one lieutenant,
a number of horses and accoutre-
ments, and destroyed the foundry and
ferry boats.
The Wal Department of the United
States issued orders stopping the en-
listment of cavalry men in the army,
having already enough in that arm.
B%lufftown, South Carolina, was occu-
pied by Federal troops under General
Stevens. 1t was found deserted.
A bill to increase the duties on tea.
coffee, sugar and molasses passed the
Congress of the United States. The
duties were raised to twenty cents a
pound on tea, to five cents or coffee,
to two and a half, three and five cents
on sugar, and to six cents on molas-
SEES. It was estimated that the In
crease would add 5000, 900 ANNUALLY
to the revenues of the government.
A card from j. J. McKeever, presi-
dent of an organization known as the
u WSoL Company, dppCoAOu III
the Memphis Appeal to announce that
a third special messenger would leave
Memphis on the first of January, TAX
ing mail matter for all parts of the
world"
December rs, 1861.
The steamer Florida, c. S. N.
steamed out Of the harbor of Mobile.
Alabama, at noon on Christmas day,
to engage the Federal steamer New
London. The Florida ran down to the
westward of Sand Island and chal-
lenged the enemy to fight. The chal-
1enge was accepted, and a cannOnad-
ing ensued that lasted upward of an
hour. The firing was at long range,
owing to the shallow water of a bar
that interviewed between the two yes
sells. keeping them at 4 distance. No
serious damage was sustained by
either ~belligerent.
The lighthouse on Morris Island, in
CharlestOWn harbOr, was blown W by
order of the Confederate military au
thorities, with the purpose Of depriv
ing the blockading fleet of the benefi,
of the beacon.
In spite of General Halleck's recent
order threatening death to anyone
burning bridges or destroying rail
roads in Missouri. two spans of The
bridge across the Charlestown rivel
on the Hannibal and st. Joseph rail
road were burned by Confederates.
Brig. Gen. Samuel r. Curtis was ap
pointed to command the Fedora
forces in southwestern Missouri.
Martial law was extended by orde'
Of the national government to al
railroads in Missouri.
December 26, 1861.
Senator Hale of New Hampshire of
fered a resolution in the senate of tn,
United States calling o N the presiden
for copies of all dispatches that ha,
passed between this government ant
the government Of England relating t.
the controversy over the seizure O
Messrs. Mason and Slidell from tn
British steamer Trent. In a speech o.
his motion, he advocated a war witt
Great Britain in preference to the res
titution of the Confederate ENJOYS
Mr.. Sumner objected to a considers
ton of the motion. and it was lai
over.
Gen. Winfield Scott arrived at Ne,
York on the steamer Arago from E,
rope He reported that the party i
Europe advocating a war with tn
United States was greatly encou
aged in their cry for blood"
Major Ousley, of Colonel Haggard
command, with a small body of M
1icnal troops. fought off a force {
Confederate cavalry that attacke
while they were eating supper in
hotel near Camp Boyle, Ky.
Major Cover, commanding a squat
ron OF Iowa cavalry, returned to Je
ferson City. Mo-, with prisoners an
ten wagonloads of stores taken fro1
the C~onfederates.
The Confederate Gen. John E. Floy
issued an address to the troops Of hi
command from his camp. lear Dubli
depot, in which he praised them fC
their conduct during the campaign
the last five months, and urged thel
to respond to the compliment that ha
been paid them by the Confederat
government in ordering them to tn
defense of Kentucky.
December ~, 1861.
Information was received at Wasl
ington that Col. Candy, U. S. A., ha
retaken Forts Craig and Stanton, o
the Masilla border, and was on hi
way to Fort Fillmore, which had bee
surrendered by Colonel Lynde, sine
dismissed from the service. to an il
feriOr force of Confederates frol