Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-31
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

In lnE DIAN
Following the collapse OF Lees cam
paign for the invasion OF the north in
1868 the chief interest
POSITION OF of the unionists rested
r..,. A. In the attack upon the
Lee army. city Of Charleston. to
accomplish which great federal force
was assembled. with strong fleet in CO.
operation. Meanwhile the Army of the
Potomac lay watching Lees movements
along the Rappahanpock in relatively
the same positions occupied by the two
armies prior to the invasion Of Penn
sylvania. In The Star Of August 81, 1863.
Is the following dispatch from the head
quarters of the Army OF the Rotomac:
Cavalry pickets Of the enemy called
yesterday across the Rappahannock to-
those Of our own army that Fort Sumter
had been taken by u.s. This is in con-
f1rmation Of the news received via Fort
Monroe by Richmond papers of yes
terday's date. A cavalry force under
Fitzhugh Lee crossed the Rappahannock
yesterday morning near Corbin's neck.
W
speedily routed by the brigade of Gen.
Custis. A presentation will take place
tomorrow at Warrenton to Maj. Gen.
Sedgwfck of a splendid horse, with
accouterments and sword and complete
uniform The gift is by the officers Of
manded by him. The positions of the
rebel army are now somewhat thus:
Ewell lies near Orange Court House, A.
F. Hill near the Rapidan station. Long
street stretches from the United States
ford to Fredericksburg. and pickets the
Rappahannock down to Port Royal. Lees
headquarters are about two miles be-
yond Orange Court House, on the Gordons-
Vile road. A large attendance is ex-
pected at the sword presentation to Gen.
Meade on Friday. Privates G. Kuhn,
John Foulacy. Charles Waller. John
Reinraz and Emile Sac Of the 11Sth Penn
sylvania Volunteers. enlisted as substi-
tutes and guilty Of desertion. will be
shot Wednesday in the presence Of the
9Th Army Corps. twenty-five rebel pris-
oners and deserters left for Washington
last evening and several more this morn
ing. They report continued disaffection
and desertion in the rebel army. William
King and John Pierce, deserving privates
from the sth Georgia, report Gen. Stuart
as having been relieved from his cavalry
command and the appointment Of Gen.
Hood in his stead, lately in command OF
brigade under his orders
Interest in the bombardment Of the Con-
federate Notifications at Charleston was
increased in Washington
Relic From by the receipt of a relic
rho,l..4. Of the fighting there as
described in para
graph in The Star of August q, 1863 it
being noteworthy that a torpedo OF this
description is now to be seen at the navy
yard museum in this city:
THE Navy Department received this
afternoon one of the Internal machines
planted by the rebels in Charleston har-
Dor. 1t is novel affair and attracts con-
siderable attention. The main portion ap-
pears to be an ordinary key bound with
iron hoops. to the ends of which are af-
fixed conically shaped additions of solid
wood, secured. possibly, by means of
screws. the whole incased in a thick
coating of tar On the sides of that por-
ton designed to remain uppermost are
two iron plates, fastened down by four
screws and nuts each. These plates are
about fourteen inches apart and in the
center of each are tubes leading to the
powder, into which are screwed two per-
cussion caps. Just above the cap is
solid stem of brass, which plays in a cyl
fnder of the same material. This stem,
being struck. passes down the cylinder
strikes the cap and causes the explosion
The machine resembles buoy in shape
To one end Is affixed heavy weight to
keep 1t under water. and to the other
rope, passing through two small, round
blocks Of wood, the object Of which we
could not determine. If, as suggested.
these blocks were designed as floats to
mark the location of the torpedo to the
party planting it, the object would he
frustrated as it would also define it's po-
sition to those for whose injury 1t was
designed. The explosive material 1t con
tanned is OF peculiar character, resem-
bling pitch or tar very closely. It is in
pieces. some small as musket shot.
others as large as grape. A small guam
tity was taken out and match being an
piled it exploded. 1t is thought to b>
what is known patent powder which
explodes as readily after being placed i'm
water as when dry
Sentimental interest in the north with
reference to the siege of Charleston
centered chiefly in the
Bombarding destruction of Fort sum
cr,4.r ter. owing to the fact
ou'eA' that it was the attack
upon the federal position there that
opened the war of secession The fall
of Sumter in 1853 was therefore hailed
with great rejoicing in the north. The |
official report of this achievement by
Brig. Gen. @. A. Gilmore, commanding
the federal operations at Charleston is /
printed as follows in The Star of Au-
gust ., 1863:
II have the honor to report the prac-
teal demolition of Fort Sumter as the |
result of our seven day bombardment of |
that work including days of which a !
powerful northeasterly storm most Sc |
riously diminished the accuracy of our |
fire. Fort Sumter is today shapeless |
and harmless mass of ruins. My chief |
of artillery Col. j. w. Turner, reports |
it's destruction so far complete that it |
is no lonser of any avail in the defense |
of Charleston He also says that by /
a longer fire 1t could be made more COM |
masonry, but could scarcely be made
more powerless for the defense of the |
harbor' My preaching batteries We're |
located at d stances ranging between
1880 and 4.24o yards from the works.
and now remain as effectual as ever
deem it unnecessary at present to con-
tinue the fire upon the ruins of Sumter. |
I have also at great labor and under
heavy fire from James Island. establish
cd batteries on my LETT within effective
range of the heart of Charleston city. +,
and have opened with them after giving
Cen Beauregard due notice OF my in
on to do SO. The projectles from my
batteries entered the city and Gen.