Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20
FIFTY YEARS Ago
In THE STAR.

Tremendous rains fell IN the eastern
part OF the country at this time fifty
years ago and the
Rams Delay rivers rose to high
n~.-%;. point. This caused
Ope1@saons. suspension Of military
operations south Of Gettysburg. In The
Star Of july 13, 1853. Is the following
summary Of the situation:
1.-The current heavy rain, while in some
degree embarrassing Meade's operations
must cause serious apprehension to Lee
who according to last accounts still
fingered on the eastern side Of the Po-
tomac. We hear that the water was
from s to 10 feet high at the Williams
port ford Friday, and with that depth
for . starting point and with the ground
already saturated by the previous heavy
rains 1t is certain that a flood must
occur there to interrupt Lees communi-
cation with the Virginia shore for
length Of time sufficient to enable Meade
to successfully carry out such combina-
tons rs will pretty certainly save Leo
the trouble Of carrying away his artillery
and trains and such Of his army as are
not strong swimmers: In saying this we
doubleday an army of $1,000 good fighting
men and that he has probably succeeded
in getting considerable amount Of ammu-
milton from Winchester. But the flood
will make 1t difficult matter for Lee
to get his supplies. which. now that he
has sQuatted upon the river bank. must
come from Virginia and not through the
contracting lines of Meade's army; and,
further, IT must hinder reinforcements
(Which JEFF Davis probably hurried to
Lee on finding that he was In danger and
that the movement on Richmond from
the peninsula was merely feint) from
reaching Lee in season to be OF any
service to him.
IF we may credit the kilograms from
tho front, Lee has abandoned Funks-
town, Hagerstown and the line of the
high ground between Williamsport and
Hagerstown. This is commanding
position. and with good ford in his
rear for ready crossing In case of re-
verses. Lee might not be averse to try
the chances Of a battle there. But with
the patriotic Potomac surging bank-full
and something over, behind him. the case
Is very different In fact. Lee Is in the
same difficulties our armies have SO fire.
Quently found themselves when on the
wrong side of a flooded river in a hostile
country"
The heavy rains practically caused the
suspension Of communications between
Washington and the
Draft Riots outside world for a
in New York. au u ntiy At the ' ersst
draft riots which began in New York
city Monday, the 18th of July, 1863, were
not heard of in this city until the next
day. In The Star of July IA, 1863. are
dispatches received by the independent
telegraph line" Wild rumors were in
circulation in Washington and the great
est apprehension prevailed here relative
to the situation. The Star said edi-
torially:
1.-THE telegraph brings the intelligence
that the political teachings of Wood &
Co.-the interruptions demagogues VINO
would imperil the fate of a nation for
the advancement of their personal for
tunes-have borne their legitimate fruit
and bloody attempt has been made by
an armed mob to resist the draft in New
York city. A squad Of soldiers sent to
suppress the disturbance were dlSarmed
and beaten, and some fifteen policemen,
including SuptA Kennedy, were killed. 1t
is reported. The telegraph wires east
ward were cut by the mob and trains
prevented from leaving In the same di-
rection. and other acts Of disorder had
been committed.
New York city cannot permit mob law
to prevail there twenty-four hours. Her
business interests alone make 1t imper-
atively necessary that any such scheme
of anarchy shall promptly be put down.
and we are confident that before this
time the supremacy of law and order
has been emphatically reasserted in the
great commercial metropolis. Deplorable
as the affair is in some aspects of the
case. we are not sure but that it will
result in good. It must serve, certainly,
in New York. to unmask the heartless
demagogues who, in the name of peace
and good will to the rebels in arms, incite
ignorant men to assemble in mob and
shoot down their own neighbors. The
easy-going citizens of New York. who
treated the mischievous utterances of
Wood & Co. with such philosophic indif-
ference as amounting to nothing, as
mere political clap-trap,' find that they
do amount to something; and that mu-
nicipal as well as national safety de-
mands that the traitorous demagogues
shall have no more rope, unless, indeed,
that rope takes the shape of a halter!
So far from hindering the enforcement
OF the draft. we believe further that this
affair will serve to bring out such an ex-
preston Of public sentiment on the right
side as will have the happiest effect in
forwarding the labors of the enrolling
officers throughout the country. At this
suspicious juncture, with Lees defeated
army straining every nerve to get out of
harms way, and with the Southern Con-
federaey cut in twain by the capture of
Vicksburg. with the legislature of North
Carolina already moving to bring that
state back to the old Union. and with
Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia and
Virginia taking steps in the same direc-
ton, and with the hitherto tabooed word
reconstruction whispered from the
length to the breadth of the bubble
Confederacy, with all these encourag ing
facts in view we have no idea that the
governments requirement of sufficient
men to finish up the good work at once
and forever will be defeated by any
such attempt to resist furnishing the in
significant quota required in New York
city"
Throughout the week the news columns
Of The Star were filled with reports of
the rioting in New York and
End OF other cities in the north. On
n:.4 Saturday, July IS, 1862 was
A'A0'o' published dispatch announc-
ing the final suppression of the trouble.
The Star thus summarized the situation:
"Au Information from New York re-
ceived up to this time goes to make it
more certain that public opinion is grow
ing there in intensity against those whom
1t so unanimously holds responsible for
the excuses Of the mob-Gov. Seymour.