Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-14
FIFTY YEARS ago
IN THE STAR

At this time nifty years ago Federal
hopes ran high. It seemed a though the
collapse Of the Confederacy
Bulnside'S was at hand. Following
So closely upon Gettysburg
Success. and vicksburg, with the
closing in Of the Federal lines around
Charleston. came the successes Of Gen.
Burnside in Tennessee. In The Star OF
September Z. 1853. il the following. tend
ing to raise the expectation that the war
was drawing to q close, though, for a
fact. nearly two more, years were to run
before the fighting ceased:
Dispatches have been received In this
city conveying the interesting and impor-
tant information that Gen. Burnside has
reached Knoxville and has seized the
chief strategic points OF east Tennessee
On the 9Th instant a portion Of Burnside's
cavalry occupied Knoxville. Others Of
his troops were at that time above and
below Knoxville. on the line of the East
Virginia and Tennessee railroad He has
also captured a large amount Of valuable
stores. trains. transportation. etc. and
the blow thus dealt to rebeldom, though
accomplished with slight loss Of life and
without any obstinate resistance on the
part OF the enemy. is one Of the first
Importance. enabling Burnside to CO.
operate with Rosecrans, giving US possess
sion OF the great central railroads the
backbone Of the Confederacy, Gripping
the enemy irreparably In the way OF sup
plies, rolling stock. ETC., and bringing into
our ranks hosts Of the courageous Union
lists OF east Tennessee, who have per-
sistently. at the hazard Of life, refused to
join hands with the rebels The fact that
Gen. Burnside has been able to accom-
plfsh these important results with 80 lit
tie fighting IS a most important and en-
couraging one in itself, as going to show
cannot. even for so important stake as
the possession Of east Tennessee declared
heretofore by the rebel press az Of vital
Importance to the rebel cause), rally an
opposing force"
K
The next day-September s. ls63-came
a lengthy dispatch from Memphis. tellins
OF further signs that
CO01eQcrocy there was q tendency
Weakening. the tA con 1,ssaaa0n th ~
result of repeated reverses to the south.
ern arms: i;
"a refugee from Columbus. Miss, states
that Johnson loses fifty men per night
by desertion-that his army is dispirited
and demorallzed, and that those who
have not deserted only wait for an op-
portunity to do so. Two regiments OF
Johnson's army have been sent to Georgia
and two to Oklahoma, recently, to repel
an expected Yankee raid. A RECONSTRUCT
ton meeting, appointed to take place by
the unionists of the vicinity Of Columbus.
strong latent Union feeling among the
inhabitants is becoming more open and
bold in it's manifestation. and citizens
look anxiously for the advance of the
Yankees A deserter from Braggs
army. who has reached here. states his
force is about Zoo men. who are dis
pirited and anxious to throw down their
arms. The wheat crop throughout the
country is good. The Confederate govern
ment is Selling every tenth bushel for
taxes. The rebel officers acknowledge
they will be obliged to give up all the
country north Of the Coosa river In st.
Clair county. the Union feeling is strong.
'Secesk is not allowed there. In other
sections men are secreted in swamps
and caves and would join the Federal
rebels. Three hundred deserters are rem
dezvoused in Winston county. All OF
them are armed and determined to resist
the rebel authorities to the last The
rebels are cOnscripting the negroes at Tai
ledega to build breastworks at Selma. A
deserter from Tupelo. formerly orderly to
Gen. Ferguson. reports that Ferguson
has at Tupelo and Pontotoc 1000 cavalry,
with ten pieces of artillery: also that
Ferguson is Contemplating a raid on the
Memphis and Charleston railroad. while
Rody is to make an attack on Glendale,
Miss, at the same time. Newcason, with
700 men, is near jackson. Tenn, con-
scripting."
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