Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-26
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Xkv ALL OXAXN
The most important event of the week
at this time fifty years ago was the desig-
nation OF Gen. Grant
Grant Succeeds as the commander OF
the forces at Chatta-
nooga. comprising the
three armies under Burnside. Rosecrans
and Grant himself. Regarding this
change The Star says. October q. 1869:
1.-THE report prevalent in this city yes
terday Of supersedence OF Gen. Rose
Grams by Gen. Grant is confirmed by the
dispatch from Louisville to be found else
Were Gen. Grant. who assumes the
general command of the armies of the
Cumberland and Ohio and Kentucky, is
now at Nashville. which point he proba-
bly, will make his headquarters. Maj.
Gen. Thomas. the hero Of Chickamauga,
is put in command Of the army at Chat
tanooga. The reasons for the displace-
ment OF Rosecrans have not been officially
promulgated, but it is probable that there
are other causes for this action, aside
from the fact of his receiving a check at
c. ickamauga. In the public mind there
has certainly prevailed great disappoint-
ment at his conduct at that battle as con-
trasted with the pertlnacity and resolu-
ton with which he fought and won at
Stone river. The rebels have always
seemed to feel a considerable dread Of the
willy Rosecrans. as they have termed
him. but we take 1t they Will find OPP
ponents of whose ability they have quite
as Wholesome a dread In the persons of
Gems. Grant and Thomas"
The deduction that Grant would make
borne out by the dispatches, which indi-
Gated that he was proceeding directly to
Chattanooga to make his headquarters in
general command of the entire Union
force in that region.
There is now no ferry service betw cen
Alexandria and Washington, but fifty
years ago the water
Alexandria transport between the
Ferry. , smu rs.ee We" ~ 10Th y, com.
munities. In The Star of October 81.
1868. Is the following extract from the
Alexandria Journal relative to the organi-
cation of a new ferry company:
arrangements are rapidly approaching
completion for the starting of a new line
of ferry boats between this and Washing
ton city. Vessels similar to the Brooklyn
ferry boats are to be used by the new
company, and they will be especially
adapted ito the conveyance not only of
passengers but of carriages, wagons.
horses. etc. Accommodations of an ele-
CANT and substantial character are to be
sengers at each wharf The fare is to
be paid at the gate before entering the
boat and arrangements will be effected
for selling tickets at convenient places on
Pennsylvania avenue In washington and
ut the principal hotels of northern and
eastern cities. The stockholders are all
| men of capital and are large stockholders
in the Washington and GEORGETOWN street
| railway, in connection with which the
enterprise Is to be conducted. The COM
pany has leased the wharf at pier No. L.,
betw cen Prince and King streets, and Sc
cured wharf near 7th street In Wash
ington. We understand the line will be
put in operation in December next"
A*
The new race course back of the insane
asylum, on the other side Of the settle
ment then known rs
Home-Going "Uniontown." but later
g., designated as AnacOs-
mace CIUWuS. tia. proved highly at
tractive to the sporting element of Wash
ington. and gave the police some trou-
BILE, az the following paragraph in. The
Star of October 80. 1Sea. indicates:
Yesterday afternoon the citizens of
amusement from the homeward racing of
~ ,a,yA- 4,
Union course The police officers of the
first and ninth precincts, some on foot and
others mounted, had a high time with the
fast ones, and on several occasions the
dismounted men had a scrub race with
racing was really exciting, the officers In
most cases keeping neck and neck with
the animals, and notwithstanding the
odds against them. they generally came
out best, and the result was that about
one dozen of the racing gentlemen were
! taken before Justice Gull and fined $3.50.
One man was stopped by an officer. but
while he had hold of the bride the man
gave him a severe cut across the head
with his whip and ran of. but tn officer $
baton reached him and was broken on his
head Some women got mixed up in the
affair also. A hack containing two was
stopped by Officer Hardin, when one OF
the girls was abusively indignant at being
stopped. ne justice nneQ h6r II, which
she paid, remarking that she would pay
that amount any time for the equivalent. .
II a budget of news cleaned from the
Richmond newspapers. The Star of Oc-
teber g. 1861. prints the
Gambling in following. telling Of an
pt.ls attempt in Richmond to
bling evil at the Confederate capital,
which had reached serious proportions:
THE bill to suppress gaming. which has
attracted more or less attention for the
past week. was finally disposed of in the
house yesterday October 16). by a con-
currence of that body In the amendment
of the senate. leaving 1t discretionary with
the jury or magistrate before whom a
conviction may be had to infiict the pun
ishment OF thirty-nine lashes upon the
bare back. Thu members of the same
fraternity, who have been fleeing all
whom they could seduce into their richly
furn' shed rooms, considering discretion
the better part of yalor. at once closed
their houses, and many who have hereto
fore partaken of their hospitality and
Jared sumptuously at their tables were
yesterday compelled to hunt eating ac-
Communications elsewhere. among them MOI
ion had dashed into a support OF the bill
To tian