Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-09
FIFTY YEARS ago
In The STAR

IN The STAR
Interest was steadily rising in Wash
ington in the situation at vicksburg at
this time fifty years ago.
Vicksburg Sherman had been re-
pulsed there in December
VaHPalkA. and he and Grant had
meanwhile been working around to the
south, and the first maneuvers Of the
campaign that was destined to last for
several months were in progress. 1t was
evident that 1t would be necessary to re-
duce the city by siege. In The Star OF
March 2, 1868, Is this summary:
ut seems probable that the rebel con-
nections with Louisiana are interrupted
by the Indianola and that the Vicksburg
garrison Is consequently suffering great
ly from scarcity Of food. A correspondent
Of the Chicago Journal, writing on the
10th, describes the passage OF the Indian
ola by the vicksburg batteries on the
morning of the preceding day. She
started about 1, while 1t was still
very dark and raining. The rebels opened
liz z, Dut dl Irregular luSoTNd1S, lHS LII
dianola returning the fire from the eleven
inch gun in her turret. She was not
struck by any Of the shots. The rebels
seemed confused and bewildered and did
not fire one-fourth the number of shots
that they did on the Queen Of the West
Icaptured shortly before). A Vicksburg
correspondent of the Mobile Advertiser
writes on the 4th that the presence of our
mortar fleet had rendered the place un-
tenable to non-cOmbatantS and that most
of the private property has been shipped
away"
y
The reports of mutiny on the part Of
the LIST Pennsylvania Reserves, previously
printed in The STAR were
Mutlny Indignantly denied later
n..;.a by officers of that or
ganization, their denial
being printed in the issue Of The Star OF
March 2, 1853. with this note:
1.-THE Information on which we based
the statement with reference to this regi-
ment, which these gentlemen say is I'M
founded, was official, the facts, as we
stated them. having been formally re-
ported to the headquarters Of this mill
tary department. 1t is now alleged that
the key to this unfounded report Is the
fact that the officer making 1t was drunk
The whole matter Is at this time under
due Investigation and whoever deserves
punishment in connection with 1t will
certainly be punished. as he should be.
We may not appropriately add here
that no other regiment stood fairer in the
service, before being reported on Friday
last for being asleep on picket duty, than
this same regiment Of LIST Pennsylvania
Reserves"
In the line of efforts that were being
made on all sides to increase the eff
cheney of the Union army
Increasing fifty years ago, many or
EM.:. ders We're issued from
headquarters. Iii. The
Star OF March 6, 1853, is the following:
Orders issued to the Army of the Po-
tomac show that efficient and decided
means are adopted to bring the troops up
to a proper condition of discipline and
efficiency. Certain regiments and bat
teries having proved on inspection not to
come up to a proper standard, no further
leaves of absence or furloughs are to be
granted to these commands and all their
officers absent are to be recalled and
and batteries having earned high COM
mendation from the inspection officers.
their corps commanders are authorized
to increase the number Of furlOughs and
leaves OF absence granted. Ohicers and
enlisted men overstaying their leaves Of
absence are to be court-ma rtialed. 'Cfti-
zens nonresident, will not be allowed
to remain within the lines or camps of
this army without a permit from the
provost marshal general. All suffers will
confine their traffic to the regiment to
which they are appointed and belong >
+
Much disorder resulted from the habit
of troops stationed In Washington wear
ing side arms in the
Side Arms course of their movements
To,h;11. about the city. In The
Star of March 6. 1868, is
printed this special order from the pro-
vost marshal, Capt. Henry B. Todd
ITO secure public peace and preserve
the property of the government from
loss through the negligence or vicious
ness of careless and unprincipled officers,
it is ordered that on and after the 9Th
instant enlisted men Of the United States
Army are prohibited from wearing side
arms Of any kind within the limits of
this city outside of their camps, except
ing upon duty requiring the use of such
arms. All patrols of the provost guard
are directed to arrest and bring to these
headquarters, or confine in the central
guardhouse. as the circumstances OF
the case may require all soldiers found
with arms upon their persons. When they
are released their arms will be retained
and delivered up only upon requisition."
!.
:: i
In The Star of March 6. 1863, is a sum-
mary of the local appropriations carried
by the sundry civil
Some Local bill enacted dur
Appropriations. h as ' ne -, e'0s sung
sion. Some of the items were as follows:
For continuing work on the new dome
of the Capitol. 100000: for continuing
work on the Capitol extension. $50. 600:
for annual repairs about the Capitol and
for the protection Of the building, $4,000:
for lighting the Capitol and Presidents
house, the public grounds around them
and around the executive Offices anc
Pennsylvania avenue, Bridge and High
streets, in Georgetown, ~. 7th and 18th
streets, across the Mall. sec, 600; for the
erection of two furnaces under the ro-
tunda of the Capitol, two under the old
hall of the House and two under the
Supreme Court room. $500: for repair
of Pennsylvania avenue, $1,000; for La
fayette square, $1,000; for the ground
south of the Presidents house, $1,000:
for removing the fence. etc.. on LIST