Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-29
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

xN I'LL NXx1AN
AS the days went on. fifty years ago.
Washington became more and more ap-
prehensive regarding
CaunOn0dlnl the whereabouts and
w. intentions OF Gen. Lee.
Au AAeAc' whose purpose to move
from his Rappahannock base to invade
the north was fully accepted. The sound
OF cannon Sunday. June q. 1883. heard in
Washington. tended to increase local ap-
prehension. The cause Of this noise Of
cannonading was given in The Star Of the
next day:
Throughout the day yesterday heavy
firing was distinctly heard In this city.
apparently in the direction OF the Bull
Run mountains. This firing was that Of
an engagement in which a portion Of our
cavalry. under Gems. Pleasonton and
Stahl. and a portion of Maj. Gen. Meade's
command. were engaged on our side.
against Stuart's cavalry and more or less
rebel infantry. supposed to belong to the
corps commanded by Longstreet. 1t COM
menced shortly after daybreak in the
vicinity of the Gap at Aldie. and though
ed the engagement, the belief is preva-
lent that it was Meade attacking the
enemy. That it was successful on our
part is proved from the facts that not a
Union straggler had 50 far come to the
rear; that from first to last the firing
gradually receded, ending as late as 6
pm, then apparently in the immediate
vicinity at Smokers Gap at the Blue
Ridge mountains; that no request what
ever for reinforcements was sent hfther-
ward, and the additional fact that last
night portion of our troops are known
to have rested close upon that point. We
may therefore safely assume that what
ever force the rebels had in that portion
Of the valley between the Blue Ridge and
the Bull Run ranges was yesterday drfv-
en- into the main Shenandoah valley"
Though Confederate forces were operat-
ing in southern Pennsylvania and north
ern Maryland it was not
Potomac believed that Lees main
r-1 body had yet crossed the
0AoS0s"' Potomac. For several days
Washington was without any positive in
formation. On the 18th of June, 1853.
however. came a dispatch from Balti-
more, as follows. giving the first actual
news of Lees own advance:
THE Information received here this
morning from western Maryland is to the
following effect: Lee is said to have
passed through Winchester Friday June
1O; that the entire rebel army was then
in motion. claiming to be 100000 strong.
Ewell was at Hagerstown Monday and
his corps marched Tuesday for Pennsyl-
vania. Longstreet's forces were about
fn ho eli 40 hry
Wednesday,: the rebel program, according
to the representations of a highly intelli-
gent sympathiZer from western Maryland,
is that Hills forces were to occupy Hook
er's attention until the main rebel army
were well on their way-that the entire
army would then move rapidly north
having meanwhile supplied themselves
with fresh horses from Maryland and
Pennsylvania.
THE rebels expected to capture Harris
burg almost without opposition and move
at once on Philadelphia. etc. This ex-
travagant program was seriously related
by the gentleman in question to a loyal
gentleman here. who was supposed by
the relator to be rather Indifferent to
the success of the Union cause. The re-
lator further says that the rebel officer.
have been newly uniformed and equipped
and their advance forces made to present
very fine appearance. EWell told his
men to pay literally for everything and
that although the people might turn up
their noses at the rebel money now, they
would soon be glad to get it,
In the same issue of The Star is printed
a dispatch from Harrisburg stating that
the Confederates had ten regiments. with
artillery and cavalry. on South noun
tain, beyond Gettysburg.
Meanwhile practically nothing was
known of the Union preparations to resist
the Confederate invasion
To Protect save by the organization of
n..A, state forces. but it was as
oopASoA' sumed that the Union troops
would be Unanswered to bring them into
opposition as quickly as possible. In The
Star Of June %. 1853. is this paragraph:
LAS it may be possible that the move
ments of the rebels north may require
more troops at this point sooner or later.
it seems to us that it would be well for
the government to call out the District
militia for as long as may be necessary
to complete their organization thoroughly
and at the same time familiarize them
with the duty of such service as may
eventually be required of them In rifle
pits and elsewhere in and around the
Notifications surrounding Washington.
Would it not also be well at the same
time to conscript the strangers here who
come within the arms-bearing ages, for
precisely the same service or practice in
the defenses? That can readily be done
by previously proclaiming martial law
throughout the District of Columbia. In
this way the efficiency of Gen. Hooker
army for active operation at a distance
from Washington might be greatly in
creased. 1t strikes us that perhaps 10000
men in all might be added to the effective
force in this vicinity by some such
action"
At the close of the week there was the
greatest anxiety in Washington regard
ing the fate of the
News From Pennsylvania capital.
Pennsylvania. 81 1859 is reprinted
a dispatch from the Philadelphia Bull
letin from Hanover junction. same date.
to the effect tina. Col. Jennings regi-
ment had left Harrisburg two days pre-
vious for Gettysburg. The next morn
ing ,Friday) it reached Gettysburg. The
Philadelphia City Troop and another
cavalry company preceded them. The
cavalry was three miles beyond Marsh
creek and the enemy were then in the