Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Commander. ed ds upon '1 to s stop L.. in
his invasion Of the north was placed nm
der new control. The Star of Juno -.
1883, thus announced the change:
Mai. Gen. George q. Meade has been
assigned by the President to the com
mand Of the Army OF the Potomac, vice
Gen. Hooker, relieved. Maj. Gen. Meade
has been In command Of the 9Th Army
Corps. He commanded the division In
tEe list Army Corps that made the gal
liant attack at Fredericksburg on the
18th OF December on the left Of eur line.
he succeeded. 1t will be remembered, In
driving the enemy from all their ad-
lines and occupying the heights they had
occupied, piercing their lines entirely
and getting into the presence Of their re-
serves, but from want Of support was
obliged to yield the position gained; He
distinguished himself at the battle of
Mechanicsville. one year ago Saturday.
and was wounded In that affair. He Is
not more distinguished for his gailantry
than for ability and Thorough knowledge
Of his profession. As an engineer he
army officers"
In the same issue Of The Star is the
following note OF the news OF the inva-
sion, concerning which
Lack of there was the moss In
tense anxiety in Wash
war News. tngton,
up to the present writing today,
p.m., we have no confirmation Of the
story that fighting has been entered
upon at or near Harrisburg. Neither Is
Axra nf fhA hIrn1nQ
OF the bridge across the Susquehanna at
Columbia. A private dispatch received
here last night, at 0 o'clock, from Lam
thirteen from Wrghtsville, says that the
latter place was not. when the dispatch
was sent e O'clock p.mD, occupied by the
rebels. Up to this ho4 telegraph'c com.
as1s to is .na o hs tnere
through to Philadelphia. Harrisburg and
Pittsburgh No attempt has been made
thus far upon the washington and Bal
timore railroad, runlnr TO the contrary
Notwithstanding"
. ~
June 80, 1858. there was practically
no news of the Pennsylvania campaign
in The Star. In the Sec
Washington ond edition. issued at ;
CLOCK, 10 lAC AOAA0"AA'
Waiting. summary:
This is a day of singular quiet In
this city, following. as 1t does. upon q
week Of such excitement. The rebels
have not only Withdrawn apparently
from the vicinity Of HARRISBURG, pu.
at the same time taken themselves
away from this immediate yicinltg. %
onstrations thereabout the reDsa
seem a matter of imperative necessary
for them to make rapid movements
blows ere preparations could be made
to meet them. Lee INDUCES In iatai
hesitation and not only permits the
army Of the Potomac to endanger MS
but allows ano.n se
force, strong in numbers and not to De
despised, composed. as it is. largely or
veterans OF the field, to grow up In
his front. Avery short time now must
serve to put it out OF his power 10
elect lines OF march In advance or re-
treat at will. and he must perforce
show his hand. The Confederates have
made no demonstrations today upon
the railroads north of this city and
communication is uninterrupted"
The first news Of the actual pres
ence on the Pennsylvania war field Of
the federal com
1mminence of mander was printed
in The Star of July l.
uicdt nattie. 1853. in a dispatch
from Lancaster datedlthe day previous.
as follows:
THE rebels have fallen back ten
miles from Harrisburg. Gen. Couch and
and staff have crossed the Susquehanna
and occupy the south bank Of the
river Gen Meade occupied Hanover
and York tonight, cutting the rebel
lines in two. The rebels are rapidly
concentrating in the interior. Gen;
rear Of the enemy's trains. A great
battle is thought to be Imminent. The
rebels must fight on Meade's ground
or Observation-Disclosures Large numbers
Of troops ares constantly arriving at
Harrisburg"
The battle Of Gettysburg began on
the 1st of July. but not until the next
day. July 2. 1863. did Wash
First News fngton get the news Of the
r4 actual conflict. This was
VI I1SAt. contained in a brief dis
patch in an extra edition issued that
day, as follows:
yesterday at 9 am. the rebel corps
Of Longstreet and Hill attacked our
1st and 18th Army Corps, under Gems.
Reynolds and Meade, on the road be-
tween Gettysburg and Chambersburg,
near the former place, and a battle oc-
Cured which was. very severe up to
last advices from that point. Though
our troops were successfully resisting
the attack our loss had been heavy, in
Gen. Reynolds killed. At pm
our Sd and 18th Army Corps were rap
idly moving up to take part in the en-
gagement."
The Star Of July 3. 1863. has brief news
dispatches Of the further fighting at Get
tysburg. but nothing con-
Incomplete elusive or brought closely
panor+s up to date. There were
"oPoAs0' also some belated &C
counts of fighting on previous days. CIV
Ing more detailed versions of the conflict
A dispatch from Philadelphia. printed
Friday. the Sd. was as follows:
parties coming here from Gettysburg
say that Wednesday DULY ID 10000 of
our troops were engaged with $4,000 Of
the enemy. During Wednesday night
about $4,000 of Meade's troops came up,
and took favorable positions, while 25.000
other Union troops were near at hand.
The rebels had mainly concentrated near
Wednesday night, and there
is little doubt but that the great battle of
yesterday would involve every available
man of both armies
Harrisburg. July 3.-From the cannon
aiding heard late here last night 1t is evil
dent that a terrible battle was fought