Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24


ingtonduringth the fighting around Spottsyle
vania, in the middle Of
Panic in May, 1854. that The
~ Stars extras were nu-
hlcnmona. merous One of them
was issued. for instance. Sunday. the 18th.
telling of a great panic in Richmond. as
follows:
"A colored man who left Richmond
through the lines. coming via Fredericks-
burg. reports that at that time there was
great excitement in the rebel capital and
the opinion seemed to be that Lee had
been worsted. Tuesday no less than
seven wounded rebel generals-among
whom were Longstreet. A. P. Hill and
! Jenkins-were taken to Richmond. The
wound of Longstreet was said to be a
very serious one and there was great ex-
element over the event. But few Of the
rebel wounded had reached Richmond in
consequence Of Lees railroad commune
cations having been cut with that city.
The general feeling in Richmond seemed
to be that its hour of doom had come"
X X
For nearly a week after Spottsylvania
| fighting both armies rested. changing
positions somewhat and
Both Armies endeavoring to patch
Resting. the almost continuous
struggle of five days. The reasons for
this comparative quietude were not I'M
derstood generally in Washington. In the
issue Of May II, 1854. The Star presented
the following summary of the situation:
THE official bulletins given elsewhere
show that there have been no military
operations of Importance carried on the
last few days, mainly on account of the
condition of the roads. The skirmtshfng
Saturday and Sunday morning was for
choice of position on our left center.
Saturday the enemy. by a sudden dash,
got a position from which it was deter
mined to dislodge them. and in the even
ing a column, led by Gen. Ayres brigade,
was sent to regain it, which was done
without serious loss and the proper force
put in position to hold the ground re-
gained.
THE roads are described as in fright
full condition, delaying the progress OF the
reinforcements going to Grant, very lew
of whom had reached him up to yester-
day morning, but by this time they must
have Joined him in sufficient numbers to
form a very handsome addition to MS
army It is believed that some reinforce
ments are reaching Lee, but not In any
degree commensurate with his needs. and
there Is no doubt from the weakness
shown by the Confederates at other points
in the Confederacy where they are being
pressed that pretty nearly the extent OF
it's resources in the way of fighting men
had been hurried up to Lees support pre-
vious to Grants advance, leaving very
little reserve for him.
"Advices received from the Army of the
Potomac to yesterday morning speak OF
the extreme difficulty of discovering the
exact position of the enemy. who are
very cautious and have awaited them
selves of the cover of dense woods to con-
ceal their operations-their pickets only
being seen. We further learn that none
of the prisoners in passing from the front
to Belleplain made their escape. so efft-
GENTLY were they guarded from head
quarters"
While Grant was pounding away at Lee
between Fredericksburg and Richmond
Sherman was moving
Various eastward in Georgia and
r. Butler was operating on
Victories. the peninsula in an en-
deavor to draw OF from, Lees forces BY
feinting against Richmond and at the
same time Sheridan was mixing. his
great cavalry raid in the rear of Lees
army. These various movements con-
| tributed to the war news which The Star
was giving to its readers in frequent edi-
| tons. In the issue of May 16, 1864, is a
brief dispatch telling of the fight of sher-
Imam at. .Resaca, III which he lost 5000 in
killed wounded and missing, giving nc
| details. In the next days issue The Star
gave more about the Resaca fight, which
| was announced as glorious Union vic
| tory. 1000 Confederate prisoners having
| been captured. In the same issue is a
note to the effect that Sheridan's cavalry
column had effected junction with But
| Ter at Turkey Island, greatly relieving
| the Union force from the menace OF
sharpshooters. In the issue of May Is
| The Star prints an account of the Union
victory effected by Gen. Crook near New
bern. Va, including the capture of SOC
prisoners.
| exceptional opportunity for the news
faker, SO ready was
Taking the public to believe
Proclamation. regarding various
| military activities and government in
| tentions. A singular case of news manu-
| featuring came to light at about this
| time fifty years ago. In The Star of
May IS. 1864. is printed the following
statement that had that day been issued
by Secretary Seward and addressed to
the public:
"A paper purporting to be a proclama-
ton of the President. countersigned by
the Secretary of State and bearing date
the 18th day of May. is reported at this
department as having appeared in the
New York World of this date. The pa
| per Is an absolute forgery. No procla-
nation of this kind. or any other. has
| been made or proposed to be made, by
the President, or issued, or proposed to
be issued, by the State Department or
any department of this government
The Star added note to the effect that
| the publication contradicted purported
to be a proclamation by the President
calling for several hundred thousand
more men and ordering a draft therefor
to fill up the ranks of the Union armies.
A telegraph dispatch from New York
stated that the World had announced on
its bulletin board that the proclamation
it had printed that day was bogus. In
the next days issue The Star noted that
several arrests had been made of OPP
orators at different offices of the indie