Evening star., 1914-10-04
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR.

In THE STAk
After the battle of the crater at
Petersburg the Union operations at
Richmond fifty years
Military ago were for some time
unproductive of results.
0ctiSItaes. In The Star of Septem-
Der 80. 1864. however. is an announce
ment of activity not only in that field.
but elsewhere, as follows:
Secretary Stanton's bulletin contains
the gratifying announcement that
Sheridan's cavalry entered Staunton on
Monday morning. On Sunday evening
Sheridan's cavalry and infantry were
at Harrisonburg. which is nearly thirty
miles distant from Staunton. Yet by S
O'Clock the next morning the advance
were entering Staunton. Sheridan is
certainly entitled to the credit of max
ing the best time in the war.
Late yesterday came the inspiriting
announcement of the brilliant sue
cesses of Gen. Grant on the north side
Richmond. One army column proceed
at the mouth of that curve of the river
which is nearest Richmond. The river
at that point forms a loop so to speak,
and at the gap a stone may be thrown
across it. Here the energy and prac-
tical ability of Gen. Butler is exhibit
ing itself in cutting a channel across
the narrow neck. thus saving many
miles of river navigation. The fortifi-
cations and entrenchments near Cha
pins farm are on the old turnpike to
Richmond, which runs near the river
by nearly a straight course from the
Dutch gap. Chapin's farm. or bluff, is
said to be about nine miles from the
doomed city. The other column sent
out by Gen. Grant proceeded from
Deep Bottom. which is at the head of
another of the curves of the James
river, farther down than Dutch gap,
but higher in latitude. 1t proceeded to
the New Market road, which leads to
Richmond by rather a circuitous route,
and took the entrenchments there. The
intersection of the mill road is the New
Market and Richmond roads. The point
at which Gen. Birney was left by Gen.
Grant is seven miles from Richmond.
In June last Gen. Grant captured the
outer line of the enemy's fortificat tions
little in advance of Deep Bottom.
when the enemy fell back to the strong
position captured yesterday. and no as
sau1t was made at that time. The plans
Of Gen. Grant have not been fully de-
veloped. but the complete success of
the movement thus far gives reason to
count on very important results
x i
In The Star of October 1, 1864, is an
account of the experiences of DIR. w. j.
Cragen, surgeon of the
EXchanged I'd District of Columbia
Regiment. who was cap
AAAsoAe1' tured May "a near Fair
several Of the Confederate prisons was
his acquaintance with the prison pen
at Macon. Ga:
Here they were placed in the stock
two buildings only. but the prisoners
built sheds for shelter. The stockade
covered about three acres of ground,
and in it 1000 prisoners were confined,
and considering all circumstances the
health of the prisoners was generally
good. The rations were here served out
every four days. and consisted of FIVE
pints of meal. fifteen ounces of bacon
cured in ashes, six tablespoons of
worm -eaten beans, four ditto of rice.
two teaspoons Of salt, one gill of mo-
lasses. half gill of vinegar and one
tablespoon of soft side. They re-
July. when Stoneman was making his
raid. The 2Sth about 900 prisoners
were sent to Charleston, and the doctor
left with 600 others on the following
day for Savannah. where they were
placed in the yard of the marine hos
pital in tents. and remained until the
Sd of September, receiving a pound of
fresh beef per day. with plenty of
meal and rice and little vinegar"
While the draft was in progress in
Washington in 1864 President Lincoln
set an example to his
Presidents fellow townsmen by
c,L.4:4... sending a substitute to
ouDstltute. the war. An account of
this is printed in The Star of October
1, 1864:
Yesterday Provost Marshal Fry sent
for Mr.. Noble d. Larner of the third
ward and announced to him that Presi-
dent Lincoln desired to have a repre-
sentative recruit put in for him (the
PresidenD and credited to the third
ward. Mr. Larner at once set to work to
procure as fine and healthy looking a
recruit as he could, and today secured
young man, twenty years of age,
named John Summerf1eld Staples. from
Strandsburg, Monroe County, Pa, who
had served nine months in the 16sth
Pennsylvania Military Regiment. Sta
pies is not as tall as the President, but
is well formed, stout and healthy, and
there is every indication that he will
prove an excellent soldier The recruit
was accompanied by his father Mr. j.
L. Staples, who gave his consent to his
sons enlistment. The bounty was paid
the recruit and the money was handed
over to Mr.. Larner By Gen. Fry, who
was authorized by the President to
draw upon him for the amount. Sta
pies was at once sent to the barra cks,
and thence will be sent to Col. Alex
ander's I'd District Regiment
In the next issue of The Star. Oc
tober 3, 1864, is the following:
This morning John S. Staples,
President Lincoln's representative re-
cruit, was arrayed in the uniform of
the United States Army. and, accom-
panied by Gen. Fry. provost marshal
general; Mr. N. D. Larner of the third
ward and his (staples) father. was
taken to the executive mansion, where
he was received by the President. Gen.
Fry introduced him by saying: Mr..
President, this is the man who is to
represent you in the army for the next
year Mr.. Lincoln shook hands with
Staples. remarked that he was a good
looking. stout and healthy looking
man and believed he would do his
duty. He asked Staples if he had