Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-07
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

right flank. trying to cut In between him
and Richmond, at this time
Sherman's fifty years ago. Sherman
r was making his move from
ovuAee' the former Chattanooga
base toward Atlanta. Not much atten-
ton was being paid to this latter adj
vance because of the greater interest the
public felt in Grants work south Of the
Rappahannock. In The Star Of June I,
1884, is an official announcement OF fu-
tile Confederate attack made upon Sher-
man at Kingston. Ga. at the conclusion
of which the Federal left reached the
railroad near Marietta This, stated Sec
rotary Stanton. had been the object of
Sherman's movements for several days.
The Star pointed out in this connection
that Marietta was only twenty miles
northwest of Atlanta, the highest point
upon the Western and Atlantic railroad.
1t continued: Atlanta, Ca, now appa-
rently almost within the grasp of Sher-
man, is point almost of more impor-
lance to the rebels than Richmond itself.
it being the center of a number of the
most important railroads Of the Confed-
eracy, and the great center also of rebel
manufacturing operations"
*
In The Star of June 2, 1854, is printed
the text Of a dispatch just then received
by the War Depart
A Dispatch ment from Gen. Grant.
From Grant which is an excellent
example Of that COM
mander's terseness and explicitness of ex-
preston in his official communications:
about pm. yesterday (May Sd sher-
idan. perceiving a force Of rebel cavalry
at Cold Water (Which proved to be Fitz
Lees division) attacked and after hard
fight routed 1t, together with Clingman's
brigade of infantry. which came to Lees
support. Sheridan remained in posses
sion Of the place. He reported at dark
that he had a considerable number of
prisoners and that there were many rebel
dead and wounded on the field. He was
ordered to hold the position and at 10
pm. the 9Th Corps set out to occupy 1t.
We have not yet heard from Wright or
Sheridan this morning. and do not know
whether the former has got his troops to
their destination. Smith must be close
upon WHght's column.
This morning the enemy was also NOV
ing heavy column in the same direction.
The order has just gone to Warren to
fall upon their flank Wilson had a fight
last evening near Hanover Court House
with Young's brigade of rebel cavalry
He routed Young. killing and capturing
many; but there has been good deal of
artillery firing in that direction this
morning. Reported last night that in his
fight of Monday afternoon near Bethesda
Church Col. Tyfrell of the 18th Virginia,
ana Col. Willis, commanding Pegram's
brigade (rebeD. were killed Col. Christian
OF the 49th Pennsylvania was wounded
ana captured, SO was the assistant adju-
tant general of Ramsey's brigade, name
not reported. Ten other commissioned Of
dcers and seventy privates. Sixty rebels
were buried on the field. In our center
Burnside reports his advanced line as be-
ing this morning within a mile and half
of Mechanicsville."
These activities Of Grants forces are in
terpreted in another part Of the same is
sue of The Star as having effected the
advance of Grants whole front line about
four miles, bringing the federal line i'm
medlateiy near the first line of fortifica-
tons of Richmond
The constant fighting in this part of
the country laid heavy strain upon
the field hospitals and
Float1ne special facilities were
Hosn;+al rendered necessary by the
INCREASING lnuOW OF
wounded men, In this emergency float
ing hospitals were improvised. In The
Star Of June q 1864. is the following:
The floating hospital New World has
been towed up the river and now lies
at anchor off Alexandra. All of her
machinery has been removed, and she is
fitted up In fine style for hospital pur-
poses. 1t is understood that she will be
sent to the White House virginia) and
there used as a floating hospital. The
New World was built in New York
about twelve years ago and used to run
on the Hudson river between New York
and Albany. She was owned by the
Peoples Line of steamers and was
known the floating palace where
meals We're served upon the European
pleasure seekers. She was one of the
fastest boats on the Hudson river, but
her timbers became too weak to bear
her machinery, which was found to be
entirely too heavy, and it has conse-
quently all been removed. The New
World has three decks, with aceommo-
dations for 2.O0O patients, and Is over
300 feet long. She has been entirely re-
fitted and is now one of the finest boats
of the kind afoat It required two tugs
andria, where she now lies safely at
anchor.
In this connection Is paragraph in
the same issue of The Star stating that
the steamer Wenonah was engaged that
day in carrying wounded from the 9Th
street wharf to the steamer West Me-
tropelis, which was lying off Alexandria.
1t was intended that they should be taken
to New York to be placed in hospitals.
The national republican convention as
semhled at Baltimore June T. 1864, to
nominate a presiden
Presidential tiai ticket ON tne eve
Nomination. was little doubt of
Lincoln's nomination. In the issue OF
June 2, 1864, The Star said:
'If anything were wanting to insure the
denomination of President Lincoln next
week by the Baltimore convention, by ac-
clamation, it has certainly been supplied
by the demonstration Of the utter weak
ness Of the opposition to him in the ranks
of those processing to favor the stern
prosecution Of the war until the rebellion
be auelled, which Is the conspicuous re-
suit of the mass or mob convention OF
malcontents held last week in Cleveland,
Ohio. There was question whether Ere
mont, as the representative of the mai
content interests. had not something ike
respectable popular strength remaining to
be developed by some possible adverse
combination in military affairs. the