Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-01
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Throughout the civil war soldiers OF the
Union armies employed all sorts of de-
vices to avoid further
Trick of service and much Off
n cial attention was given
'eAS. to the thwarting of
schemes to dodge military duty. In The
Star of January %. 1854. is a news arti-
Gle dealing with an Interesting phase of
this enterprise:
Several days ago we noticed the fact
of some twenty deserters from our army
having been sent here from Delaware.
where they were found among lot of
rebel prisoners. The manner in which
these deserters succeeded in reaching the
fort is as follows: After the battle OF
Gettysburg a number of rebel prisoners
were taken by our men and from that
place sent to Fort Delaware. Previous to
their leaving, however. one of the gov
eminent detectives ascertained that some
of the men had previously been connect
ed with our army and had deserted to
the rebel ranks. Their idea in so doing
was to throw themselves into the hands
of our men at the next battle. subscribe
to the oath of allegiance and thus be set
free. The detective wishing to acquaint
himself with all the facts of the affair.
clad himself in the garb OF Confederate
soldier. and when the time arrived for
conveying the men to Fort Delaware
Joined in with them and thus suffered
similar Incarceration within the walls of
the fort There he remained. learning
a feu
when. as preparations were being made
to release the men on taking the oath.
our detective stepped forward, made him
self known to Gen. Schoepff and thus ex-
ploded the entire arrangement. The
proba bility is that the deserters will be
shot,
Nothing more greatly pleased the
northern people during the war than
assurances that the
Escaped From southerners were dis
D:.L1 satisfied with the
course of events. and
particularly that jewellers in Richmond
were disposed to quit the Confederate
capital and cross the lines. In The
Star of January 81, 1864. is an account
Of an exodus from Richmond:
"A few days since. Mr.. w. H. Duvall,
machinist. formerly of Howard
county, Nd, arrived here from Rich
mond (where he has been residing
since 1860 with his wife and child.
having left that place on the 18th
instant, in a spring wagon. with which
he travelled to Mazingos ferry. on the
Rappahannock. crossing which he OBJ
tanned a carriage and came to the
northern neck of the Potomac which
he also crossed. and made his way up
through Maryland. reaching this city
in nine days from the time he started.
Mr.. Duvall left Richmond provided
with a pass through the lines. from
the rebel secretary of war. counter
signed by Gen. Elzey, who is in COM
nand of the pickets about Richmond.
For this pass he was offered large
amounts by several parties. who were
doubtless anxious to dodge the rebel
CONSUMPTION, and one man.: reported to
be worth $4,000. offered him all he
was worth for it.
Mr.. Duvall had been i'll for some time
and therefore has not had an opportunity
of knowing much of what was going on
about the city. He was informed. how
ever that at the navy yard several IRON
clads were being built. Provisions of all
kinds are very scarce, but IT is beleVed
that the spectators have much 1000
stored away. Beef is retailing at from
three to four and one-half dollars per
pound. Bacon was very scarce and our
informant does not think that q dozen
hams were on sale in the entire city
There is little doubt but that there
is considerable Union sentiment IN the
city and this is increasing; the passage
of the last law for conScripting all CIT
izens whether they have furnished sub
stitutes or not. is very obnoxious to all
classes. and the Sufferings are dally
making more converts to Unionism. The
people in the cities have been the great
est sufferers for want of food and cloth
ing and are therefore getting tired OF
the war. but those living in the country.
who can make most of their own pro-
visions, seem to be less open TO con-
viction.
AT Mazingo ferry Mr.. Duvall was de-
layed for twenty-four hours on account
of the raid of Gen. Marston tCniono
through the Northern Neck. TINS raid
created intense excitement III mat part
of Virginia and the inhabitants hid their
boats. together with most of their pro-
visions 1t appears that but little private
property was taken or destroyed by our
troops. and the people through whose
places they passed express surprise that
so little damage was done them
*
government particularly between Presi-
dent Davis and Vice Presi-
Alexander dent Stephens. had for
some time been in circula-
stephens. ton in Washington. and
aroused interesting speculation regarding
the possible early collapse of the Confed-
eracv. In The Star of January p, 1871,
is the following extract from the Rich
mond Enquirer of ten days earlier. giving
particulars of Stephens illness. later re-
garded AS diplomatic:
I've are panied to announce that Mr.
Hidell secretary to Vice President
STEPHENS. yesterday received telegram
from Augusta. announcing the serious and
sudden illness of Mr.. Stephens at his
home in Crawfordville. Ga. He was at
tackled Monday morning. and sent that
day to Augusta for a physician. He was
prevented from coming to Richmond at
the beginning of the session of Congress
by the serious illness of his brother. the
Hon. Linton Stephens. at Milledgeville:
then by his own feeble health and the
severity of the weather. When again
ready to start for Richmond his brother
was a second time very severely attack
ed, which delayed his coming over a
week He was a third time ready to
leave and would no doubt have started
to this city yesterday morning, but for
this untimely attack. Should he recover.
as we trust he Will. it is altogether prob
able he will be unable to visit Richmond
during this winter.
The Star added the following comment:
The above bundle of excuses for the
continued absence of Mr.. Stephens from
Richmond seems to be regarded in official