Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-17
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

In The NIAk
At this time nifty years ago Washing
don was seething with excitement regard
ing Gen. Grants for
Grants Forward ward movement in
Movement. me ~. ~
had been naturally begun with every evi-
dence that the Federal commander was
determined to push the campaign to a
finish. The Star printed several extra
editions daily, to carry the latest informa-
ton to the anxious people. An unprec-
edented proportion of the space in each
issue was devoted to the war news. with
exceptionally large headlines. Tho various
engagements and battles were not at
that time given their distinctive names
which later came to be adopted in con-
formity with natural landmarks or set
Elements. In The Star Of May Q. 1854
is a summary OF the news of the fighting
of Saturday, the 7th, as result OF which
Grant had advanced to Spottsy1vania
Courthouse. II was reported that Grant
had "a field full of prisoners" At the
be within ten miles of Richmond. In
the S o'clock edition Of that date is the
following printed under the unusually
exciting head: ''Greati GloriousI Thrill
ing News from Gen. Grant,! He Is in
Full Pursuit of Lee Toward Rich
mond!!l
dispatches from Gen. Mead and Lieut.
the War Department. Our army Is in
full pursuit Of the enemy toward Rich
mond. We have 1000 prisoners. Our
forces occupied Fredericksburg at O'Clock
last night. The hospital for our wound
ed IL established there. Supplies. nurses,
physicians and attendants have been
ready for two days and have gone for
ward. The wounded are estimated at
about 1000"
In The Star Of the next day, May 10.
1884, is the text Of a proclamation by
President L n o n
Lincoln Suggests stating that enough
. was known Of the
thanksgiving. army opera ons
within the past five days to claim our
special gratitude to God; while what re-
mains undone demands our most sincere
prayers to and reliance upon Him. with
out whom all human effort is in vain. "
The President recommended that all pa
triots, wherever they might be. unite in
prayer and thanksgiving.
In the same issue is the following sum
mary under the heading Richmond:
This is the word just
Moving on now uppermost In all
minds It is believed that
nenMond. Gen. Bragg, with such
reserves. invalid forces, etc, as can be
mustered, has been intrusted with the de-
tense of Richmond, and that Lee hesi-
tates to plant himself within the fortifica-
tons in dread that Grant may fasten his
'Vicksburg grip upon him. he (Lee) be-
lieving that were he once cooped up In
Richmond half million of men could be
raised within a week at the north to go
down for a thirty. sixty or ninety day
siege of the place. There seems to be
no doubt that the suddenness and silence
with which Grants movements were made
disconnected the rebel plan Of Ringing
Longstreet upon Grants right flank and
rear the moment that advance should
be entered upon. Reports from scouts,
rebel deserters and rebel prisoners COM
ing here confirm the fact that Lee had con-
centrated the available fighting material
of the Confederacy in front of Grant and
exhausted its best capability upon the
desperate throw of the battles of Thurs
day and Friday Hence the dependency
which must exist in Richmond IN view
of the reverse to Lee in those battles.
~
Naturally there was a belief in some
quarters that Grant was going to march
straight into Richmond, SO
Counseling high was the enthusiastic
confidence in which he was
fatlence. held by the greater part
Of the north. The STAR realizing the diff
ficulties in the way Of so precipitate
conclusion Of the campaign. printed the
following in its o'clock extra of May
II. 1854:
1--WE have felt it our duty not to un-
duly exaggerate the successes achieved
by Gen. Grant, knowing that he and his
brave army have yet much hard work
before them, ere the desperate enemy
shall be fully crippled. And again we
council patience to such Of our readers
as have fully expected by this time
to see Grant marching triumphantly into
Richmond. Admitting that the enemy
has fought in these battles with brav-
cry, desperation and pertinacity UNEQUAL
ed on their part in the history of the
war. It is true also that the Army of
itself under the shock Of these continued
attacks Of the enemy. under circum-
stances most unfavorable. with similar
unequaled courage and pertinacity on its
part Grant heretofore has conquered
by the very force of a pertinacity that
finally exhausted the enemy and he now
in exchanging these terrible blows with
Lee shows the same imperturbable pur-
pose to win. His prize is Richmond and
his indomitable pluck will reach 1t.
Throuehout the remainder of the week
there was a constant supply of inter-
esting news from
Rufus ingalls, the front. but
Crisp Dispatches. part ti i cular i'm
portance until dispatch from Chief
Quartermaster General Rufus ingalls,,
printed in The Star of May Ii. 1854. tell
ing of a successful engagement under
Hancock, who captured 1000 prisoners
and over twenty-five guns. Gen. ingalls,
expressions in his dispatches to Senator
Nesmith of Oregon are full of interesting
individuality. In one of them he says:
1--WE are bursting them up The world
never heard Of war before" In the dis
patch of May Ii he says: we shall hive
them this pop, though 1t may take a day
or two more. They fight like devils.
The old republic is firm. Bet your pile