Evening star., 1915-03-28
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THB STAR

xN &A0 NA1AN
The activities Of Sherman and Scho-
field south Of Lees position in Virginia
were such as to in
Closing In crease the belief in the
n.- north. fifty years ago.
the confederacy through tho evacuation
Of Richmond and the breakup OF the
main Confederate army was impending
In Tho Star Of March q. 1865. Is the
following comment on the situation:
From knowledge Of tho country in
which Sherman and schoneld are operat-
ing. and Of many circumstances bearing
on their recent movements not generally
known to the public, We draw the con-
clusion that the force Of the former ar
rived at or before Goldsboro. N. c.. yes
terday. thus effecdng a virtual junction
with Schoneld. It Is impossible that any
efforts the rebels may have made to
check him IN the course Of the past week
could have succeeded. as for Lee so to
reinforce Johnston as to enable him to
check Sherman's advance would so
weaken him dee) as to have resulted
ere this in the fall Of Richmond. Nor do
we believe that II Lee ventures to carry
his force to Johnston (thus abandoning
Richmond) he can defeat Sherman. rein
forced as he has been by this time by
Schofeld. II there has been any period
Of late when Lee might have accom-
plished aught for his SO rapidly sinking
cause by a bold and rapid movement,
that time has passed. A single fortnight
more will eventually enable Sherman to
get within cooperating distance Of
Grants position; and then, If Lee re-
for possible escape in the direction of
Danville. 1t seems to us, will have
passed away"
On Thursday. March %. 1865, Washing
ton was visited by furious gale, which
did much damage In
Much Damage and around this city.
-n In The Star OF the
W @oAe' next day Is an ac-
count Of the destruction wrought by the
wind. On the river many boats were
driven ashore. The roof of Col. Closes
foundry, near the steamboat wharf. was
blown of and a colored hackman named
James Bush was 50 badly injured that he
died during the night The small steam
er Medora, lying at the 9Th street wharf,
was lifted up and capsized, persons on
board being rescued with difficulty. One
Of the pinnacles on the north tower Of
Trinity Church was blown down and one
of the iron caps on the Wallach school,
house was carried some distance. In the
northern part Of the city a number of
about and unroofed, causing a panic
among the oolored occupants. Many
trees were uprooted in various parts OF
the city. The Star says: Zone lady on
6th street on the island was caught by
the gale while carrying eggs and coffee to
a neighbor and she was hurled across the
street against the houses on the other
side" No report is made as to the fate
of the eggs. At the navy yard part Of
the west end Of the large shiphouse was
blown out and the tin roof considerably
torn up. The tin roof Of the other ship
house was damaged and shutter OF one
Of the skylights torn Off. which fell upon
young man named George Gates, EN-.
so injured him that he died during the
night The general hospital at Good
Hope near Fort Baker was blown down,
seriously injuring one man and bruising
two or three others. A coach passing
over the Eastern branch bridge had the
top torn from the body
* j.
Saturday, March 25, 1865, the Con-
.federates west of Richmond made a
sudden sortie and
Hot Fight at for the time ac-
complished a sue
+ Fort Steadman. cessful advance at
Fort Steadman near the Appomattox
The Federals rallied, however, and re-
gained the works with heavy net
loss to the southern forces. The af-
fair is described in the following dis
match from Maj. Gen. John G. Parke
to Gen. Grant:
..The enemy attacked my front this
morning about 4:3O o'clock with three
divisions under the command OF zen;
Gordon. BY sudden rush they selzeo
the line held by the 90 bngaoe. Isl ISL
right Of Steadman, wheeled and, over
Of the fort. They established them
selves on the hill, turning our guns
stood firm Soon after a determined
attack was made on Fort Haskell.
held by part of McLaughlins brigade.
Wilcox's division, and was repulsed
with great loss to the enemy. .,
'aThe 1st Brigade of Hartranfts divi-
sion, held in reserve. was brought up,
and a check given to any further ad-
vance. One or two attempts to retake
the hill were made and were only
rival Of the I'd Brigade, when a charge
was made by that brigade. aided by
the troops of the LIST Division on
either flank, and the men were driven
out of the fort. with the loss of
number of prisoners, estimated at
about 1000. Two battle flags have also
been brought in. The enemy also lost
heavily in killed outside Of our lines
The whole line was Immediately reoc-
cupied and the guns retaken uninjured.
A later dispatch indicated that the
Confederate prisoners taken amounted
to about 2,700, and Gen. Grant esti-
mated the enemy's losses at probably
not less than 5000 in killed and wound
ed. while the Federal loss was stated
at probably less than 500.
The President has ordered Brevet
Mai. Cen Anderson to raise over Fort
Sumter at the
To Salute Flag hour of noon on
at Fort Sumter. same ss'n o. Hprn nnitsa ,ns
States flag that f1oated over 1t at the
time of the rebel assault" says The
Star of March 27. 1865, and that it be
saluted with 100 guns from Sumter
and also from every fort and rebel
battery that fired upon Sumter; that
suitable military ceremonies be per-
formed under the direction of Maj. Gen.
William T. Sherman, whose operations
compelled the evacuation of Charles
ton, or, in his absence, under direction
of Gen. Gilmore, commanding that
forces at Charleston be directed to
no rf{cinate in the ceremonies and that