Evening star., 1915-01-03
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

xN XA0 UXAxN
Christmas fell on Sunday In 1864. and
consequently there was no issue Of
The Star Monday, the
Capture Of day on which tho holi-
c.,.,., day was observed gem
o"sannaA' orally in this city. For
this reason. though there was NO repres-
sive government censorship then as now
In the case Of the war in Europe.
ut was not until the 27th Of De-
cenber that The Star was enabled
TO publish the news Of Gen. Sherman's
capture of Savannah, which occurred
on the 22d and was announced to the
President by Sherman in q dispatch re-
ceived Christmas evening. The dis
patch was dated on the 22d, announcing
the occupation of tho city and the
capture of $50 heavy guns. much am
munition and about $4,000 bales Of cot
ton. Thus it was that owing to the
original delay in Transmission and the
peculiar conditions locally the read
ers of The Star did not get the news
for five days after the event. Gen.
Sherman notified tho President of the
capture as q christmas present" In
The Star Of the 18th is tho following
speculation as to Sherman's next
course Of procedure from Savannah:
Now that Sherman is in full posses
sion of Savannah, and is able to leave
that point to be held by our gunboats
supported by a small garrison, to
march with his grand army to fresh
conquests, the question of where
next? comes up in every mind. We see
that some Of the northern papers are
divided in opinion as to whether he
will march first to Augusta OF Charles
ton. There is sufficient depth Of water
in the Savannah river at this time Of
up to Augusta, but as the banks OF
that river for a considerable portion
of the way are high and commanding
it is doubtful If gunboats could go up
there. exposed as they would, be to q
plunging fire from rebel batteries, un-
operation.
LAS Sherman has already completely
destroyed the rebel interior railroad
communications via Augusta, not much
yond destroying the rebel manufac-
tories there. Nor in our opinion will
the capture of Charleston be consid-
cred by Sherman of equivalent i'm
portance to the advantages to be
gained by direct march interiorward
into South Carolina and thence into
North Carolina. Strategically consid-
cred, BranchvilIe, 8. c., a very i'm
portant railroad center sixty-two miles
northwest of Charleston, Is Of more
Importance than Charleston. Augusta
or Savannah. and once seated there he
could open ready communication with
the sea at Beaufort. Charleston, in
that event, must fall into our hands
at any time like ripe pear"
Chicken fighting was favorite sport
in certain circles half a century ago
and although supposedly
Chicken against the law. was fn-
rrh+ dulged in on occasions sur
1AsA| reptitiously. In The Star of
December %, 1854, Is a news paragraph
as follows, telling Of a raid on a match
in the neighborhood of this city:
Owing to numerous complaints BY
residents of this city concerning the
character of those who visit Crysta
Springs, Supt Richards. with a posse
of his men, went to the place. an6
ascertaining that chicken fight was
on the tapis, stationed his men around
the place, and at given signal al
closed in and captured the entire party
f1fty-six in number, and paroled them
to appear at the second precinct station
house. The entire party appeared yes
terday morning before Justice Thomp.
son. The proprietor of Crystal Springs
was fined, under a decree of the levy
court. $50 for selling liquor without
license from that court. Twelve OF the
parties who were present at the cock
Aoh nd r0nceYnAd were
held for hearing. The balance were
dismissed, there being no evidence
against them. The justice. in order te
ascertain if there is any law In exist
ence which will subject the parties to a
fine holds the case under advfsement
Mr.. Utermehle, the attorney for the
levy court, was present at the hearing
and said that he knew of no law bear
ing upon the cases"
The first attack on Fort Fisher was
made December "a, 1864, continuing the
following day. but the
Attack on news did not get to
p- Washington until the
fort f1sner. 2sth, being carried in
the third edition Of The Star Of that
date. This attack was a failure. II
was notable for the explosion of pow
der ship near the walls Of the fort
which it was expected would cause a
breach through which the attacking
party under Gen. Butler could effect
an entrance. According to the dispatch
in The Star from Lieut.. Preston Of the
navy to Secretary Welles, the powder
ship was exploded within 800 yards OF
the fort at am. December "a. Later
information showed that this torpedo
had proved a great disappointment to
the Union commanders, for the explo-
sion was SO innocuous that the enemy
mistook the character Of the vessel
altogether, the shock being insufficient
even to displace the smokestacks of
the sunken blockade runners in the
vicinity. 1t was not until January 13
that the attack on the fort was re-
newed, the Union forces having been
strengthened by Gen. Grant, and on the
18th the fort surrendered.
Washington was under the effects of
a new Sunday law at this time fifty
years ago. prohibiting
New Sunday the opening of stores
Closing Law. M bath day day e. except COZ BY
apothecaries for the dispensing OF
medicines and by tho undertakers for
the burial Of the dead. In The Star Of
December 80. 1854. is a news item stat