Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1913 — CIVIL WAR [ARTICLE]

CIVIL WAR

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK

March 24, 1863. The Confederate steamer Havelock, under the command of Capt L. M. Coxetter, ran the blockade Into Charleston, S. C. A correspondent for the Mobile Register gave the following accout of her escape: “She had run through the blockaders just before day, having left Nassua on the twentieth instant, bringing a most valuable cargo. After crossing the bar, however, she ran ashore on Drunken Dick shoals, and it was feared the enemy’s gunboats would run in and endeavor to capture her, which might have been done at the time had they had pluck enough to have attempted It* The Confederate States rams Chicora, Captain Rutledgfe, and Palmetto, Captain Tucker, got under way and went down to offer battle, should the enemy attempt a capture. There was evidently great commotion among the fleet, who could be seen rapidly signaling one The battery was crowded by spectators watching events, and eagerly looking forward to some demonstration pn the part of the Federate, as our rams glided down to the scene of action. The British steamer Petrel, which had been delayed in rendering assistance to the French steamer Republic, Renaudin, which had just gotten off, was seen going out at this time, passing Sullivan’s Island. Numerous sailboats and barges were seen running down the bay, adding to the interest of the scene. For a time the greatest Interest and excitement prevailed. By the assistance of the high tide, and after throwing over some ten slabs of iron and fifty boxes of tin, the Havelock floated off and came safely up to the city, much to the chagrin of the Yankees." Ponchatoula, La., was captured by the expeditionary Union force under Colonel Clarke, after a brief skirmish with the enemy. March 25, 1863. The United States rams Lancaster and Switzerland undertook to kun the batteries at Vicksburg. As soon as they came within range, the Confederates opened a tremendous fire, The Lancaster was struck thirty times. Her entire bow was shot away, causing her to sink immediately, turning a complete somersault as she went down. All but two of her crew escaped. The Switzerland was disabled by a sixty-four pound shot entering her steam drum. She floated down, the batteries still firing and striking her repeatedly, until finally the Albatross ran alongside and towed her to the lower mouth of the canal. Both these gunboats were improvised from light-weight river steamers, and were not fit to withstand a heavy fire.

Confederates under Wheeler, Forrest, Stuart and Strong, captured Brentwood, Tenn., garrisoned by five hundred Federate under Colonel Bloodgood. After the capture the Confederate force was overcome by a body of Union troops under Gen. Green Clay Smith, who follwed them for several miles, inflicting some desultory punishment in a running fight. The citizens of Savannah,*Ga., were suffering greatly from the want of a sufficient supply of nourishing food. Sven cornmeal could be had only in limited quantities. The railroads were forbidden to carry any food out of town. K Governor Brown of Georgia sent a message to the legislature of that state recommending an act restricting the planting of cotton to a quarter of an acre to each hand, under a severe pepalty. He also recommended. that further restrictions be put on the distillation of spirits, so as to prevent the use .of potatoes, peas and dried peaches for that purpose. He was in favor of giving a cordial support to the Confederate government. The Union fleet of ironclads, monitors and gunboats, Admiral DuPdnt commanding, left Hilton Head, S. C. The Confederate schooner Clara was captured on the blockade at Mobile. March 26, 1863. A large and enthusiastic Union meeting was held at Buffalo, N. Y., at which resolutions were unanimously .adopted declaring firmly and decidedly for the support of the government and the prosecution of the war until the Confederates were forced to sue for peace. The legislature of Maine adjourned, having adopted concurrent resolutions fully Indorsing President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, approving the use of negroes in the military service of the United States, and oppbsing all suggestions of compromise. An expedition sent to Rome, Tenn., by Gen. George Crook, commanding at Carthage, Tenn., returned with twenty-eight prisoners, among thorn a Confederate Captain Ride, together with seven wagons and thirty horses. General Burnside Issued an order assuming command of the department of the Ohio. March 27, 1863. The following bill was introduced in the legislature of Virginia: "Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, that If any person buy any article of food (including salt) for man or beast, and withhold the same from market, or ask and receive more than five per eentum' commission or profit on coat and transporation, such person

shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall forfeit the article so bought—one-half to the informer and the other to the commonwealth provided, that this act shall not apply to marketmen collecting supplies for dally cify consumption, or to any person bringing such food from beyond the Confederate army lines, or purchases for family consumption. “This act shall be in force from its passage, and continue during the war.” » An important debate took place in the British house of commons concerning the depredations of the Confederate privateer Alabama. Jacksonville, Fla;, was burned by the National troops under Colonel Rust Colonel Fawcott, of the Confederate army, was arrested at New York city. The English steamer Ariel was captured by the gunboat Stettin while attempting to run the blockader off Bull’s Bay, S. C. Robert Gay, of Company D, Seventyfirst Indiana, was shot as a deserter at Indianapolis. National soldiers prevented ministers Of Norfolk from holding fast day worship in their churches, in compliance with the proclamation of President Davis, setting aside the day for the purpose. The U. S. S. S. Hartford, Admiral Farragut’s flagship, engaged the batteries at Warrenton, three miles below Vicksburg, and passed below, accomplishing nothing. ' March 28, 1863. The legislature of Massachusetts passed resolutions thanking the soldiers of the state serving in the war, and promising them such re-enforee-ment as the National government might demand. The National gunboat Diana was captured by the Confederates near Patterson, La. ■ , - Coles island, nine miles from Charleston, S. C., was occupied by New York troops. Confederates burned the temporary bridge with which the National engineers had replaced the stone bridge at Bull Run, Va. They also collected all the grain and other supplies they could obtain In London and Pauqier counties. The steamer Sam Gaty, carrying a number of negroes, was stopped and boarded by Confederate partisans at Sibley, Mo. Twenty of the negroes were reported killed, and a large quantity of government store destroyed, before the vessel was permitted to proceed. A foraging expedition of National troops under Colonel Fairchild of the Second Wisconsin returned to Belle Plain, Va., after an expedition to Northern Neck. A quantity of pork, bacon, corn, wheat, peas and beans was secured. The cavalry connected with the force seized a number of horses and mules, captured prisoners, and brdke up the ferries at Union and Rappahannock. A schooner engaged in smuggling was burned. March 29, 1863. The schooner Nettle was captured by the United Stated steamer South Carolina twenty-five miles east of Port Royal, jvith a cargo of mostlydamaged. A party of blockade runners was captured at Poplar Hill Creek, Md., by a detachment of the First Maryland regiment, under the command of Lieut. J. L. Williams. A detachment of the Sixth Illinois cavalry, under command of Lieut Col. Lewis Loomis, in camp near Somerville, Tenn., was surprised by a large force of Confederate irregulars under Colonel Richardson, but extricated itself after a terrific struggle, in which over forty of their number were killed and wounded. National pickets in thevlcinity of Williamsburg, Va., were attacked early in the morning by a large force of Confederate cavalry. Two were killed, and six founded, and three taken prisoners. Lieutenant Wingel, of the Fifth Pennsylvania, in command of the pickets, was among the wounded. General Gilmore defeated the Confederates under general Pegram near Somerset, Ky. General Grant despatched General McClernand, with the Thirteenth corps to gain the rear of Vicksburg vte New Csfrthage, Ark. There was a sharp fight at Point Pleasant, Va., in which the Confederates Were repulsed. (Copyright, 1913. by W. G. ChapmanJ