Posted inUS Civil War

May 24, 1861 – The War Begun in Earnest

Death of Col. Ellsworth after hauling down the rebel flag, at the taking of Alexandria, Va., May 24th 1861

Death of Col. Ellsworth after hauling down the rebel flag, at the taking of Alexandria, Va., May 24th 1861

A Midnight March

Movement Upon Alexandria and the Virginia Heights  

Brutal Assassination of Col. Ellsworth In Alexandria.

A Swift and Terrible Retribution

Last night was a stirring one indeed. Through the day and evening the reports of contemplated military movements kept the populace on the qui vive to which excitement fresh fuel was added on its being whispered that various Regiments had been ordered to prepare for immediate service; the words dropped also by Gen. Thomas at the Seventh Regiment camp that the storm was about to burst, indicated that a decisive move was to be taken. The general idea among the troops was that an advance was to be made into Virginia, but nobody seemed to be posted as to the exact purposes entertained at headquarters.

Posted inDaily News

Thought Earth Hollow

Peculiar Theory, in Which Many Had Faith, That Was Put Forward by John C. Symmes

Newspaper illustration of Symme's Hole.

John C. Symmes (1779–1829) believed that the globe was hollow and inhabited. He claimed the earth was open at the poles to admit air, and contained within it other concentric hollow globes all inhabited in a like manner. In 1823 congress was petitioned to send an expedition to test out his theory, with himself in charge, but the matter was dropped. Humboldt states that Symmes often invited himself and Humphry Davy to descend to the earth’s interior and investigate animal and plant life. Symmes said the inside of the earth was lighted by two subterranean suns which he named “Pluto” and “Proserpine.” Arctic exploration and the discovery of the north and south poles proved part of his theory a myth.