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.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

First Prize for a New Orleans Privateer

Steamer Calhoun

Says the N. O. Delta:

The swift low pressure steamer Calhoun, Jack Wilson, fitted out here as a privateer, sailed from this port last evening, and outside the bar captured a prize. A bark, the “Ocean Eagle,” Capt. Luce, from Rockland, Maine. Cargo 3144 bbs. lime.

The Calhoun is admirably equipped for her peculiar service, having 100 of the bravest experienced men on board, and carrying large guns and an ample supply of small arms.

Posted inUS Civil War

May 23, 1861 – Letter from Camp Anderson

Soldiers in camp (Matthew Brady)

Correspondence of the Belmont Chronicle.  

CAMP ANDERSON.  

LANCASTER, Ohio, May 20, 1861.  

Dear Chronicle: I presume your readers are all aware that Capt. Tallman’s company of Belmont boys are in the 17th Regiment, at Camp Anderson, Lancaster, Ohio; and, according to promise, I will try to give you some account of their situation, &c.  

We are in a most beautiful camp — occupying the fair grounds of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society — a beautiful, level piece of ground, about one mile North of the city of Lancaster, well supplied with good water and covered with a nice green sod.  

Posted inAviation

Portuguese Flyers Held Up by Weather

KARACHI, India, May 3.-—Portugal's long distance air effort is held up at Bender Abbas by unfavorable weather, according to reports here today. The two Portuguese flyers, who left Lisbon several…
Posted inUS Civil War

May 22, 1861 – The Baltimore Steam-Gun

illustration of the Baltimore steam-gun

A gentleman direct from Baltimore, and who has seen the steam-gun (about which considerable has been said) operate, has furnished us with the following description of it:  

It is on four wheels; the boiler is like that of an ordinary steam fire engine, the cylinder being upright. There is but one barrel, which is of steel, on a pivot, and otherwise is like an ordinary musket barrel. It is fed or loaded through a hopper entering the barrel directly over the pivot. The barrel has a rotary motion, and performs the circumference, by machinery attached, at the rate of about sixteen hundred times a minute. The balls are let into the barrel through a valve at will, and every time the barrel comes round to a certain point, another valve, self-operated, lets out a ball, which is propelled solely by the velocity of the barrel in revolving.  

Posted inColonization & Indigenous Relations Daily News Local Histories

The Native Question – Boundary Issues

KIHIKIHI, 20th May.

The southern boundary of the territory mentioned in Rewi’s proposals as from Taupo to Pukehau is undefined, as many of the places laid down in proposals are unknown to Government and Europeans — in fact the whole of the boundaries are only tentatively given. In the northern portion of the reserve the King is reported to have some interest. The boundaries of this block will have to be surveyed.

It will be noticed that by the action of the Government the original proposal at Hikurangi to make Tawhiao a kind of independent princelet in this territory is now abandoned.