Posted inUS Civil War

October 9, 1861 – A Friendly Interview Between Pennsylvania Regiments and the Rebels

A Washington correspondent of the New York Tribune says :

I have just learned the particulars of two interviews which took place on Sunday last between some members of Colonel Hays’ 8th Pennsylvania regiment and the Virginia 43d (rebel) stationed oil the opposite banks of the Potomac at Great Falls. The river is here not more than a hundred yards wide, and the pickets on both sides have occasionally hailed each other. On Sunday the rebels invited some of our men across, stating that if they would leave their arms behind them they would receive hospitable treatment and be allowed to return.

Posted inDaily News Local Histories

Meet Judge When Game Laws Broken

Warden Murphy Brings Three to Court—Iowa Fisherman Goes to Jail.

Shooting partridges before the season opens, or catching too many fish are not profitable pastimes, as various offenders found out during the past week when brought to court by J. P. Murphy, Itasca county game warden.

Mike Troppman and Harold Buckman were arrested last Friday, north of Little Riley lake, by Mr. Murphy, and charged with violating the closed season on partridges. Both pleaded guilty, and paid fines when arraigned before Judge Keo Leroux. Troppman, who was once before convicted of violating the game laws, paid a fine of $25 and costs. Buckman paid $10 and costs for his bird.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

October 8, 1861 – News From Cairo

(Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.)

Cairo, Oct. 7.

The gunboats Tyler and Lexington had an active engagement to-day with rebel shore batteries at Iron Banks, three miles this side of Columbus. The boats left here at 9 o’clock for down the river, on a reconnaissance. Arrived at Lucas Bend, they got sight of the rebel gunboat Jeff Davis, which on, chase being given, put about with all possible dispatch for Columbus. The Lexington and Conestoga, while in chase, and throwing shot, were suddenly fired upon from masked batteries on each side of the river. The rebel shots, however, generally fell short. A battery of rifled cannon on the Iron Banks threw balls over and around the gunboats, cutting close, but fortunately doing no damage. Parties on board represent the scene for a time as particularly exciting. Shot and shell were flying about in uncomfortable proximity, making the air ring with music. The guns of our boats were admirably managed, every shot going home, and the shell bursting in air over the rebel quarters, causing a big commotion among them. The boats finally drew off and returned to Cairo. It is not known what damage was done to the rebels, but many of them are thought to have been killed.

Posted inUS Civil War

October 4, 1861 – The War and Slavery

West Liberty, 9th month, 22d, 1861.

Friend Mahin:—It seems very strange to me, the present condition of this government, and very humiliating its future prospects.—On the one hand we see American slavery arraying a mighty host against this nation to give it battle, for to secure its own enlargement and perpetuation, no other principle whatever at stake, and no other pretence made, its war cry destruction, desolation and ruin, not only to this government, but to every principle of justice, humanity and virtue.

On the other hand, we with amazement be hold a once mighty government giving battle to this monster rebel, calling on “all true sons of freedom” to join the army to put down rebellion, and re-establish a Union (that never existed only on paper) between the north and south; and what for? Just for the sake of having the privilege of paying the expense of and sustaining in this government one of the most abominable systems that ever the sun shone upon. Why not behead the monster while he has his head on the executioner’s block, seeing he has laid it there himself? Why turn our army into slave catchers?

Posted inUS Civil War

October 3, 1861 – The Monotony of Camp Life

The following, written at the entrenched camp near Norfolk, is from a member of the Mobile Gulf City Guards, only seventeen years of age:

Dear Grand Pa If you only knew the monotony of camp life you would not wonder (coming from as feeble a pen as mine) at my letters being so dull and uninteresting.

No news, no excitement at all. Every day the same old thing—drill, drill, drill; and after that the men return to their quarters, and there remain in a kind of trance until some unlucky dog comes along, when he is immediately grabbed by some one, a canteen is tied to his tail, and away he flies amid the yells and cries of a thousand men, making the old woods ring for miles around and then just is suddenly, every thing is as quiet as if nothing had happened.

Posted inUS Civil War

October 1, 1861 – Sent to Richmond

Loreta Velázquez (AKA Mary Ann Keith) as herself (right) and disguised as "Lieutenant Harry T. Buford" (left)

A lady who gave her name as Mrs. Mary Ann Keith, of Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested in Lynchburg on Wednesday. When arrested she was rigged out in a full suit of soldiers’ clothes, and had registered her name at the Piedmont House as Lieutenant Buford. She said she had been married twice—her first husband having been a member of Sherman’s famous battery; her second was in the Southern army; but she stated she was separated from him, for some reason she did not make known. She declared she was all right on the Southern question, and scouted the idea of being a spy. She said her reason for dressing in soldier clothes was, that she had determined to fight the battles of her country, and thought such disguise more likely to enable her to accomplish her object. She was sent on to Richmond for a further hearing on Thursday morning.

Posted inAviation Daily News

Wright Encircles Statue of Liberty

Newspaper photograph of a steamship with the caption "Replica of the Clermont, Fulton's first steamboat, out for a trial spin on the Hudson."

The First Aviation Day of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Is Marked by Successful Demonstrations by Both Wright and Curtiss—Dirigible Balloons Come to Grief Very Quickly.

Yonkers, N. Y., Sept. 25—As the Clermont came within sight of the docks here the water in her boilers became exhausted and the engine became overheated. Her machinery was stopped, while a tug put a line aboard and towed the craft ashore.

New York, Sept. 29.—Wilbur Wright circled the great statue of Liberty at the entrance of New York harbor in his aeroplane today. while in the upper part of the city two dirigible balloons failed ingloriously in their task. This, the first day of flight of the Hudson-Fulton celebration, was a victory for the heavier-than-air machine.