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The following sample of newspaper articles are first in
a short series to reflect Point of Rocks during the War of Northern
Aggression, that started the month before at Fort Sumter, SC.
Other war
documents existed – but this is a look at what the local residents were
reading in the newspapers, or what was printed hundred of miles
away.
Next month look for articles later in the summer, when the
large rock at The Point was blown up and the covered bridge was burnt,
and life at The Point was definitely changed.
presented by: Point of Rocks Community Historical Society
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“From Baltimore, May 11 (1861)
TO-DAY’S DISPATCHES…
The American [Baltimore MD newspaper] special
correspondent at Frederick [MD], says that the train going west on the
Baltimore and O R.R was stopped this morning, about ten miles west of
Frederick [near or in Point of Rocks] by order of
Ashby, commander of the Virginia force at the vicinity, and subjected
to examination by Capt. Broadley [Bradley] Johnson of Frederick.
This order it is understood will apply to all westward trains passing
there.
About four hundred troops are supposed to be at the
Point of Rocks, strongly posted on the Virginia
side. They comprise two companies of artillery from
Leesburg and Stanton [Staunton, VA], two companies from Fauquier and
Lowden [Loudoun] counties, together with Captain Broadley [Bradley]
Johnson’s Frederick Company of Baltimore volunteers [Confederate]
which marched there.
This morning a train of western cars containing ten
horses and a hundred head of cattle, bound for Baltimore, were seized
by the troops in Harper’s Ferry. …” From the Daily Zanesville
Courier, Zanesville, OH, May 11, 1861 |
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“Baltimore,
May 19 [1861] “One Thousand additional Minnie muskets
were received by the Virginia troops, from North Carolina. Two
batteries of railroad iron similar to the floating battery at
Charleston, have been erected at the Point of Rocks.
…” From The Galesville Transcript, Galesville, Wisconsin on
May 24, 1861 |
| “Baltimore,
May 24 [1862] … Four more cannon were put in position at Point
of Rocks last night…. Baltimore, May 24 [1862] …Two Kentucky
regiments were ordered to reinforce the Virginians at Point of
Rocks yesterday. They were throwing up entrenchments on
the Heights last night….” From the Weekly Gazette and
Free Press, Janesville, Wisconsin, May 21, 1861 | |
For more information and to share local
history, come to a Point of Rocks Community Historical Society
(PORCHS) program or visit porchs.net
Submitted by Pepper Scotto, President PORCHS CatoctinKey@gmail.com
301-834-9907 |
