Middletown 150 Yrs. Ago: Local Leaf Burning Frightening Horses

From The Constitution, Wednesday, November 4, 1863 (volume 26, number 1349)

War News.

The Cincinnati Gazette has a dispatch from Chattanooga, dated 27th inst., which says that a detachment under Col. Stanley, of the 11th Ohio regiment, floated fifty pontoons down the river in face of the rebel sharpshooters, landed at Brown’s Ferry, and surprised and drove the rebels from the ridge on the south side, opening communication with Bridgeport. The rebels are flanked and must evacuate Lookout Mountain.

A second dispatch says that Gen. Hazen, with 2,000 of Gen. Palmer’s division, attacked the enemy on Lookout Mountain, and drove him from his position.

The arrival from New Orleans of the steamer George Washington puts us in possession of interesting information concerning the troops under Gen. Banks, who are moving through Western Louisiana, as is supposed, with the ultimate object of redeeming Texas from the rebels. The Nineteenth army corps, under Gen. Franklin, had pressed forward to Opelousas, gaining that place on the 22d of October, without meeting a great deal of resistance, notwithstanding the fact that the enemy in large force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery attempted to make a stand about five miles from the town. At New Orleans an expedition, under Gen. Dana, composed of veteran troops, was being fitted out. Its precise destination was, of course, not divulged, but the general opinion is, that it was intended for some point on the Texas coast.

_________________________

Reports from Washington say that the President will take no action upon the French occupation of Mexico until the rebellion is disposed of.

_________________________

When the Sultan of Turkey dismisses a minister, he orders him to be strangled, that he may not divulge state secrets. There is no necessity to adopt this custom in our country, unless in the way of punishment, as our ministers divulge all the secrets while in office.

Two saloon keepers at Cincinnati, Ohio, sold liquor on election day, and had to pay $50 fine and be “sent up” for 20 days. No wonder Vallandigham didn’t get more votes if the whiskey shops were closed.

The developments made by the agent of the War Department in Kentucky and Ohio, show that the Government has been swindled to the amount of millions in contracts for horses, mules, forage, and other army supplies. The acts of Congress passed at the last session furnish ample means for reaching dishonest officers.

Mrs. John Barnum, of Monkton, Vt., an old lady of eighty years, woke up Friday night and found herself at the bottom of the well, in three feet of water and twenty-four feet below the surface. She had got up, though very feeble, and gone thither in her sleep, managed in some way to get to the bottom unharmed. She was not chilly, nor has any bad effect as yet resulted from it.

A chap in this state, after the passage of the conscription act, got married to evade the draft. He now says if he can get a divorce he will enlist, as if he must fight, he would rather do so for his country.

_________________________

The Provost Marshal General has issued an official gazette, assuring the public that in making out the quotas of states, those who paid the $300 commutation money, are credited as fully as if they went in person or sent a substitute. The President has also decided that the payment of the commutation money relieves the conscript from military service for three years.

Habeas Corpus.

The suspension of the habeas corpus has been so far qualified by the consent of the President, that hereafter the civil courts will be allowed to take cognizance of all cases for the discharge of minors improperly enlisted and illegally detained by the military authorities.

_________________________

Four Yale College students were arrested by the police in New Haven, Tuesday evening, for disorderly conduct.

Local News.

The young ladies of this vicinity are about forming an ‘Alert Club,’ and will meet at the common council room on Wednesday afternoon of this week, at 3 o’clock to take action in the matter. These clubs are being formed throughout the country, and act as auxiliaries to the Soldiers Aid Societies. Let there be a full attendance.

Building.

Mr. Burr is completing his house on the corner of Church and Hubbard streets; he intends to have a store, which will be a convenience to the large number of workmen in that vicinity.—Samuel Childs and N. D. Tucker have purchased a lot on Wyllys street and intend to erect a dwelling house.

Mr. Editor: I desire through your columns to call the attention of the proper authorities of the city, to the growing practice of burning the fallen leaves along the streets. I hear many complaints and can myself bear witness to the inconvenience resulting from the practice. Not only is it absolutely dangerous in respect of frightening horses, but in Main street, during one or two evenings last week, it was exceedingly unpleasant to remain outside the house, or to have doors or windows open on account of the smoke from half a dozen of these fires in Broad street. It is not only a great nuisance but a sin, as the leaves are valuable for many purposes. I should think that it was, and if it be not, it should be, opposed to the police regulations of the city.

Can you not draw public attention to the subject in such a manner as to secure an immediate abatement of the nuisance, and so oblige one of many

Citizens.