Southern Rights Meeting and Organization of a Troop of Horse in Howard County

[Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.]

Ellicott's Mills, Md., Dec. 3, 1860.

Southern Rights Meeting and Organization of a Troop of Horse in Howard County.

A meeting of the "solid men" of Elkridge was held last Saturday evening, at "Woodley," one of the estates of J.T.B. Dorsey, Esq., for the purpose of organizing a troop of cavalry.  The meeting was called to order by Wm. H. G. Dorsey, Esq., who nominated Colonel Charles G. Hanson as chairman, and Henry C. Worten as secretary, who were unanimously chosen.  Great enthusiasm and entire unanimity prevailed, and a preamble sympathetic with and declaratory of a firm resolve to stand by the South, followed by a resolution setting forth our grievances, and the unjust aggressions of 

the South, was unanimously adopted.  

The following officers were then elected by acclamation: --- Captain, Wm. H.G. Dorsey; first lieutenant, Benjamin Williams; second lieutenant, C. Ridgely White; third lieutenant, James Mackubin; orderly sergeant, Samuel Brown, and ensign E.A. Talbot.  [The latter gentleman is a son of a gallant ensign in the last war.]  This embryo will form, with Capt. Gaither's troop, the first squadron of the 32d regiment, under the command of Col. Chas. Carroll.

After the nominations gallant and characteristic speeches were made by the officers elect, and cheers were given for the South.--- The "Elkridge Guards" is the name of the troop.  A committee on uniform, horse-equipments and arms was then appointed, and the meeting adjourned.              M.

(The Sun [1837-1994]; Dec 4, 1860; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Baltimore Sun pg. 4)

Oscar Chandler

5/13/16  Foxes' Den Near House / Mr. O.M. Chandler, Missing Poultry, Finds Den of Foxes Near His Door. It is not given to every one to have the denizens of the woods come within a few feet of their front door to rear their young, but such was the experience of Mr. O. M. Chandler, who lives on the Peters' farm, on the bay, a few miles from Snow Hill.
Mr. Chandler had frequently missed fowl from his barnyard and poultry house, a setting hen being sometimes taken, sometimes the eggs, and in some instances both hen and eggs would disappear.
At last, one afternoon about two weeks ago he discovered a red fox busily engaged in tearing to pieces and making a meal off of one of his big fat hens.  This gave him a clew to the disappearance of his poultry, and he called on Mr. George Smack, his neighbor, to assist him in hunting down the marauders.  Accordingly, Mr. Smack took his pack of hounds to Peters farm that afternoon.  The hounds easily found the trail, and followed it over devious and winding ways, until it was lost near the house.  They were put on the trail again and again, but on every occasion the dogs lost the trail at or near the same place.  Mr. Smack finally became convinced that the fox had a den somewhere near the barnyard.
A thorough search was made of the premises, with the view to discovering the den of the fox.  With characteristic cunning the foxes had used the ventilator of the old hot bed, crawling through it a distance of nearly 150 feet.  The ventilator, which was boxed, was so narrow that once inside it the fox scarcely had room to turn around, but would have to go forward, or back out.  The end of the ventilator nearest the house was closed, and here, at a distance of about 200 feet from his door, the foxes had burrowed in the ground, and were boldly rearing their young. feeding them on the fat of the land from Mr. Chandler's hen roosts, or from any vantage point they could effect a capture.
The female fox and three cubs were found in the den, and Mr. Smack has them in captivity.  The cubs are thought to be from four to six weeks old.