San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-11-06
Montgomery It's r,l. Blair at Home.

her. MO 'yjn.l.igo si otw yils anI
Montgomery Blair at Home.
trrom The rh. washington RspuSiisl'p ''''
The people Of Washington will re-
member the threatening days in
july, 1864, when : the city was de-
fencelessrand large force of rebels
under EARLY and breckenridge was
not ten miles distant from the capi-
tai. No one denies now that the
army could have marched in unim-
peded.l The Sixth Corps of the
Army of the Potomac was en- route
to defend the city, but it was not
quick enough. The rebel army was
halted at Silver Springs, the country
residence of the elder Blair, and also
of I Montgomery Blair. Upon the
approach of the army the families OF
both fled to Washington. The rebe!
officers sought the houses and found
in the cellar of Frank IL. Blair's
house o barrel of whisky. This did
the business. Nearly every officer
became drunk on this whisky, and
many of the men were in o like con-
dition. Such an orgie was never
known. The dresses of the ladies
were taken possession dof, and IN
them the officers masqueraded and
held q jolifcation the whole night
long, falling into a drunken slumber
in tie morning and unable to do any
duty whatever. EARLY and Breck-
ridge, riding up in the morning, saw
the situation, and merely said: ut is
too late;" and Washington was not
taken possession Of. With what Joy
i did the officers nof the Government
receive the gallant Sixth Corps as it
marched through the city that morn \ '1'r !
ing. The rebels were soon in retreat,
and thus a barrel Of whisky saved o
great city. There is no doubt OF
this story for Mr.. Montgomery
Blair himself confirms it.. D3.ls :
r. Judge Blair ! is now sixty-seyen
wears old, and his life has been q
yorv active one! Fortune has not
narfic1Ilarlv favored him, and he is
| forced to continue in the practice OF
the law. Although he is still as hale
and hearty as man Of fifty, it is yet
q matter Of regret to him that he
cannot turn his attention to a aliterary
TorF which he has had I'M mind for
,aenv years. When General jack
don died he left to Frank p. Blair
| 1NIontoomery's father) ill his manu-
scr;nts' letters, and documents, for
tha ,,,,1hose Of preparing d slife."
Re;,a unable 10 iobtain the papers
for n lmanyyears. the elder BLAIR was
unable to do the work, and when he
d;ag % he cave all thel PAPERS, filing six
h;o trunks to his son ! Montgomery.
re later now has all these valuable
ralics tooether with ali, the very in
terest;no papers rof the elder Blair
hut be is unable to make use of them
for want of time, as he cannot afford
10 leaya bis law practice. He SAYS
tbs recorda and ipapers are of the
@roo ~ test interest They could not be
etberw;se - l "
YTf6 f6eB Sreat ! eentfalI ideaI Of the
p,a;rs baI been love for, tho Union.
Th;s Nc overtnnned all other CON
,,;an,.at;ss,x,, , ~ ltili hogan before, the
,,,. ,.sa,. asnsand has Issied Through all
,ta @ 10 t;onallcbou'oes,n They were ali
sla,.n U 80. owners and vat, for fow gen.
erat;ons. thew have been anti-slavery
IN nr;nc;nIe They I always g. taught
them slaves to read and write, and
never sold them. Some Of the for
mer slaves are yet with Judge B.air
ON monthly wages 10 'aH'l-e" itr
Judoe Biairs house in this city lis
ON Pennsyfyaniacave., nearo Seven
teenth-st. IT is a large, square struc-
tnre four stories hign, of oriclS, with
sts,ccoed front and outside blinds.
Tine steps are of granite, and, every
thing about the building is Of sol
id s,bstautial character. The adj
coming house on the west was the
city residence OF the elder Blair
Inc whole square of ground was
once owned by Tie elder Blair, and
what was fifty years ago his riower
and vegetable garden is now cover
a IL. Lit Ind