National Republican., 1881-08-30
EARLY AND HIS RAID.
WHY HE DID NOT ENTER WASHINGTON
An Interesting Talk with Maryland Farmer Who
Was Acquainted With the Confederate
Leaders-Gen. Breckenridge
Desire TO Come In.
Special Correspondents Of rnr RrrunncAN.


After viewing some of the remains Of the earth.
works north Of the city ofwashington, which were
constructed for It's defense, and which formed q
part OF the chain Of earth forts built on the hills
oncircling the city, nearly on the old boundary o
the District OF Columbia, and on the right and lc
banks of the Potomac, We struck Off and went up
the Rockville turnpike. Stopping at q farm house
for drink, we partook Of cool, refreshing butter
milk, courtcously profdtcd. We were soon en-.
gagged In talk with an
AFFABLE AND INTELLIGENT FARMER
regarding the surrounding country and war times.
May ask II you resided here at the time Of the
rebel raid under Early2'
"Yes, sir; l lived here m 1864, when the con.
fcdc5ntc army, commanded by General Jubal A..
Early, raidcd through Maryland and down the
north side Of the District Of Columbia in fact, l
have lived In Montgomery County nearly ell my
life" said the farmer
"Did you read Early's letter. printed IN THE Ma
TTONAL REPUBLICAN Of August 4, in regard To that
rebel raidg'
"i Yes, sir; and think he is generally correct in
his statement as TO his movements MS recollect
them as to the numbers Of the forces on each
side am not so good Judge"
could and did you freely mingle with the invad.
ing raiders2o
Certainlyi for two days was in their midst.
Many Of the officers were
NY OLD MARYLAND rRIE.;Ds
knew General Brcckinridge uhe former Vice.
President ofthe United states), Bradley T. John.
son tthe Baltimore lawyer, and many Others"
did they talk of capturing Washington, or were
there any propositions to do soy
Yes, sir : General Breckenridge, second In com.
mand of the rnidng forces, Immediately after the
rebel army reached the Seventh street road urged
Early TO march his army into Washington and
take possession Of the Capital for It's effect abroad
would be to induce foreign governments to recog.
MIC the confederate States independence"
How did General Breckinrldge think Il could
lie done?"
"Brcckinrdge said their forces could move
down Rock Creek Valley without being reached
effectively by the guns in Forts Stevens and De
Russcy. and the small battery between those forts
could be quickly disposed Of Or, by assaulting
Fort Stevens they could go into Washington by
the Seventh street road. Knowing all the ap-
proaches TO the Capital so wcll-as did very many
other Observation-Disclosures had no doubt Of sue
cess II the attempt was then promptly made, tired
as the men were from the long march from the
Monocncy, where they fought and whipped Cen
eral Lew Wallace on Sunday
And what response TO these propositions for the
capture of the Capital did General Early make %
"Hc replied that he was not ordered North for.
the purpose ofcnpiurins the Capital,hil, hc '''
49,, ,,i mESAcE TO THE fSiA!YiEYiEC Y! eoyrRSSrsr
o,,r;fit' ':ynpel 1t to withdraw part of Grants
army in front Of the confederate states capital
and so weaken 1t to that extent"
81 Early told Brcckinridge that he could easily
take his army into Washington, but that the de.
bnuchery that was sure TO follow such success
would so dcmoralize the confederate troops that
all h could not get his army out Of Washing
ton, and consequently 1t could not escape capture
by the Yankees"
"You speak so clearly Of the sayings OF the con-
fedcrate generals Mr.. Farmer, be kind enough to
tell me you were on such TERMS then or prior
thereto, ns permitted personal intercourse with
them Will you relate the Substance of what passed
between them in your presence on that occasion?"
Certainly, sir; l was personally acquainted
with many and partook salt, broke bread and i'm
bibed with them to the success of the Southern
crOssr
"why did Early and Brcckinridgo burn the ven.
erable Frank p. Bair's mansion, at Silver Springs,
during that raid, Mr.. Farmer7'
81 am very glad that you have asked me that ques
ton, sir II is strange that people do not yet un-
derstand the truth of that matter. The confCder-
ate generals did not allow property of non-com-
batants to be destroyed. Old Mr. Blair and his
family left their home Sunday evening and went
into Washington, leaving his house las well as
that of Judge Montgomery Blair in charge
entered Mr. +. =. Blair's mansion, plundering
thercirom silyer-ware and table-linen. That fact
coming to the knowledge Of General Breckinrldgc,
he caused the arrest ofthe plunderers who put
In charge of General Ransom Ia brother OF the
present Senator Ransom, of North Carolina), who
had the depredators chained together, and, under
guard, marched them of, saying that he would have
no thieves in his command; that he would have
them tried by drum. head court and hung as soon
as the army rccrossed the Potomac. The silver.
ware and other articles taken from the Blair man.
sion were got together, lists made out, given to
neighbor Of theirs for excepting, who recepted
for them and returned the property to Mr.. +. r.
Blairs dnughtcr-Mrs Admiral Lee-by the order
Of General Breckinridge, who lefl letter for Mr..
Blair explanatory of the occurrence.
MONTGOMERY BLAIR's HOUSE WAS BURNED,
and not the venerable Frank p. Blairs mansion
1t was situated on hill, some little distance from
his fathers. II was large two-stOry concrete
wall house. The evening that Early's army re.
treated Lieutenant Shepard, Of Georgia regiment
(and resident Of Jacksonville, Fla.), had charge
Of the rear guard, in front of Silver Springs with
orders to make all the noise possible to divert the
attention Of the Yankee forces so that Early's
army could escape unmolested and unobseryed In
the night. ShCpards command was in the woods
near Judge Montgomery Bl0ir's Beyond this
piece of woods was an open field of ten acres then
other woods, through which his troops must go to
follow the main army He kept up an incessant
firing Ind noise, as stated, and at the last moment
FIRED JUDGE BLAIR's MANSION
to light up the Yankee lines and insure their own
escape. At this time Lieutenant Shepard was
mortally wounded, takcn prisoner, and afterward
carried into one Of the city military hospitals
where, believe, he died. This Is the truth In re-
gard TO the burning of Judge Blair's house. The
circumstances were related by Lieutenant Shepard
himself while he lay In the temporary field hos.
pitNl al Sligo village" said the farmer.
1.-THE BLAIRs ABANDONED SILVER SPRINGS
on Sunday evening, upon learning of the approach
OF the raiders"
"The Blairs would have been rich take fol
Early, would they not, both being so conspicuous
Judge Blair having been member Of President
Lincoln's Cabinet, and his father Mr.. +, r. Blair
the great editor and adviser of Presidents, whosC
other son was the distinguished Union general
Frank p. Blair ir.? They would have been impor
tant hostages for the rebels to use In demanding
equally important exchanges for their ransom
would they notY
"ThCro you are mistaken" said the farmer
Early would not have moleSteG either of them
they were private citizens. They would have beer
protected and guarded from harm, MS their prop
crty was guarded while the raiders remained a
| who was u knsmRn of the Blairs"-JohR T. ERdm
=---rS--a
| Had En- bad.
The peace and quietncss of the Sabbath
stiffness was rdely broken between nine and tel
p. IN, by the sound of pistol discharged twice IL
rapid succession. Several bold young men from
| b,o hpuge ,,pnr Tho pnruor q 1 anl