The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-18
"Well. sir, where are your centers ?"

"There are three, general. First. the
capitol, where have been stored some two
thousand barrels of -four, and where Major
Mcdowell remains every night with from
two hundred to three hundred of my vol
unteers. Second, the city hall hill, com.
handing point, with broad avenues and
wide streets connecting 1t with most inn
portant points, having in its vicinity the
patentoffice and the general post-office, in
each of which place force every night
In the general post-office we have stored a
large quantity of -four. Third, the Ex-
ecutive Square, including the presidents
house, the war, navy, state and treasury
departments, in each of which, and in
Winder's building, place force every
night after dusk. The citadel of this
center is the treasury building. The base
ment has been barricaded very strongly
by Captain Franklin of the engineers,
who remains there at night and takes
charge of the force. The front of the
treasury building is we'll fanked by The
state department building, and fifty rifle
men are nightly on duty there. The
building opposite is also occupied at night.
The outposts at Benning's bridge and the
pickets in that direction will, in case Of
attack in force, retire, fighting, to the
capitol. Those on the northeast and north
will, if pressed, retire by Seventh street
to the city hall hill, while those on the
northwest and west will, in case of attack,
fall back and finally take refuge In the
treasury building, where they will be
Joined by the detachments guarding the
river front, when the attack shall have be-
come so marked and serious that only the
centers can be held. In the treasury build
ing are stored two thousand barrels of
flour, and perhaps the best water in the
city is to be found there. The city is so
admirably laid out in broad avenues and
wide streets centering on the three posi-
tions chosen, that concentration for de-
tense at any one of the three is made easy.
The field battery can move rapidly
toward any outpost where heavy firing
shall indicate that the attack is there se-
rious, and with the aid of this battery the
retreat from that point can be made slowly
enough to give time for concentration on
that line of the outlying companies in
positions not threatened. In case sharp
resistance outside the city may fail to pre-
vent an advance of the enemy, we can
occupy the centers until the North shall
have time to come to our relief. All our
information tends to show that the force
of the enemy which can Immediately act
against the capital does not exceed five
thousand organized men and before that
number can be largely increased our re-
lief will come. These District of Colum-
bia volunteers would be fighting in defense
of their homes, and would fight WELL"
The general listened attentively, and
looked over the map of the city which !
had drawn from my pocket and placed
before him while indicating the positions
He then said: 1t is all that can be
done. Your plan is good. Your pickets
will have to fight we'll, and must try to
not fall back more than fifteen PAGES at a
time, and to fire at least once at each halt
This requires good men and good, devoted
officers. These soldiers of the district
will probably fight quite as we'll in defense
of their homes as will the enemy in at
lacking them. But you have too many
centers. You cannot hold three. You
will need all your force concentrated te
hold one position against an energetic
force equal to or superior in numbers Il
all you have. The first center to be aban
doned must be the capitol. 1t is fire
proof building. There is little in it tina
is combustible excepting the libraries O.
the congress and the supreme court, ant
l do not believe that American soldiers
even in rebellion, are yet capable o
burning or destroying public librarie
and the archives of courts of justice. Th
second center to be abandoned will be tn
city hall hill"
Here | ventured the remark that i
would be a pity to abandon so commanding
position, with such admirable avenue
of communication to all parts of the city
The general continued: cit is pity l.
abandon so commanding position, as yo1
say, my young friend. But we must &C
according to the number of troops W
have with which to act. All else mus
be abandoned, if necessary, to occupy
strongly and effectively, the Executiv
Square, with the idea of finally holdin
only the Treasury building, and perhap;
the state department building, properl,
connected" He paused moment, an
then said: " The seals of the several dc
partments of the government must, thi
night, be deposited in the vaults of tn
treasury. They must not be capture
and used to deceive and create uncertaint
among public servants distant from tn
capital. And, said he, speaking NOR
impressively, "should it come to the de
tense of the treausery building as citade
then the president and all the member
of the cabinet must take up their quarter
with US in that building. They snail nc
be permitted to desert the capital"
Such was the condition of the capita
of our country at that time, and sue
was the plan adopted by the old genera
in-chief.