Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-10
THE THREE MONTHS SERVICE.
Sketches OF District COMPANIES that
Volunteered to Defend the Capital

Volunteered to Defend the Capital.
THE WATSON, JACKSON AND JOHNSON GUARDS
AND THE WASHINGTON ZoUAvEs-INCI.
DENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN ALONG THE
foToMAc-A SIGNATURE NOT LARGE ENOUGH.
The Watson Guards, Company E. Union Reei.
ment, second battalion d. G. volunteers was
organized at the Medical College building, 10th
ana 4 streets, April 18th, 1861, with James E.
stewart as captain. Objection was made by
zen. Weightman to giving q commission to
Capt Stewart, and James Mich. Callan private
In the National Rifles. was made captain. Sew
eral members of the company objected to mus
tenng IN under Capt. Callan, on account of his
youth, and 1t was not until April GOTH that this
oimculty was settled and the company sworn
IN, with James Nicholas Callan as captain;
george W. Downey, first lieutenant; Walter B.
DoDson, second lieutenant, and James g.
Beavers as brevet second lieutenant, with "a
on on 'HS rol; me company was first stationed at
bridge, and subsequently sent to the govern,
ment store houses, foot of G street.
On June 9th companies A, B, D and E, of the
were sent under Major Jewell to Seneca, Nd,
without change OF clothes and with DAYS
rations. They remained there until July 8,
Wnen they were ordered back to Washington
where they arrived on July 4th and were
placed on duty at the White House until July
service. Captain Callan and ali his Officers are
still alive. But Is OF the company are Known
TO De alive, were killed in the army, % have
the remainder of the company cannot be ascer-
tanned. 1t was named after Colonel Watson
VINO was killed in the Mexican war, when in
command of the Maryland and District volun-
teers.
THE ANDREW JOHNSON GUARDS.
The Andrew johnson Guards were organized
at Bradley's warehouse, H street, near 10th
street, differed by j. H. McBair, captain.
n Ratfc
Cruikshank, lteutenants, and numbered rs
men, Samuel V. Hurdle being the orderly ser
ge ea, The company was mustered in April
Z3u. On receiving uniforms and accOutre-
ments Col: Stone detailed Mr.. F. G. Calvert, who
entered the service with Company b, Union
regiment, as drill master. They were ordered
10 the treasury department the night of their
muster ana performed guard duty for several
nights They were then moved to the house
bGGsphea by ans Palmer near ST
assigned to the first battalion, Major j. McH
HollingSworth, headquarters at Forrest Hall,
ginia on the night of May ODD, they crossed the
Aqueduct bridge as the advance of the Goth
New York and other regiments. Shortly after
wards they marched up the river and crossed
the Chaln bridge, going into camp about half
q mile e. above. There they performed picket
out
TOOK THE CHANCES.
During the three months campaign Lieut.
Drew afterwards colonel, and now the fire mar
shaD was ordered by Col. Stone to take some
men of his command-the Potomac Light
spike gun on the Virginia side, opposite West
Washington. The men were at once selected,
and favorable night following the boat pulled
out from Simms' wharf. AS soon as the boat
neared the sacred soil, LIST Sergt Hoffman, who
was seated in the bow, jumped out without
waiting for orders and ran as rapidly as he could
to what was thought to be the gun. Then he
turned and called back. ''Its ali right boys !"
1t was found to be quaker gun, made of a log
OF wood painted like cannon, such as played
an important part in various operations later
in the war; When asked why he started Off in
run, and if he did not know the danger, the
sergeant replied, II knew that they would not
fire IL cannon at a single man. and would re-
serve the fire for the squad, and took the
chances OF seizing the gunner and wrestling
with him till you could get up"
THE SIGNATURE NOT BIG ENOUGH
Lieut.. Drake DeKay was the adjutant of Col.
Mansfield, who succeeded Col. Smith, and he
issued the passes to cross the bridges The sig
nature of the lieutenant was perhaps one of the
boldest ever seen and gave rise to the report
that he was detailed elsewhere to prevent an
ink famine here. The infantry at the Chain
bridge were held responsible for persons passed
over the bridge and were not required to honor
passes if they mad reasons to doubt the loyalty
of the persons presenting them. In fact, tine
guard was allowed to pass persons over the
bridge without papers. 1t SO happened that
one afternoon when resident of Fairfax
county rode up and presented a pass with the
well-known signature of Lieut.. De Kay. The
corporal said "That won't take you across
.Why not?" was the response.
"The signature amt big enough" replied Mr..
Sheehan.
"Ill see Col. Towers about this excitedly ex-
claimed the Fairfax man.
well, see him them
Col. Towers was seen and he coolly informed
the party that the corporal was right, for the
signature was not large enough:
why anybody can read it, exclaimed the
Fairfax man. you'll hear from this again" he
said as he turned his horse cityward. 1t was
learned subsequently, that he took the pass back
left hurriedly. A few hours after Lieut.. De Kay
ascertaned that orders had been issued for the
arrest OF the person but he had left the city by
another route.
THE JACKSON GUARDS.
The Jackson Guards was one of the largest
companies in the service and was organized in
February, 1861, by Capt John McDermott of
the well-known firm OF McDermott e. Bro, and
many of the employees of the firm entered the
company. 1t was the intention OF the COM
pany to make its first appearance at the inau-
guration of President Lincoln, and although
the officers were commissioned and arms issued
to them on February 18th, they could not OBJ
tain uniforms in time. The officers were Capt
McDermott, Lieuts. Maurice Tucker, Michael
Duffey, and William ODonnel, with George
Callahan first sergeant. The company was
mustered into service on April IS, 1861, with
a total of Observation-Disclosures and men. A
not seem to count. One who was as old as TO
years then is still living in the person of Mr.
William Welsh, OF South Washington. There
was some objection on the part OF the mus err
ing officer, Major Irwin Mcdowell, to accepting
the two drurnmers, William O'Meara and
James Archer, two cousins, aged II and L.
and they were required to beat the different
calls, which they did. President Lincoln, who
was standing by, said 1t would be pity not to
take them and Capt. McDermott. EXPLAINING the
difhculty in obtaining drummers they were
sworn In with the rest of the company. There
was one Instance OF "a father and son, Michael
Boucher, aged 80, and Henry Boucher, aged II,
in the company. The organization was ut once
ordered to the Columbian armory and did duty
ut the Long bridge, arsenal ana armory, and
with EverettS battalion up the river, detail
of 20, under Lieut.. Tucker, acting us sappers
company of the Jackson Guards was started by
Capt McDernOtt The late VIM. j. McCullOm
was elected captain, but when the requisite
number OF men mad been obtained the govern.
ment had stopped the further muster of Dis
trict troops. Many OF the members OF this com
Capt McDermotts company, running up the
roll to JOY. Lieut.. Michael Dufiey failing t.
obtain leave from his duties at the Jail was com
PEELED to resign few days alter the IN ulster, and
Mr.. John y Meara was commissioned as a lieu.
tenant in his place.
The following is the roster of company:
Captain, Joha McDermott; lieutenants, Maui
rice fuckers subsequently a surgeon in the
service), Michael Du1tey*, Wm O'Donnell; SER
geunts, George Callahan, Jeremiah O'Leary<,
VIM. Fegan and John Mcmahon; corpOrals
John Smyth*, James Mcclure, Michael Null.
and john Il. Walsh*; musicians, VIM. O'Meara
aud James Archer, and Privates Michael Arm
strong&, Henry Boucher, john Bennet*, Tim
othy Brosnan, Thos Bagget~, John Coye". Cor.