Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-01

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here of learned, political, social and philan-
| thropic organizations. Washington is big
enough to receive all that come and furnish
| hospllable entertainment. Spacious and we'll
kept hotels provide accommodations for
a vast army. 1t is especially fitting that
| the Grand Army veterans should hold
| their annual reunion in this city.
The men of the Grand Army made big part
| OF the history of our country. and much of
their work as history makers was done in the
| vicinity Of Washington. Washington was a
center Of interes: throughout the war, and
near the city are many famous bsttlefields.
Some were considered uncomfortably near at
the time the battles were fought. The city is
full OF memorials of the great conflict. On
every hill around 1t are the footprints of the
war few miles away is the field of Bull Run,
where the soldier, of the Union got their first
stern lesson in the war and where it was
clearly demonstrated that it was no mean foe
they had to meet and that the quelling Of the
rebellion was no trifing summers task All
about the city are points that will be remem-
bered with interest by the patriots who has
tened here in 1861 at the call of President Lin
coin, by the hundreds of thousands Of veterans
who passed through this city on the way to the
front in the years that followed or who vera
camped in sight of the Capitol dome and by
the members OF the great armies who marched
/ In triumph on Pennsylvania avenue in the
grand review in 1865.
CHANGES SINCE 1868.
Many of the veterans who participated in the
grand review have never visited Washington
since they marched up Pennsylvania avenue
and past the President or that memorable occa-
sion. Those who then saw the national capital
for the first time felt thrill Of pride that thew
had been instrumental i'll saving the seat Of the
government from destruction and preserving
the nation intact. That was over a quarter Of
century ago and when they come here again
next year at the national encampment of the
Arm IF fba lic hos n
hardly recognize the city which they then
thought beautiful.
1t was beautiful then only in it's plan and
possibilities. There were the same broad ave-
nues and streets, but they we're unpaved and
unlmproved. The government buildings were
unfinished. The treasury was about half its
present size, and at the southwest corner of
10th street and Pennsylvania avenue opposite
Riggs Bank, stood the ruins Of the small brick
building that had been occupied by the De-
partment Of State. and which had been made
famous by the echoes OF MIR. Stewards little
bell. The old War and Navy buildings were
upon 18th street, and the great increase of the
clerical force, which had become necessary
during the war, had overflowed into every
house on the opposite side of the street. The
Corcoran Art Gallery building was occupied by
the force Of the quartermaster general and on
the northeast corner of l51 street and the ave-
nue. stood three-s.ory brick building with
row OF one-story frame additions along the
avenue, which were the headquarters OF the
department of Washington.
The patent Office was unfinished and blocks
OF marble filled the then vacant spot on G.
street between 9th and 10th through which
ran stream that has since been taken I'D as a
sewer. The noble approaches to the Capitol
had not been conceived in the brain OF the
architect and the lofty Washington monument
stopped at an elevation OF little over 100 feet
and looked like an abandoned ruin. The
Smithsonian Institution had not recovered from
the effects of the fro which nearly DESTROYED
this beautiful pile, and the National Museum
building was in the womb Of the future.
South Washington was then an island sepa-
rated from the rest Of the city by the old canal
whose fetid waters, filled with sewage and
refuse, spread malaria all over the District
There were no handsome stores upon Penusyl-
vania avenue. and where the Palais Royal now
stands was the kirkwood House, where Presi-
dent johnson was boarding on the night that
President Lincoln was assassinated, and where
he took the oath of Office as his successor.
Judiciary Square then disfgured by the
District Jail, which, with its Enclosure, occu-
pied the northeast corner of the square.
The old Capitol prison held its captiyes on
LIST street east, instead of the handsome dwell
hngs which now meet the eye in that locality
All about the city were barracks occupied by
soldiers OF the veteran reserve corps, VIII lie
hospitals filled with sick and wounded from
the long marches and terce battles OF the army
were numerous.
How different from the city that the soldier
knew In 1865 when he marched over the cobble
stones OF Pennsylvania avenue Of that day or
foundered through the mud in regions then
desolate, now famous for their beauty!
One has but to get a glimpe of the lofty dome
OF the Capitol, glistening white in the summer
sunlight the wide and smooth avenues stretch
ing away from it; here and there in the dis
lance colorado or stately facade: the
colossal shaft of the Washington monument
overlapping all; streets handsomely built up,
shaded with myriads Of Trees making the CITY
look from height like vast park, and paved
with leagues and leagues of asphalt; city that
has redeemed the promise made by the Cener-
GUS founder, and there is no need for a enumer-
alton OF the attractions of Washington.
IN THE MIDST OF BATrLEFIELDs.
While the city itself is full of interest to the
veterans Of the war, it has further claim upon
their attention, for the reason that it il about
the central point in the section Of country
where the heaviest fighting and the most en-
gagements took place.
In the east the bloody ground was between
Gettysburg, Pa. on the north and Suffolk, Va,
on the south, the western limit on line drawn
through Lynchburg and tho eastern through
Norfolk. In this district about $50 miles broad
ana 2Oo miles long, occurred thirteen battles,
where the Union loss in killed outright mum,
bered over 10000, and the aggregate Of Union
Killed and wounded was over 10000 In the
lesser engagements and in siege operations
probably 5000 more were numbered with the
casualties
Here were fought the desperate struggles Of
gettysburg, Antietam, Malvern Hill and VIM
chester fields of glorious memory to the vet
Grams who conquered there. Here the Monitor
pore down the Merrimac and led off In o new
era OF naval warfare. Here, too, was Apo
mattox Back and forth over this blood stained
arena the armies contended in the campaigns
OF the Rappahannock, the Peninsula, the in
vasions OF Maryland and Pennsylvania, the
Shenandoah and the Wilderness.
Here fell young Ellsworth, brave Phil Kearny,
gray-haired Mansfield, grand old Uncle Johnh
Sedgwick, gallant Reynolds and the venerable
and revered Wadsworth. Here the thunder
tones of Hancock led the charge ut Marye's
Heights, the. "Bloody Angle and Cold Harbor
and rallied the defenders Of Cemetery Ridge.