Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-25


suit of the three days fighting at Gettysburg
was known that the tension upon the officials
here was relieved and all anxiety remov ed as to
the safety OF this city
But the biggest scare that Washington has
ever had, with possibly the exception Of the
few days Immediately following the first battle
Bull Hun, WAS year later, in the summer of 1864,
when Gen. Jubal Early made his celebrated
raid and appeared at the very threshold of the
capital city. His movement was SO sudden that
but very few, even Of the trusted officials of
the government. bad any idea of what was going
to happen until word was brought that a big
force OF rebels was out or the It'll street road.
The Secretary OF War, however. had evidently
feared that some movement of this kind might
be made, for early in that year the clerks in
the various government departments were or
gained into military companies and battalions
and put through a regular course of drill. II
remember rightly there were the Quarter
masters Guards, the War department Rifles
and a regiment or battalion composed of Treas
ury Department clerks. In all probably about
300 men.
When Gen. Grant took command Of the Army
OF the Potomac and started to end the war he
left very few troops in the defenses of Wash
lngton because he didn't intend that the enemy
should get between him and the capital, and he
knew that In the event of any considerable
force making an attempt to capture Washing
-
from his own army and send them here before
any very great damage could be done. There
were good many, however who did not know
how carefully Gen. Grant had considered the
situation and who were uusparing in their criti-
cisms of what they considered his carelessness
In leaving the seat of government so unpro-
tected. And when Early appeared Mt the very
outskirts OF Washington these critics bitterly
denounced the policy of taking SO many men
from the defenses of Washington.
There was time for delay, however, and
the organizations of department employees were
at once ordered into service and we went out to
the front. Those who were here at that time
well remember the intense excitement that pre-
vailed all through the city and the awful
anxiety when it was known that skirmish had
actually taken place out on the It'll street road
by Fort Stevens. large number of these
department clerks who went upon military
duty at that time had seen service in the
field In the early part of the war; and 50 they
were not Ike raw recruits. We marched out
as firmly and with as much regularity as regular
troops, and performed our military duties with
such precision as to win the commentator Of
our officers, who were mostly those either in
the regular or volunteer service. / remember
while We we're out on the 18th street road Presi-
dent Lincoln came out there and made little
speech to us, assuring us that succor was on
the way and all we would have to do would be
to hold the army in check for very brief
one with determination to do his duty to the
fullest extent, and the records OF the War De-
partment will show that in the brief skirmish
that did ensue the department clerks were fully
as efficient as the regular volunteers who were
with them on that occasion.
WHEN THE REAL SERVICE CAME.
The benefit of the drill that we had had for
the few months previous was manifest when
the time for real service arrived. and the wis
dom of the officials who ordered the military or
gauiZation of the clerks was fully demonstrated.
The brief struggle occurred on what was then
| the farm of Mr.. Lay and now forms a portion
of the Rock Creek Park. and the few graves that
now fill the little cemetery on the site Of what
was Fort Stevens tell the casualties Of that
\ strife. The next afternoon word came that the
| fifth corps had arrived, and shortly afterward a
long line of troops marched up It'll street, their
| tread being firm and confident, their faces fixed
and steadfast, their guns glistening in the sun,
| their officers apparently eager for a brush with
the enemy, and as they reached the line that we
| had formed after the skirmish we knew tina. all
danger was passed and that Washington wa.
now thoroughly safe. The boys came up with
cheer that told of their JOY at being able
to come to our assistance, and We responded
with an even heartier cheer of thankful
ness at the approach of such noble
body of veterans. The fifth corps had a
reputation for good fighting qualities. and i,
was because Grant thoroughly relied upon their
commander that he selected this portion of his
| force to come to the rescue of the endangered
capital Soldiers never received more hearty
| welcome than did these troops as they disem-
| barked at the It'll street wharf and marched up
It'll street to the front. People lined the side
walks and cheered them they passed. Faces
| that had been before anxious and weary now
looked glad and content. and a feeling of per-
feet satisfaction Immediately spread over the
entire city. Early realized as well as any one
| else that If he had entertained any idea of EN-
tering and destroying the city of Washington
any further attempt would now be impossible
| and he discreetly slipped away back into Vir-
| GINA, taking with him all the stock and pro.
visions that he could gather in his line OF
march.
| AGAIN AT THEIR DESKS.
| The department militia returned to their
duties at their decks and were thanked for the
services that they had performed. The military
organization was still kept up, however. but
only once after that were they called upon to
do duty. This was at the time of Lincoln's in
auguraton in March 1866
| Ii was understood that an attempt would be
made either to capture him ON hil way to the
Capitol 70 take the oath of Office or to take his
! life before he should return to the White House
And so on the night before the Inauguration the
| War Department Rifles were ordered on duty
uhu Ntic uciu III lilknI ana the
next day for any emergency that might arise
| Whether the plan abandoned or whether
those who were engaged in it had discovered
that extraordinary preparations 10 prevent any
accident TO the President had been made dc
| not know, but do know that there was no oc-
casion for our services.
When this military organization of the clerk,
was first started and the regular drills twice
week were ordered there was goodaleal of an
noyance felt b. some Of the older employees a
being compelled to do military duty. Thu
younger men. of course, didn't object to it, anG
| those who had been in the army welcomed the
hours OF exercise us q relief from desk work
but the old fellows who had no taste for mill
tary eyclutions and some OF whom had consid
erabie difficulty in trying to repress their nat
ural sympathies for the south were decidedly dis
gusted to think that they should have to take
gun In their hands and wear tho blue uniform
Of a federal soldier. When the order was frs
made there was no exemption and every clerk
old and young, unless physically disqualifie:
was obliged to turn out to drill. The officer
and non-commissioned officers of the compa
MES had an opportunity ut these drills to pa
OF good many scores upon those who were il
authority over them In the Office, and some o
them did not hesitate to do so.
GETTING EVEN WITH HIS CHIEF.
know one sergeant who had something Of
grudge against his chief clerk, a man who wa
about fifty years Of age and who had no NOR
idea of military affairs than n child unborn