Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-17
A WARTIME EPISODE
Oassius M. Clay Describes His Ex-
periences in This City.
At THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES
He Organizes a Company for the
City's Defense.
IN TIE RVIEW WITH SCOTT

Cassius NJ. Clay Of Kentucky, whose do
nestle entanglements have brought his
name prominently before the country Of
late, was well known in Washington during
the civil war era. A letter written by him to
friend in this city several years ago de-
scribed his experiences here in the trou-
blous times Immediately following Lincolns
election:
I'm the spring of 1861 I. being appointed
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tertiary to the Russian government at st.
Petersburg, was awaiting with my family,
at Washington, my instructions, when the
United States vessels were sunk in the
Chesapeake, and the railroad and telegraph
communications with the north were de-
stroyed by the confederates. AS soon as /
learned that the ships were sunk knew
that the war was begun.
1T was near night, and the omnibus was
standing at the door of Wizards Hotel, GO
ing to the Baltimore depot. / ran to the
| rooms of my family and told them to get
at once into the carriage or they would be
left, and after that they would not be able
to get out of Washington. They did SO,
leaving their clothes and trunks unpacked,
and setting out awaited my arrival In Bal
timore. That, as l anticipated, was the
last car that left the city.
r Ut nearly thirty years naQ discussed
the slavery issue in Kentucky and else
where, and knew from long observations
and the avowed designs of the Shareholders
| that war was inevitable and had so stat
ed in my many speeches made in the presi-
Dental canvass in 1860 In Illinois, Indiana
and Ohio. 1 at once went to Gen. Winfield
SCOTS headquarters in Washington and
| asked an interview. He granted it. but his
military staff then present, hearing my re-
quest for private conference and not re-
firing, asked the general into another
| room, but they followed him in also and
| refused to retire. AS then had reason to
believe there was treason In the army, /
refused to say anything, and. telling the
general 1 would call again, l retired.
Organized n Volunteer Company.
"In the 1uadrangular court of the yard
of Wizards Hotel was an old theater.
which had been disused and was then
turned, believe, into an occasional church.
1t communicated with the main hotel by q
passage and door, and also opened upon the
| street in the rear of the house.
The hotel was full Of guests friends and
foes of the Union. / consulted with such
as l knew to he true to the old flag, and
they agreed with me that the President
and the other officials of the government
and the Capitol were III danger of capture.
I'VE began Immediately to organize a
volunteer force for defense. l was placed
in the leadership. 1 received but those
whom knew TO be true, gave the watch
word and introduced them into the old
theater This nucleus took others in. All
were brought to my private room, enrolled
and sent TO the common quarters. When
the enemy found out what was going on
they attempted to bully me. Three gentle
men, one notorious person from Califor-
mia, finding me alone in my front room,
came III and demanded admission into my
corps. / asked upon whose recommended
ton, and they answered, insolently, upon
| their own. l kept two revolvers upon my
bed in the next room and, going in, came
out with one in each hand and ordered
them out. They slowly did so, but their
chief rolled some balls in his open hand and
then put them in his poe ket, as much as to
say, Well give you these Very WE'LL /
said, we will meet YOU Again as l stood
| at the doors of our quarters, as the crowd
of our force was entering, an unknown face
presented itself. / challenged him for the
watchword, and, not having it and still
advancing to enter, l leyeled my pistol at
his head, told him 1t was revolutionary
times, and would shoot him. He then re-
tired. The names Of all my corps were
taken down; very distinguished men they
mostly We're governors, senators, judges,
etc. AS / soon went on to Europe, don't
know what became of this list.
To Guard the City.
II was more fortunate in another call
upon Gen. Scott. / gave him my views,
and got his consent to arm my men, which
he gave for the moral effect, sending TO
hold rather than make a requisition HIM
self. In the meantime Senator James Lane
of Kansas had also raised volunteers. We
united our forces for drill and action. AS
had the most, / was made chief and he the
second After being organized, armed and
drilled, my force slept in the theater ready
for immediate action.
"a guard each night was set over the
Presidents house. We were all called one
night to the government barracks, below
Washington on the Potomac river. expect
ing an assault; but we were not attacked
AS 1 an sicpated, the capture of Washing
ton, as IL appeared later In the war, was
the design Of the rebels. I knew they were
who 1 knew favored the rebel cause,
through a professed friend and in conf
dence, that probably the next day Scott
would declare martial law, and that many
would be captured. tried and shot.
THE ruse had its effect. That night hun
dreds If not thousands left Washington for
Virginia. Wizards Hotel, which lately
was full. was SO vacated that the proprie-
tors took up their carpets and took down
their curtains. with a view Of closing the
house.
Walking to Annapolis.
But my absence left me unable to say
what was done. So soon as the regiments
from New York and Massachusetts, came
into Washington our volunteer force was
dissolved. Lincoln, through the Secretary
OF War, gave our body thanks for our pa
triotic services and presented me with a
Colts pistol, which 1 proudly preserve in
my family. Charles Sumner and others in
sisted upon my taking tho post of major
general Of volunteers In the United States
service and his views were backed by the
Union safety. committee of New York.
But declined, because Scott was old, and
as my rank would have placed me above
Worth and Wool. veteran regular generals.
did not think myself qualified to super
sede them, as had only served as cap
tain in Mexico, was only colonel of uni
formed volunteers in Kentucky, and had no
regular military education.
Sumner and /, who had always been
especial friends were somewhat alienated
by my refusal to enter the army, and l
soon set out for my mission. l went out
az far as 1 could on the Baltimore railroad,
but 1t was not all relaid, and 1 had no
means of conveyance from Washington, so
l. in company with an editor from Cleve-
land (Cowles, think) set out on foot and by
night for Annapolis, where Gen. b. F. But
Ter was in command Of the Union forces.
After long and fatiguing walk We con-
cluded to stay all night in the home Of a
farmer. We were we'll received, took our
supper and went to bed. My companion
had imprudently given our names. 1 was
oil ha oil or o,,I