Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-09
PATRIOTIC THEMES
Matters Discussed by HE Sons Of the
American Revolution.
An Effort to Preserve the Braddock
to the Commissaoners.

At the regular monthly meeting Of the
Sons of the American Revolution. held in
the red parlor Of the Mbbitt House last
evening. President q. Brown Goode read
his annual report. He spike Of the coming
convention of the Sons of the Revolution
In Savannah. April II, and to the meeting
Of the Sons Of the American Revolution, in
Richmond, on the 30th. He said that the
desire for a coalition of the two societies
was growing each day, and it vas probable
that there would be but one society before
another year. Delegates from both Of the
old societies have been Instructed to favor
the union of the two.
DR.. Goode referred to letter which the
president and secretary of the society sent
yesterday to the Commissioners, asking
their interest in the preservation of the
Braddock rock. on the Potomac, where the
British first landed in the District. The
rock Is now in imminent danger of being
covered by the dumping Of refuse. DIR.
Goode closed by appointing a committee
to call upon the District Commissioners
and urge upon them the necessity of pre-
serving the site. The members of this
committee are: John w. Douglass, Gen.
J. c. Breckenridge, w. D. Cabell, DR.. Mar
Gus Benjamin, M. G. Emery and Isaac
Winston.
During the evening two valuable histori-
cal papers were read. The first was en-
titled 1.-The Influence of the Treaty Of
Client on the History of the Northwest
by Mr.. Thomas Wilson. The other was on
Marianne of Bell Air" by Mr.. George
Carr.
The BraddOck Rock.
The letter written by Dr. Goode to the
District Commissioners in reference to the
Braddock rock said:
'Braddocl's rock is upon the site occu-
pied by the British and provincial troops
in April, 1865 The British troops landed
here from their fra ha Cea Horra
anc the Nightingale, and here pitched their
tents on April IL, 1853. 1t is a matter of
tradition that Washington, then an officer
of Virginia colonial troops and later aid
de-camp to Braddock, was camped also on
this very hill. and was so impressed with
the beauty of the site and Of the surround
ing country that he was subsequently led
to choose it for the location of the national
capital. This is the very spot which he, in
1876, designated the ation for the Uni
versity Of the United States
"BIaddock's rock has been known by this
name ever since the time Of Braddocks de-
parture, and'is still SO known by old inhabi-
tants OF the vicinity, among whom are sew
eral VINO remember when it was touched
~ the waters of the Potomac, since diverted
farther southwark. In the report of the
Washington Astronomical Observatory for
1911, appendix No. 4, Is reference to Brad
docks rock under this name, and to the
tact that 1t was from this point that Brad
deck marched toward Fort DuQuesne 1t is
also recorded here that Colonel Peter Force.
the well-known antiquary, during his life
time repeatedly pointed out this as the rock
on which Braddock's landing was made.
f'urther Authorization can be found in
Braddock's journal Of this expedition.
This locality. in olden times known as
camp Hill, was occupied in 1913 and 1914
ny brigade of militia, and the troops
from Alexandria advanced from this hill
toward Biadensburg for the defense of the
city against Ross and Cockburn in 1S14 1
am indebted for these facts to Mr.. Mark B.
match and Mr.. Frank Clay of this city,
VINO have carefully examined the original
maps and records. Mr. Clay states that on
record sheet in the Office Of the coast and
geodetic survey, made by Patterson in
lS62, the rock Is located Under the name of
Braddock's rock, as well as upon other
early manuscript records In the office. -
Il should like to inquire whether 1t is in
tended that this region SHALL in time. be-
come public park. II it is, l would ven
ture to suggest that a portion of the park
might be devoted to a small lake occupyine
TEE former position Of the northern edge Of
the Potomac river, and that the rock and
adjacent banks could readily be restored to
the condition in which they were before
the river receded. In the meantime ~
temporarily inclosed, the spot could be an
object of interest to many visitors.
Il am sure that the presentation of these
facts will be quite sufficient to secure from
your honorable board proper action, and
Will simply add that the matter is one
Wnlch ID OF the greatest interest, not only
10 the historical and patriotic societies Of
Washington and Of the United States. but
to every citizen of the District, and in
deed, of the whole country"