Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-26
How the Boys Came to the Front in
81.
MEN Who DEFENDED WASHINGTON
The Quick Response to the Call
for Soldiers.
PROTECTING THE PRESIDENT



service during the war The camps of
tie hattaiions of District three months
men in July, 1861. were nearly all along
The banks of the Potomac, extending as
far. as Seneca, and their term of enlist
ment was about to close the Fourth of
July was celebrated with considerable
eciat Taken from their avocations in the
professional, mercantile and mechanical
branches, the duties Of 4 soldier were novel
10 them. and SO agreeable was the gen.
eral experience of the men that the senti-
ment above was the common expression.
They mad not then experienced much of
the hardship of war, and few thinking The
war would extend over many montcs were
ready to re-enter the service when two full
regiments and several troops of cavalry
represented the District. The population
CT the District was not in 1861 IN full accord
On the questions of the day. ana much con-
Germ Was felt as TO the inauguration of
Presto Lincoln, who. it was freely pre-
d'cto., would not be permitted to be sworn
in as President Indeed. open threats had
been made that he would never reach
Washington. Military companies yeta
formed for the express purpose OF seating
the President, and or two with the
avowed purpose of taking the part of the
south.
Saw 1t Coming.
1t needed no prophetic eye to see the ap-
proach OF the conflict. and 1t was appar-
ent to all that to seat the Presden, a
show Of military force would be necessary.
and that arms should be in the hands of
loyal men. General Winfield Scott resided
here. but the regular army, aggregating
1900 men, was scattered far and wide
over the country, the nearest stations be-
ing FORTRESS Monroe. Va, and Fort Nc
Sn1f ir,>,,,
trict was under Major General Weightnan.
then very old. and Brigadier General Peter
r. Bacon. Colonel Charles p Stone of
General Scotts staff was made inspector
general OF the District militia, and he not
only saw that the companies were prop
efiy armed and equipped. but that the men
We're loyal to the government. Several
states having seeded and United States
property having been seized. the flames
We're Tanned, and public meetings in the in
terest OF cnliStments were held IN different
sections of the District. Cen. f.. c. Caring
ton raised several companies for the Union
regiment, and some of the volunteer fire.
companies, for the time being. became
military organizations. General Bacon's
brigade of District militia consequently
embraced, on March T. over twenty com
pdMeS, the Washington Light Infantry
National Guard. and Union regiment each
having battalion. General Scott had or
dered here for the inauguration a detacn-
| nent of United States engineers, a troop
y l.
tillery and one or two foot batteries. WHO
with handful of ordnance men made I'd
the army contingent. In addition there
were few hundred marines at the navy
yard and barracks. These Were. so dis
posed about the city that the Inauguration
was successfully accomplished.
They Were Ready.
The signs of the times pointed to war,
while many were hopeful for some honor
able solution Of all difficulty. News was
daily received of the seizure of some fort
arsenal or public building in the south
and of warlike preparations in that Sec
ton. The protection of the capital was
determined upon. On the night of April
9, 1861, Col. Stone visited the various
armories and stated that the President
had asked for troops to defend the CAPT
tai and they would be mustered in the
United States service the following
day. Before 10 o'clock on the next day
several companies appeared on the north
front of the department and the work of
muster commenced Col. Stone inspecting
the companies, Major Mcdowell being the
mastering officer, and Gen. G. c. Thomas,
as notary public. administering the cath
They were sworn for the defense of the
District of Columbia, and it was explained
that they would not be called beyond il.
But, as stated above. when the time came
they mace no objection TO service beyond
the District lines. Under Col. Stone they
were organized into battalions and put in
service guarding the public buildings. roads
and bridges, and that part of the Baltimore
and Ohio south of Annapolis junction.
Thus when the troops landed in Annapolis
were repairing the Annapolis and Eikridse
railroad, which had been torn up, that
portion of the Baltimore and Ohio south
CT the junction was kept intact. and en-
,abltd the New York 9TH Regiment to reach
the city on April % and others to follow.
Some of the friends of the south had about
tir,,. r,1n 4
with troops aboard and fire into the wreck
with ar old cannon, but some one told,
and neither broken rails, wires nor old can
ncn interfered with the movement of
troops from the junction.
Reviewing Recruits.
One of the companies was actually in
service some days before the muster for
the Presidents mounted guard. Services
were needed for orderly duty and recon-
noitering, and nearly all the companies the
government then asked for were sworn
in before an opportunity was found for
their formal entry.
the entire force was paraded en- masse
but once during their term. This occa-
sion was May day. for which General
Scott gave them permission. Then they
were reviewed by President Lincoln and
several members Of his cabinet, General
Scott and Others and their appearance and
marching were highly compIimented, al
though the uniforms were varied, those of
the older companies being costly, and all
colors appeared in the line
The line was under the command of Gen.
Peter F. Bacon with his staff, and the or
CARNATIONS were as follows:
Presidents Mounted Guard, Capt. s. w.
Owen (rendezvous E near 18th street,.
First battalion rendezvous West Wash
ington)-Maj ]. NIGH. Hollingsworth Adjt
VIM H. Birch; Anderson Rifles, Capt. C.
H. Rodier; Potomac Light Guard, Capt.
Robt. Boyd; Darlington Home Guard. Capt.
James Goddard; Andrew Johnson Guard,
Capt J. H. McBfair.
Second Battalion pennsylvania avenue
and 18th streeO-Major j. Gray Jewell,
Adjt. T. p. Shallcross; Henderson Guard,
Capt. G. ]. L. FoXwell; Company A. Union
Regiment, Capt. f. c. Darlington; Com
pany B. Union Regiment, Capt. Jas. Kelly;
Company d, Union Regiment. Capt. John
McClelland: Company L, Union Regiment,
Capt. Jas. Callan.
Third Battalion u3th and H streets)-
Maj. J. r. Smead, Adjt. w. B. Webb: Ma
tional Rifles, Capt. -; Slemmer Guards,
Capt. H. M. Knight; Cameron Rifles, Capt.
]. +. Elder.
Some Familiar Names.
Fourth Battalion pennsylvania avenue
and 10th streeO-Lieut Col. Lem Towers,
Adjt. D. E. Irving: Company A. Washing