Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-04
THE LANDING OF BRADDOCK.
Some Light Thrown on the Subject by
MIR. Birth,

Mr. VIM. w. Birth, who is now over
ninety years of age, and who has contrib
uted many valuable facts concerning the
early history of the District to The Star
now writes in regard to the landing of Gen
Braddock, which was discussed at the re-
cent meeting Of the Columbia Historical
Society, as follows:
Much has been said and written about the
locality Of the landing of Braddock's army
on its route to Fort Du Quesne pittsburgh
and in the last discussion of the subject. at
a late meeting of the Columbia Historical
Society, the conflicting opinions of men,
bers contend for different localities as the
landing point.
With your consent 1 will add my informa-
ton on the subject, which was derived from
my father, the late James Birth who To-
Gated here on the site of what is now Wash
ington city in December, 1792-only thirty
seven years after Gen. Braddock passed
through here on his way west.
My father has repeatedly told me of in
formation he received as to BraddoCk s
landing, and ii sums up thus: "Braddock 5
troops were landed at the mouth of Rock
creek and marched thence to the spot now
called Washington Circle, and there and
Whereabouts encamped for a few days to
gather information as TO his route to the
west
Frequently on passing this place which
occurred for many years twice day, be-
tween his home opposite the Six Build
lngS and his place of business, then at 2stn
and X streets northwest, he would speak
of the encampment and point out the course
of race track which circled around there
in the latter days of the last century.
What is called Braddocks Rock was in
my young days a great swimming place.
The Washington channel was just in front
of the rock and gave a good diving place
for US young swimmers, who were Caily
visitors to the river at this point. The rCck
mad a comparatively level surface and COW
ever area of about ten by fifteen feet,
giving ample room for the deposit of cloth
ing, and rising some three feet above CTdi-
nary medium tides. The adjacent hanks of
the river were well stocked with native
shrubbery and the place was attractive, al d
therefore much reSorted to by young peo-
pie. The southern slope of Observatory hill
was in part stocked with dwarf ccdars. 1t
was formerly called Camp hill, from the
fact that the District troops in 1914 were
for two or three weeks encamped there. 1t
had before that been called Windmill hill,
deriving It's then name from large octagon
windmill erected, | think, and owned and
operated by Dr. Bruff, the father of the
late Joseph Goldsboro Bruff. The mill al
the time of the ercampment was used as
a guard house, and l have often seen de-
linquent soldiers marched to it behind the
drum and fife playing the Rogue's March,
and there locked up. The misdeeds of the
troops were of daily occurrence many of
them ludcrous, and always in violation Of
camp discipline.
I may add that in all probability single
boat load of Braddock's soldiers may have
been landed at the rock, sent, perhaps, to
gather information which might or might
not be of use to the commander, and hence
may have come the naming of this bOWlder.
as it is sometimes called. II was not loose
rock but projecting mass from the great
bodies lining the shore there.
The main body of troops was landed at
the mouth of Rock creek, which was then
for some Two or three hundred yards above
its mouth quite deep, as / have reason TO
p1T,,t hal nyr +h,A
K street bridge, at wharf belonging to
my grandfather and father, l came nea"
being drowned in 1916 or 1917, when eight
or nine years old, the water there being ten
feet deep. At this wharf and at two or
three others below it a large freighting
business was done in wood, stone and sand.