The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08
THE BATPLESHIP PAGE
Changed From a Peaceful Craft
Into a Man.of-War.
4 Potomac FerrybOnt Drafted Into
Her Cruise Down the River Under
Flying CoIors and Her Rather In
glorious Ending-Au Sorts of Flags

| The episode of the conversion of Wash
ington and Alexandria ferryboat, the most
peaceful craft that floats into vessel oil
war is one of the early incidents of the
war between the States in 1861. The George
Page was the second of the double-enders
that took her place on the Potomac ferry.
The first boat of the kind had been the
Union. From the earliest days of ferriage
when the steamboat ran in opposition to
the team-boat between Alexandria and
Georgetown, for Washington had then no
| river front there had been two ferries
between the Virginia cities and the Mary
land cities of the old District of Columbia
In the boyhood of the old men now liv-
ing, the Joe Johnson and the Paul Jones
were the opposition boats. Sometimes the
| steamers ran at alternate hours from d.
nj. to > p M. but often they ran in oppo-
| sition each ringing its bell at the same
| time and racing. in slow time. backward or
| forward. from the Alexandria strand 20 her
| Washington river front at cut prices, for
passengers and freight. The Paul Jones
was burned at Shinn's wharf at Alexan-
| dria but from her ashes came the Pick
| nix, an Alexandria built steamer, that for
decade or more under Capt. James Guy
and others ran opposition to the Joe John
| son. commanded by Capt. Ignatius Alien.
The Phenix Company was made tu mostly
| of Alexandria people. The Johnson was
owned in Washington.
Late in the i0's the Washington compa-
ny put on the line two fine boats built at
the Collyer shipyards in New York; the
Thomas Collyer Capt. Sam Gedney. ana
the George Washington, Capt. Job Corson.
This enterprise knocked out the Alexan-
dria Company and the Phenix was sold 10
run on one of the rivers Of Florida. 1t
was not long, however, before an OPPOSE
ton ferry developed. George Page settled
in South Washington and built himself
what was then a novel dwelling at
the southeast corner of Seventh and F
streets southwest, where IL still stands.
He was a shipbuilder by trade and estab-
lished a shipyard near the foot of Seventh
Street. and there built the double-end
steamer George Page, which. with the I'm
ion, ran in opposition to the General WASH
ington and Thomas Collyer until the break
ing out of the war. George Page was
notable man on the river front. The way
the ferryboat George Page came to be
made war vessel was as follows:
At the breaking out OF the war Virginia
was as unprepared for military operat ions
as any OF the other States. The military
spirit had been somewhat renewed BIZ the
surroundings of the raid and execution OF
John Brown, but the military system of
the Commonwealth was the old military
system, the same which succeeded the var
OF the Revolution. No militia drill had
taken place in Alexandria for several years.
but four volunteer companies. uniformed,
were active, and ten companies OF mere
undrilled militia were enrolled. but never
assembled. Even the annual ten
days drill OF the officers had ceased, and
the only time the officers had been called !
together was to elect a major. The Or |
ganization of the militia was. however, |
complete on paper. and when the clouds !
of war began TO gather. Col. Charles E. !
Stuart. by order of the Governor. made |
his headquarters at what is TOW the Brad |
dock House. One evening in the spring /
an Alexandria newspaDerman. doing work
in Washington. was on the ferry steamer.
when Capt. Sam Gedney said: DO you
see that" pointing to the steamer Pow
haitian. Of the Washington and Aqua
Greek line, then coming out OF the Eastern
Branch.
We'll. what's the matter with the Pow
hattan?" was the response.
She has troops on board to man Fort
Washington; that's the beginning of war;"
replied Mr.. Wapper.
"oh. nonsense" said the newspaper man;
soldiers have to go somewhere
went up to tinkle the bell that started the
boat.
Soon after the arrival of the newspaper
man in Alexandria. Colonel Stuart met
him and was told OF the manning of Fort
Washington.
Come with me-" he said. ''I'n give you
a piece of news FOR your paper"
They went at once TO the telegraph Of
flee and Colonel Stuart sent the follow
.ct, /
Richmond:
"Governor-A body of the troops of the
United States has past through this juris-
jicti0n in steamer to man Fort Wash
ihgton in Maryland
In less than an hour came back this re-
ply:
Colonel Stuart Report received Be
watchful and alert and report all move
ments.'
1t was while the local militia authorities
were in charge that the steamer George
Page was seized at the Alexandria wharf
by a party of Alexandria militia officers.
consisting of Lieut. Col. H. Carter Dorsey
and three captains. OF these captains
Capt. John p. Clarie. of 6ia King Street.
Alexandria. is now the only survivor.
Mr.. Clarke, for he has lain aside his
title with his uniform. says that the mill
tary movement which converted militia o.
icers into naval officers. will long linger III {
MS memory as one OF the most remarka-
bic OF his life Under the orders of Col
)nel Stuart, who was directed from Rich
nond to provide means for the moving of
Virginia troops-for Virginia had then Sc
'eded from the Union but had not Joined
he Confederate States-Lieutenant Colonel
Dorsey and Captain Clarke proceeded to the I
erry wharf. sent On board a small cannon
md some military arms and stores, and
ordered the engineer to start the steamer
md the pilot of the boat to head down
stream. These river men made no obiec {
ion. and soon the boat. which usually
headed north for Washington. was headed
iouth for somewhere unknown to any but '
he military officers in charge. What flag |
shall we hoist?" said the commander 10
lis staff. THE boat has no Virginia flag
md we are not yet in the Southern Con-
ederacy. and even ii we had joined our /
ortunes TO the Montgomery Government
We have no Confederate hag." Hoist c
very d-n thing or board" said one of the !
ouncil; and this order having been given. l
very piece of bunting on the boat. all |
orts Of flags and signals were run UP on ?
he various iagstatfs, as if the boat was !
,ong on an excursion. !
In this way the steamer passed by Fort l
Washington without either a salute or II [
osttle shot, and soon it was known that
er destination was Aqua Creek \ United l.
tates vessel was deserted coming Up the
liver and the crew on the Page had no
esire for either a visit or shot The pi-
Ut said he could go into the swash chan
el and be out of her reach, and accord
1gly, while the man-cf-wlr made her a
'ay in the lain channel the Page went h
Z near the VirrIn!., shore and there was a
o trouble Of any kind y
But trouble of another kind was immi l
i