The National tribune., 1900-08-16
BURNING OF BLAIR MANSION.
A wisconsin Heavy Artillerynan Writes OF
Events Connected With the Early Raid.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
issue of July II the author of the EVERY
day Life OF Abraham Lincoln says,
through Mr. Neill, that the rebels under
Early, marching toward the Capitol by
what was called the Seventh Street road,
set fire to the residence of Hon. Mont
gomery Blair, who had been Postmaster
General" etc. AS an eyewitness of that
occurrence l beg to differ from this gen
tleman's statement.
The true facts are these: Some two
days before this demonstration by the en-
emy, Co. A, First Battalion, Wisconsin
II. A, was ordered about an hour before
sundown to report to the Commissary for
two days rations and 40 rounds each, to
take each a blanket, and report to the
Alexandria depot.
My company was there in garrison at
Battery Rodgers, Alexandria. Upon ar
irving at the depot we took the cars for
Washington. We marched all night, and
arrived at the scene of action early in the
morning. My company took possession
Of Fort De Russey, while to our right, on
somewhat of a decline, and about 100 rods
from our position, was Fort Stevens.
Matters were looking pretty serious
when we got on the ground. Just before
and below US was a narrow valley, in
which a few detachments Of the Invalid
Corps were skirmishing with the enemy.
hills, covered with thick brush, while the
Blair mansion, large, square, two-story
building, occupied an elevated position
outside of our lines and just opposite
Fort Stevens, and l should judge about
400 yards from 1t. The enemy occupied
it with sharpshooters, which were a great
annoyance to Fort Stevens, and from
which our men sustained their chief
losses. 1t was too good a hiding place
fnr ha fn hn
On the second day after our arrival-it
may have been the next, President Lin
coin, accompanied by Secretary Seward,
visited Fort Stevens, and on his way back
to Washington passed near Fort DeRus-
sey. This was my first and last opportu-
nifty to see him, and l improved it.
Up to this time the Blair mansion was
burned by the Presidents order, as stated
by one contributor to "Lincoln's Life" in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
At last it became such a nuisance to
those occupying Fort Stevens that Gen.
Blair himSelf-as the statement was made
to US at the time-instructed, or gave the
order, to have 1t burned. / recolect dis
tinctly the day and the time Of day the
order came. The sun was about an hour
high. Orders were given to load six "a
pound Parrots with shell, and to fire four
rounds each; "a guns, one after the other,
but hardly a second between each shot.
Never can I forget the scene. Our
company occupied an elevated position
overlooking the whole. The tong! tong!
of the heavy guns and the result was
grand above all, and with the closing day
finished a good job and made the rebels
seek safer place to hide.
How any ever got out Of there alive
and unhurt could not see, for the burst
ing shells filled the front yard, the inside
of the building and the back yard so to
get out was a matter of speed and the
oyerruling of 4 kind Providence.
The mansion being a wooden structure
was in flames In almost moments space
of time.
The Sixth Corps arrived, think, few
hours before the same day. ~Early's job
was up then, we knew, so we lay down
that night little more at ease than for
some days past. This is just as saw it
SO years ago last month. l believe this to
be the correct history Of the burning of
the Blair mansion during the rebel in
vasion under Early, for I was there
CALVIN GREEN, Co. A, LIST Wis. Fl. A,
Hebron, Wis.