The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
EARLY DAYS OF CIVIL WAR
The Rush Back TO Washington
After the First Fight.
Lively Stampede Across the Old
Aqueduct Bridge-Prompt Action
of the Government and Citizens-A
Speech by President LincoIn-The
Capital City an Armed Camp.


Georgetown College look directly out and
down upon the Aque luct Bridge. Some Httl'
time ago a professor at the college recall
ed looking through these windows at dawr
upon a certain day and seeing a struggling
but impetuous stream of men and horses
come tearing across the bridge which Their
stood Oh the site of the present structure
The human stream continued all day
but at disjointed intervals. and from
the time Of the arrival of the head of the
motley and disordered procession the whole
city was in dread connection.
The day upon which this spectacle wa:
beheld was that following Sunday, the 21st
day of July, 1861. the date upon which was
fought the first battle OF Bull Run. The
history of the battle and the effect Of lis
results upon the people Of Washington are
too well known to require recital Gener-
ally speaking, as regarded the result, the
citizens blamed the soldiers. and the sol
diers the citizens. who had accompanied
them to see the fun. and got in their
way.
The members of the National Rifles, Of
the District volunteers, though they did
not participate in the conflict acted the
part OF the Good Samaritans to the fugi-
tfyes. whom they cared for in their aTIaory
in Temperance Hall. Some unfortunates
were. however. overlooked, and wandered
about the streets. seeking shelter from the
driving ram which fell all day. and con-
tributed its~share TO the heariness and
gloom which had settled over the entire
city
The only Washingtonians killed in the
battles of Stone Bridge and Bull Run
(First Regiment. Virginia Volunteers),
were: Capt. C. X. Sherman and Isidore
Morris.
From the period commencing August 2,
Washington became practically an armed
camp. On that GATE Col. A Porter, who
had been appointed provost marshal of the
District of Columbia the day before, issued
his first general order.
On August 6 the first company of Colonel
Eyerett's new regiment of District Of Co
lumbia Volunteers was mustered into the
service, with Captain Knight in command
Captain Geary's company of cavalry was
mustered in for three years, as were also
the Everett Guards about the same time,
with Maurice Tucker, captain; James R.
Narrower, first Lieutenant; jeremiah
O'Leary. second lieutenant, and George
Augerton, orderly sergeant.
Perhaps one of the most useful military
institutions in Washington al that time
was the army bakery located in the Capt.
toll building among the exterior vaults
It was in control Of Lieut. Thomas J. Cate.
Of the Twelfth United States Artillery.
who. upon the necessity Of such an insti-
tuition arising offered his services, not
alone in taking charge of the bakery, but in
building the ovens. This preliminary work
being accomplished. the lieutenant en-
ployed one hundred and seventy hands,
dividing them into day and night squads.
The bakery supplied the soldiers with fresh
and wholesome bread in abundance, and
kept twelve large wagons constantly
going, carrying out and distributing nearly
sixty thousand loayes per day. Each loaf
was required TO weigh twenty-five ounces.
In October, 1861, the bakery was consum-
ing one hundred and fifty barrels Of -four
per day. A yeast room also formed part
of the establishment, employing eight men.
The ovens are described as having been
large and well built and the whole estab-
lishment most creditable In every respect
On November 5, 1851. the mansions of
Senators Douglas and Rice and Mr. Cor
bin, known as Minnesota Row, were en-
gssed for military hospital. at an annual
rental of s.. 600.
Activity at the Navy Ynrd.
The navy yard was q scene OF great
activity all during the war On Deem
Der l, 1861, Captain Dahlgren, then in
charge had 1,so0 men at work under him.
number Of very large anchors, weighing
from 5000 pounds downward, were made
there. as well as many chain cables.
In February, 1862, the Second District
Volunteer Regiment was mustered into the
service Of the United States for three
years. The regimentsl officers of this or
ganization were as follows: Colonel, Isaac
L d.
3utant, c. II. Linebeek; quartermaster,
James P. Ssnderson; surgeon. Dr. J. B.
Keasby; assistant surgeon, DR.. L. C.
Hoole, and chaplain. Rev. Mr.. Lockwood,
The captains Of the several companies
were as follows: Company A, Captain Gar
rett; Company B, Captain Dubant: Com
pany c. Captain Drew; Company d, Cap
tain Ditmarris; Company f. Captain Cal
Ian; Company F, Captain Steele; Company
G, Captain Stockbridge; Company II, Cap
tain Blything; Company /, Captain Dun
can; Company X, Captain Krouse.
On May II, this regiment was presented
with a handsome flag, bearing in gold let
tiers, the following inscription: "Presi-
dents Guard, Second Regiment District
OF Columbia Volunteers" The flag was
mounted on a stan upon which was in
scribed the following: Presented 10 the
Presidents Guard by the ladies Of Wash
fngton, May q, 1862" The presentation
speech was made by Major B. B. French,
and the response was made by Colonel
Peck
At the commencement OF the year 1862
the following forces, besides those already
named, we're stationed in and around
Washington: At Fortress Monroe. under
General Wool, Il, 900 men; south Of Wash
lngton and partly on the Maryland side Of
the Potomac, General Hooker's division,
including General Sickles' brigade, about
10000; southwest OF the city was the mass
Of General McClellan's army, consisting OF
eight divisions, TO the number of nearly
Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to-
ward Baltimore, making the entire aggre-
gate nearly 100000 men.
On August 6, 1862. a great war meeting
was held IN front of the Capitol building
At 5 p. N. salute of thirty-four gums was
fired and the bells of the city were rung
The Marine Band played and the President
and his Cabinet were in attendance. The
mayor OF Washington presided and Samuel
Z. Douglass was secretary OF the commit
tee OF arrangements. The speakers were
the Hon. George S. Boutwell,, Commissioner
Of Internal Revenue; Hon. Leonard SWEET,
OF Chicago; Hon. r. W. Thompson. of In
diana; /. z. Chittenden, Register OF the
Treasury; President Lincoln; General
Shepley, Military Governor of Louisiana:
Senator Harlan OF Iowa, and Gen. z. C.
Darlington, United States District Attor-
ney for the District of Columbia The
meeting lasted until 1918 p. m. A series
Of resolutions was adopted. expressing the
sentiments OF those present. The tenor OF
these agreements was that the dissnember-
ment Of the Union was an event not 10 be
contemplated IN any possible contingency;