Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-01
HISTORIC BATTLE GROUND
PRESERVATION OF LINE OF DE-
FENSEs OF CAPITAL CITY.
AssOcfatiOn's Executive Committee
Holds n Meeting to Consider
Proposed LegislatiOn.

The executive committee of the Fort
Stevens Lincoln National Park Associa-
ton held a meeting yesterday afternoon at
the rooms of the Board of Trade, in The
Star building. Gen. Thomas NJ. Vincent
was in the chair and Major A. 8. Perham
served as secretary. DR.. c. V. Petteys
presented bill which it was desired to
have considered by Congress looking to the
establishment of battlefield park. ana
explained it's features in detail and the
changes made in it to meet the wishes OF
the participants in the battles in front of
Washington.
Gen. Frank Wheaton, who commanded
brigade in the 9th Corps under General
Wright. gave most interesting account OF
the engagements of July II and II, 1864.
when Gen. Jubal Early came so near cap
turing Washington city. He told now
President Lincoln persisted in standing on
the parapet Of Fort Stevens to watch the
engagement and how anxious General
Wright was to have him stand behind
rather than on top Of the parapet Lincoln
he said, was good soldier and had rem
dered-eXcellent service in the Black Hawk
war and when the battle was on in front
of Fort Stevens his early training as
soldier seemed to assert itself and he DEM
onstrated Enthusiastically that he was to-
tally devoid of fear.
Captain Henry B. LOCKER explained
series Of maps which he had prepared TOT
the committee. He said the plan presented
to him was to cover the entlre me y. ' ~.
engagement from Fort Reno on the left TO
Fort Totten on the right during the siege
of Washington by General Early Inc
United States now possess hoiolnss from
Fort Reno to Battle Ground cemetery, over
one-half of the line engaged. and Captain
LOCKER was asked to complete the line OF
defense by making maps to include the site
of Fort Stevens and the earthworks sun
Of Stevens and Fort Tot
ten the last being the best preserved tort
of the civil war in the District of Columbia;
About twenty-five acres Of ground would
be required for this purpose, and the maps
had been made in harmony with the street
extension plan.
Colonel John McElroy thought more
ground should be secured than proposed as
the engagement at Fort Stevens meant
everything for the capital and the nation
during the war, and much now. The plan.
he argued, should be on the broadcast lines
possible.
Major H. N Alvord spoke of the battle
in which his regiment took part and urged
that the line of battle should be marked.
Fort Stevens battlefield being one OF the
most interesting historically of any battle
in the civil war that remained unmarked.
and Major Perham urged that the bill for
acquiring the ground for the park be intro
duced in Congress this session. and if found
imperfect 1t could be changed to meet the
wishes Of the participants in the battle and
presented to Congress at the next session
for enactment INTO law.
Tribute to Valor.
Mai. H. L. Biscoe, who officer in
the confederate army, was present, and ad-
vocated the securing of the forts and hav-
ing the important points suitably marked,
as was being done elsewhere, as a tribute
to the valor of the American soldier.
Maj L. P. Williams said If the land in
dictated could be acquired now the future
citizens of the capital and nation would
praise the work of those engaged In this
patriotic undertaking to save SO historic a
spot.
Mr.. w. V. Cox presented plan of Fort
Stevens, the fort that saved our coun-
try's capital stating that he had placed
tablet on the fort that morning, which
not only showed the plan. but also gave a
brief description Of the battle.
Gen. Vincent spoke of the interest that
was being manifested in the project by old
soldiers all over the country, and presented
several letters bearing on the subject He
also presented b letter from Hugh Hast
ings, state historian of New York, in refer
ence to bill which had been introduced In
the legislature Of that state to erect mon
ument at Fort Stevens in memory Of New
York soldiers who had fallen in sight of the
dome Of the Capitol
Appointment of Committee.
After an interesting discussion filled with
"reminiscences of the Washington cam
paign, it was decided that the chairman
should appoint committee, Of which he
would be ex-officio a member to wait on
members of the Senate and request that
bill for acquiring the Fort Stevens battle
field for a national park be introduced at
this session of Congress. The chairman
appointed Gen. Frank Wheaton. Col. John
McElroy and Capt. H. B. LOCKER members
of the committee. and they called at the
Capitol this morning.
They had a satisfactory interview with
Senator Proctor who promised to intro
duce the bill today.
The following named gentlemen compose
the executive committee of the Fort Stew
ens-Lincoln National Park Association:
Gen. Thomas NJ. Vincent, L. 8. A., chair
man; Gen. Frank Wheaton, Z. s. A; Gen.
George w. Getty, Gen. William H. Penrose,
Gen. Jos. c. Breckenridge L. S. A; Gen.
George H. Harries, Gen. F. c. Ainsworth.
Mr.. William " Cox, Dr. Chas. V. Petteys,
Maj. A. S. Perham, secretary; Maj. Henry
E. Alvord, Maj Leander p. Williams, Col.
William l.. Bramhall, Col Calvin H. Farms
worth, Maj. Thomas S. Hopkins, Col. John
r. McElroy, Col l. w. Stone. Gen. George
H. Slaybaugh, Gen. r. G. Dyrenforth, Capt.
Henry B. LOCKER, James Tanner. Maj.
| Edw. r. Campbell, Mr.. Barry Buckley,
Gen. Marcus ]. Wright. Maj. Henry L.
Biscoe, Capt. Findlay Harris.