Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-05-02
WHisKEY SAVED THE CAPITAL.
That is the Conclusion to be Drawn
From a Baltimorean's Story.

Edward Babcock of Baltimore, in
speaking yesterday of the civil war
gave an interesting version of General
Jubal A. Early's famous raid which
came so ne1c resulting in the capture
of Washington, says the New York
Tribune. Mr.. Babcock states that
the reason for General Early's failure
was his emitting to take advantage of
his opportunity and sack the city
when it lay comparatively unarmed
and at his mercy.
AS every student of the history OF
| the war knows, said Mr. Babcock, The
Confederates came within an ace OF
capturing the city of Washington dur
ing the dark days of the civil war
That fearless daredevil, Jubal A.
Early in one of his cavalry aids,
reached the town of Silver Spring
which lies ut seven miles from Wash.
ington. The city at that time was
practically defenseless. There were
but few or no troops in Washington,
and every one there was panic strick-
en- when news came of Ear!y's
proximity. Fortunately, however, he
delayed at Silver Spring for a length
of time sufficient to hurry up troops
which were hastily thrown bet Ween
him and the threatened city.
Early made his headquarters " hen
he reached Silver Spring at the mouse
of Mr.. Blair, the father of Mont
gomery Blair, who was then lost.
master general in Lincolns cabinet.
After the confederates had withdrawn
the Blairs went out to Silver Spring
again. Mrs. Blair found scattered ali
about the lawns great balls of fluffy
white stuff, which on investiga 4ior,
proved to be the lint which had come
from her linen, of which she had a
great store. The confederates had
unearthed it and torn it into bandages.
The lint they had rolled into balls and
thrown upon the lawn, where Mrs.
Blair afterward found them.
Some time prior to this raid of Gen
eral Early's there was sold by the
navy department a large quantity of
naval whiskey. 1t had to be sold. and
the late Admiral Lee, who lived at
Silver Spring, knowing that it would
probably go at a cheap figure, told
his friends and neighbors in the
vicinity of Silver Spring that they
would 20 well to come to the sale and
bid in supply of it. AS he hal e.
pected, the whiskey went for a
phenomenally low price. 1t was
gobbled up by those who were
present, and the result was that ytry-
body in that part of the country had y
barrel of it.
The confederates found this out to
their great JOY and made merry. This
1t was that caused them to make the
fatal delay Silver Spring. Had
Early kept on he could unquestion-
ably have raided and burned the
capital. 1t was defenseless at the
time, and utterly at his mercy had he
ridden in, but both he and his men
had led lives of great hardship. and
the supply of good things that they
unearthed in the country, and par ticu-
larly that great supply of good
whiskey, was too much for them; 1ney
simply could not resist it,
If Admiral Lee had not recon.
mended to his neighbors the purchase
of this whiskey the chances are that
the capitol at Washington would have
suffered the tremendous indignity of
having been sacked by confederate
commander. Thus it is that great
oaks from little acorns grow.