The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-23

events there is one spot within the Dis
trict Of Columbia probably OF greater his
toric interest than any other. about which
but little has been said or written.
At Old Fort Stevens. just beyond the
Soldiers Home, on the 18th and 18th OF
July. 1864. the battle which saved Wash
ington from falling into the hands OF
Confederate forces under General Early
was fought. There President Lincoln
stood on the summit of the Federal en-
bankments a target for rebel bullets,
which filed the air. and encouraged with
kindly words the soldiers Of the Union
The battle of Fort Stevens was the only
one fought within the bounds of the Dis
trict OF Columbia during the civil war
Nevertheless until year ago it hade
fair TO go down without ever being ac-
corded the prominence it deserved. \
number of veterans. both Federal and
Confederate, who participated in the en-
gagement. started a movement at that
time to convert the site of Fort Stevens
into a military park. and their efforts
have gained popular favor. Shortly be
fore the close OF the last session OF Con-
gress q bin was introduced by Senator
Proctor providing for the establishment
OF park To be known as the ForsJ Stey-
ems Lincoln National Park, and appro-
was referred to the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs. It Is expected that ac-
ton Will be taken on it early in the next
session Inasmuch as the project has re
ceived nothing but praise the measure
viii probably pass without trouble and
the park be established before another
year has passed
The Erightwood Citizens Association
has taken an active interest in the mat
ter ". Y Cox, Chairman Of the Histo-
rical Committee of that organization. has
made Investigations and has collected
considerable data concerning the battle.
It was largely through his agency that
the bill was introduced. \ number of
other prominent citizens have been inter
ested in the natter. Among them Cen
| eraI Frank " heaton. vino led the charges
against the Confederate forces: General
| George w Getty. General William A
| Penrose, DR.. c b Pettys, Major A O.
| Perham Col Israel Stone Commander
/ of the Department Of the Potomac, G.
| 4 r: Major Il + AIvOrd and Colonel
| John 8fcElroy- All OF these participated
/ in the enga cement.
Fort Stevens lies north Of the Soldiers
Home and east Of Brightwood Avenue
: To a person regarding the battlefield
from the latter thoroughfare il appears
| scarcely more than d meadow Large
mounds Of earth in various places. over
grown with grass and trees. remain there.
/ These are Jhe earthyoTls of the old
| fort Even to this day minnie balls, bro
! ken bayonets, canteens. belt buckles and
/ other evidences OF battle are occasionally
| picked up on the field
In 1861 a fort was built on Seventh
/ Street the main thoro- ISEfIre from
Maryland 10 Washington. I'VE miles from
! the Capitol. Il was called Fort Massa-
! chusetts- In 1862 and 1868 it WAS enlarged
/ and rechristened. taking the name OF
| Fort Stevens. in honor Of General Isaac
! ! Stevens. OF MasSa chussSts, = no had
/ partly supervised its construction. 4
! short time before the battle, President
/ Lincoln visited the foEt, where were en-
/ camped troops from various States. Gov
ernor Nash. Of Ohio, was a private IN
the 15gth Ohio. Senator Hanna. second
/ lieutenant. OF Company c. Of the same
| regiment was stationed at Fort Bunker
/ Hill
| The OCCUPATION of Frederick. Nd, by
| General Early on July g. 1854, was the
I first move n the brisk campaign which
! threatened the Capital At Frederick
! Fariy exacted a tribute OF S2o5.UOJ be
| then moved out. met. ana deIeated Zen
/ Lew Wallace at Aouocacy River Wal
/ lace retreaJed. but Early instead OF foi-
| lowing him up saw his opportunity and
/ at once headed his columns toward WASH
4 ineton. on July TO- before the officials at
! Washington were scarcely aware OF the
/ defeat of Wallace. he appeared at Rock
| Vile, only ten miles from Fort Stevens
! At Rockville, Major Fly, OF Lowell
| Cavalry. engaged the Confederate forces
| Early ordered up his artillery and Fry
| retreated TO q point about two miles from
The sudden appearance of Early in
! such uncomfortable proximity 10 Wash
/ ingtou, gave the entire North a decided
| shock The National Capital was threat
I ened. Capture by the COnfederates meant
recognition OF the Confederate States by
foreign Powers General Grant at the
| front, realized the gravity OF the situa-
| ton and Immediately ordered back To
| Washington the Sixth Army Corps. I'M
der command OF Gen Horatio @. Wright
| The First and Second divisions of this
corps left City Point, Va. on July 10 \
few hours later the forces fastening to
/ the support OF Washington were
| strengthened by a part Of the Nineteenth
Army Corps. which, returning TO the
North from Kew Orleans. stopped at
Fort Monroe and continued up the
river without leaving the transports
Early was fastening toward Washing
ton on the north and the Sixth and
Nineteenth Army Corps were hurrying
toward it on the other side II was a
race for the possession OF the National
Capital Early had the shorter distance
10 travel. and would have raised his flag
over the dome. had not Fort Stevens
Cox federaIe leaders hopes. It was onll-
4 little after noon. on July j. when Early
came within sight Of Fort Stevens. This
defence was fseblv garTisoued. in point OF
numbers Early dismounted his men and
deplcyed them as skirmisherS- \ small
detachment OF Union cavalry. which was
sent out to meet the Confederate forces,
was driven back to the works.
The hard fighting began early IN the
afternoon It was opened by the Twenty
fifth New York Cavalry This regiment
was supported by the one Hundred and
Flftiejh Ohio, the Veteran Reserve Corps.
and q large number Of Washingtonians
/ who IN desperation had armed them
selves ND rushed to the defence Of the
city This force Was not able TO cope
with hardened veterans Of Early's COM
ruaGd. and were quickly driven back be
hind the sheiteTinE walls OF the fort But.
with this move, Early's progress WAS
! checked. All the afternoon the eight con
/ tinued. but the COnfederateS were I'M
I able 20 pierce the Federal lines
( That night Early called a council Of
war Prompt action WAS urged and this
( course Of action approved II was de
cided TO make an attack on the Federal