The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22
Incidents of the Battle of Fort Stevens.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In July,
1864, our regiment 9th Veteran Reserve
Corps was on duty near Alexandria, Va.
About 10 p. M, July 0, the long roll
sounded, and orders were received to start
at once for Washington. RumOrs that
Gen. Early and others were on their way
to attack Washington had been the talk
of the camp for a number of days. No
stock was taken in these reports, however
We marched to Alexandria and, after
waiting some time, went on board cars,
and arrived in Washington about a. M,
July 10, and marched up 18th street. Ii
was a long, hot and dusty march to Fort
| Stevens. Up to this time we had not be-
lieyed there was reb within a hundred
miles, but we soon found out our mistake;
for the sound of the rebel sharpshoOters'
rifles was heard in our front, and the
smoke and flames from burning farm
house were seen as we moved towards the
front. This was about a. N.
Just before reaching Fort Stevens we
received orders not to advance farther, bu,
to defend the intrenchments ON the right
of Fort Stevens.
Leaving 9TH street we took a road that
brought us to the front of the intrench-
ments. Passing through fine peach or
chard, the trees of which had just been cut
down, in spite of the owners protest, we
marched up the rise of ground to the in
trenchments. Many of the regiment were
thrown fiat on their faces by a wire about
six inches high placed about a hundred
feet in front, to trip up any troops charg-
ing up the bank. We loaded our Aust rian
smoothbore 'nuskets with buck-and- ball,
and waited for the rebel charge.
/ claim that had Gen. Early advanced
his troops further to the right of Fort
Stevens he could have entered Washing
ton, for we were the first troops to enter
the intrenchments that morning.
On our front and left it was dangerous
to expose oneself. The rebel sharpshoot-
ers, concealed in trees near Fort Stevens,
killed a number of our soldiers. One of
the sharpshOoters was killed by citizen,
who came from Fort Stevens with a rifle,
and fired at him. He fell headlong from
the tree, dead, with a bullet through his
head. We stayed there the rest of the
day, all night, and next day, until p. m,
when we were relieved.
A very laughable incident happened dur
ing the night. AT the right of our in
trenchment was a deep ravine that had
no protection or breastworks. We ex-
pected the rebels might charge up there
during the night, so two sentries were
placed to give an alarm. One, an Irish
man of our company, fell asleep and
awoke in a daZed condition. Seeing the
other sentry, he thought he was reb, and
charged bayonets ON him, yelling at the
top of his voice. The long roll sounded,
and we tumbled over each other, and for
time there was a general commOtion;
but no rebels appeared.
When relieved we took our station near
fort still farther to the right | am I'M
able to give the name. l noticed large
number of hospital and Quartermaster's
men, with clerks and citis, rs, all armed
| also saw Gen. McCook, who spoke to one
of our officers.
Some of our regiment on picket at the
front informed me that the Sixth Corps
passed them about sunset. They also
noticed at a farm house in front, and near
their picket line, a mound of earth in front
of the door where they entered the house
Asking the owner what the mound con-
tanned, he replied that the body of Con-
federate soldier had been buried there by
his comrades. Our boys thought it was a
queer place to plant a dead soldier. We
remained near the defenses a number of
days longer, and then returned to our old
quarters near Alexandria. Some of the
regiment did not return for week or
more, having helped to chase Gen. Early
up the Valley. This ends the few Incl
dents that | can now call to mind of the
battle of Fort Stevens, or Gen. Early's
raid.
By the right side of Fort Stevens, 1
mean the right side of It'll street coming
out from Washington. - DANIEL W.
SHAW, Clerk, Co. A, 18th Veteran Reserve
Corps, Chelsea, Mass