Evening star., 1901-11-15
PROPOSED NATIONAL PARK
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF LOCAL
ASSOCIATION HOLDS MEETING.
Boulevard Projected Along Lines Held
by EarIy's Troops When WASH
ington Was Threatened.

At a meeting of the legislative committee
of the Fort Stevens Lincoln National Park
Association last night, in the rooms OF the
Board of Trade, a movement was set on
foot to have boulevard constructed along
the line held by the confederate troops
when Earlys command threatened the ma
tional capital. A bill was also reported
which provided for the establishment OF a
national military park on the battlefield or
Fort Stevens, and which Senator Proctor
had introduced at the last session of Con-
gress. By the terms of that measure the
ground where the battle occurred and
where Lincoln stooL. near Brightwood-in
all an area of about five acres-is to be
condemned as a military park. The bill re-
fers to the desirability of preserving and
suitably marking the only battlefield In the
District of Columbia, known as Fort Ste
vens. where the advance lines Of the con-
federate troops, under Gen. Jubal A. Early,
met the improvised Union forces, then the
sole defense of Washington, under Gen. A.
Med. McCook and where Abraham Lin
coin. then President of the United States,
stood and viewed the battle.
Resolutions of Coincidence.
General Thomas NJ Vincent -presiled-
Resolutions were adopted expressing the
grief of the committee at the recent dc ath
of General George II. Getty, who was
member of the association. General Mar
ion Wright, confederate veteran. made
the first suggestion as to locating the con-
federate line. General Vincent. Major Hen
ry l.. Biscoe, Dr. c. V. Pettys, Judge II
NJ Neyins of New Jersey. Colonel : r..
Chamberlain. Colonel II. d. Norton, MIR.
l.. c. White and Major A. S. Perham, sec
retary of the committee, spoke III favor OF
the project. 1t was agreed the committee
should ask the District of Columbia park
commission to meet with the committee
men and discuss the advisability of includ-
ing boulevard along the line of battle.
Several bills were reported to the COM
mittee by the chairman Mr. White was
then elected treasurer. On the initiative of
Mr.. F'indiay Harris, confederate veteran
the members of the committee made pei
sonal contributions to meet the expenses
so far incurred. The aggre gate of the con-
tributions established the committee on a
sound financial basis.
Reference made to a lecture by Senator
Martin of Virginia on ''E,arly's Raid by
Mr. Harris brought to the attention of the
committees another lecture on the same
subject by Gen. Joh a. Wilson. 1t was
proposed the commi tee should print the
two discourses and publish them for the
benefit of the Fort stevens fund.
Engagement Near Fort stevens.
Much interesting information was re-
ceived as to details of the engagement near
FOrt stevens. A letter was Tedu ITOHi MI.
Cox, who is now in Buffalo, which con-
tanned several new facts relating to Cen
eral Early's plans. Colonel Chamberlain
related the circumstances under which. S
commanding officer of the 18th New York
Volunteers, he had issued order under
which Judge Nevins went to dislodge
In the duel that followed
Judge Nevins lost his arm and the sharp
shooter was killed. Judge Nevins added to
Colonel Chamberlain's story the details of
the encounter, and stated that both rifles
his own and that of the confederate-now
hang upon the wall of his home in New
Jersey. Colonel Chamberlain also described
the resistance to General Early's advance
for twelve hours, when the Union troops
were without ammunition. The regiment,
with depleted ranks. scattered across the
country in pretended brigade formation and
succeeded in completely deceiving General
Early as to it's real numbers. Except for
that delay. said Colonel Chamberlain, Cen
eral Early could have marched through
Washington without firing a gun.