The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-07-03
SAVED THE CAPITAL.
Gallant Work Done by Twenty
Sixth New York Cavalry.
True story of the Battle of Fort Stew
ems which Made Sure the Rapid
Downfall of the Con-
federacy.
Especial washington letter.


TINE battle of Fort Stevens was
fought July HIP, 1864, and al
though but little bit of a bat
tie, as compared with some of the Ii
tanic conflicts of the civil war, it was
one of the most important of that en-
tire period of four years warfare be-
tween the north and thesouth.
On last Decoration day the secre-
tary of the treasury delivered an adj
dress on the site of the old battlefield,
and in the course of his remarks
made this observation: IF it had
been possible in those days to carry
the news around the world by cleo
tricity, it is probable that the south
ern confederacy might have been ac-
knowledged by some of the European
powers. The army of Early was
within five miles of the federal treas
ury and executive mansion, but that
fact was not known to the world for
some time afterwards. In the mean
time the federal armies had been win
ming victories"
The confederate Gen. Lee, who was
always resourceful and bold, had
fought stubbornly against Grants
superior numbers until he was obliged
to make a final stand behind the en-
trenchments around Petersburg.
There Grant found the key to the con-
federate capital, and he daily
strengthened his lines about the be-
leaguered army. Gen. Lee was unable
to break the chain which was being
forged about him. At last he resorted
to bold statagem which came very
near being marvelously successful.
While Grant was trying to take Rich
mond, Lee determined to make an eff
fort to capture Washington. The
movement was secretly planned, and
its execution was the first intimation
of the design of the confederate COM
mapder. About $4,000 confederate
veterans were placed under the COM
mand of Gen. Jubal Early, with
Breckenridge and Rhodes as corps
commanders. 1t was a splendid force
of fighting men. They moved rapidly
up the Shenandoah valley, and
reached Martinsburg on July 3, 1864,
without encountering opposition. By
July they had taken Hagerstown.
The movement had been a grand sue
cess, and the officials in Washington
were crazed with fear, because Grant
had with him all of the available vet
Grams, leaving the defenses Of Wash
ington in charge of new recruits
known as "hundred day men,"
The invading forces had at least
two days the advantage of Grant, and
they were racing towards Washington
before Grant realized that his ad-
versary had made a mastery move to
outgeneral him. Instantly Grants
military genius grasped the situation.
His forces were in motion like fash.
The Sixth corps was dispatched to
Washington. Then began race for
the goal; Early by land, and the Sixth
corps by water.
Gen. Early had brief skirmishes at
Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights.
On July 9 he was confronted by Lew
Wallace and 5000 federal recruits. He
brushed them aside and resumed his
race for Washington. If he had had
time he might have captured all of
Lew Wallace's men at Monocacy on
that day. Wallace fell back upon Bal
timore, leaving open the road to
Washington. BY the evening of July
10 Early was at Rockville, Nd, only
Is miles from the federal capital.
Grants relieving forces were away
down the Potomac on transports,
speeding for Washington, but mani
testify too late. By noon on July II
the confederate forces were in front