Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09

| exposed. as was Washington on the river
| front, but the battlements at Fort Wash
| ington and Fort Hunt. at that time formid-
able, prevented the ascent of confederate
vessels of war. But on the west the repeat
ed successes of the southern arms at
points not far distant rendered other pro-
lection necessary. Recognizing the natural
strength of the position on the southeast
brow of Shutters HILL a mile west of Alex-
andria, the Union troops stationed in this
city soon established a fort there naming IL
| Fort Ellsworth, in honor of tho colonel who
| lost mis- life at the Marshall House and
] maintained 1t until the close of the war
| Extensive areas were protected by breast
| works, and barracks were constructed for
.he use or the garrison. From this point
| there is fine range of two valleys and the
! guns commanded the town and swept the
| western and northern approaches. The re-
mains of the earthen Notifications are well
| marked today. They form a crescent around
the brow of the hill.
Earthworks Constructed.
But the federal occupants were not salts
fed with these defenses. Across Hunting
creek, to the south is fine range of hills
Earthworks were thrown I'D about two
miles to the southwest and a garrison was
stationed at the new fort there established
and called Fort Lyons. in honor of Gem
eral Lyons, who fell in Missouri From
this position the guns swept Cameron run
valley and covered Alexandria AS at
| shutters Hill the ridge of these heights is
sui covered with earthen mounds used as
| defenses Another but less important
Tort was located on the hills further west,
near the Cameron run railroad bridge In
aaditlon to these Notifications a strong
stockade guarded the approach to the city
| over the old Hunting creek bridge
Alexandria
| trenched within the Union lines and held
| py bodies OF troops. frequently large 1t was
NOT allowed continued tranquility by Colonel
| MoSby and his rangers Once he annearad
| at Cameron run bridge which he DESTROYED
by nre On another occasion Mosby and
ms men approached close to the Union lines
below Hunting creek. A story is told of an
| episode, thrilling in character in which the
| DARING confederate leader figured as a prin-
clpal. 1t Is said that meeting and capturing
Union sutler on the highway Mosby Sc
cured ms clothing and pass At that time
| local character named Dick Carter con-
| quoted theatrical show in Alexandria in
! tended as caricature upon Mosby and his
| achievements. Conceiving the scheme of
| witnessing the performance Mosby dressed
IN the suffers clothes, entered Alexandria
on the pass and saw the show. In the
| mouse at the same time were the military
| governor OF the city and his staff
The Seat of State Government.
| IL is recalled with interest that Alexan-
| dria was the seat of the government of Vfr
| glnia as organized at the Wheeling con-
vention and directed by Gov. Pierpont during
| theiatter days Of the war. Having determined
| 10 transfer from Wheeling to Alexandria,
| Gov Pierpont and his staff came here in
| August, 1863, where they remained until
| the close of hostflitles. He issued procla-
| ton, announcing that lin pursuance of an
| act or the general assembly, passed Feb
luary ., 1868, authorizing the executive to
| seIect some point and establish it by proc
| iamat1on as the capital of the state" ha
| hao CHOSEN the city of Alexandria for the
purpose contemplated in the act above re-
| Ierreo TO. He also issued an address to
me people or Virginia, stating that in es-
! taDilshing the seat of government at Alex
| andria he hoped to be brought into nearer
e contact with the people. declaring that the
| Iorce or the rebellion has expended itself"
| ana inviting cooperation from all good
people IN the effort to restore peace and Sc
curlty TO each county and neighborhood in
the commonwealth.
Grand Army Post Disbands.
Grand Army veterans residing In Alex
andrla at the present time few-so few
| indeed, that the G. A R. post which was
organized In this city in 1898 had to be
disbanded two years ago. Smaller still 4.
the number of federal survivors who first
saw the light in this city, The distinction
or having been the only native Alexandrian
TO respond to the call Of President Lincoln
IN 1861 for military service In behalf Of the
Union Is enjoyed by Mr.. William T Emer-
son venerable es.dent, whose home is at
the corner of Duke and Payne streets
lhere were others born and reared here
VINO were subsequently found in the fed
eral armies, but none of them, it is as
serted, enlisted on the first call to arms
Mr.. Emerson talked freely about his
career in the army to a reporter for The
Star who called to see him at his home He
Is sixty-five years of age and is still hale
and hearty, although his gray locks hear
evidence of the hafdships of war Il was
the only black sheep-patriotic sheep" he
said, correcting himself, ''amorg NV rela-
tlves. friends and playmates All Of them
were on the other side. 1 was born near
my present home sixty-five years ago and
lived l,s at the home of my father within the
city since was seven years of age was
IN Alexandria only short time during the
war and then only on furlough. In the
s spTir OF 1851 l went to Philadelphia and
Light Artillery. The command saw con-
slant service In the storming of Fort
Gre .S "a, at +, Petersburg, Va. was struck
breaking no bones, caused my absence at
the next roll call. II was then published In
a New York paper that had been killed,
out didn't spend day In the hospital
"Enisting for four years in the Marins
corps from 1865 to go. 1 saw eight years
of continued service, during which time
was never on the sick list. This is a record
which L believe Is seldom eaualed Our
Appomattox."
When asked about his rank Mr.. Emerson
replied that he had been content in the
province of private throughout his long
service. Then, recalling his enlistment In
Company B, 199th Pennsylvania Infantry
he said he had been made corporal in order
to be of service in drilling the men, most
of whom were raw recruits.
Mr.. Emerson explained that the dis band
ing of Davis Post, G. A. R.. was due to the
loss of so many members either by re-
moval from the city or by death. The post
never had a large membership, and its
ranks We're thinned in 1900 that it was
thought best to give up the organization.
Captain j. " Davis, superintendent of the
national cemetery, was the last commander.