The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-31

phantly swept the - crossed
yonder gullies. and -. aing
Early had retreated b,. PotJ-
mac.
Inspired by Lincoln's Presence.
SIS 1t any wonder these brave Toys
in blue fought like demons? On the
parapet, watching with anxious eyes the
effect of every she'll and witnessing with
intense interest and anxiety the gallant
charge, stands Abraham Lincoln, the
only President of the United States
whose person, during his term of Office
was ever exposed in battle, and no sol
der of any rank ever exhibited greater
bravery.
las compared with other engage
ments of that most sanguinary war. the
battle of Fort Stevens has never taken
high rank. Four hundred killed and
wounded on the Union side and 500 Con-
federates did not count for much in
those days. This little plot of ground
which contains the remains of those
only who were killed here has received
scant recognition among National oeme-
teries. But one who was present that
day describes the burial scene as fol-
lows: We gathered our dead comrades
from the field where they had fallen and
gave them the rude burial OF soldier
on the common near Fort Stevens. No
officer of State. no lady of wealth, ne
citizen Of Washington was there, but we
laid them in their graves, within sight
of the Capitol. without collins. and with
only their CORY garments and their
blankets around them With the rLde
tenderness Of a soldier we covered them
in the earth and marked their names
with our pencils on the little head
boards OF pine, and turned sadly to other
scenes
An Important Battle.
THE Importance of this engagement.
is not easily overestimated. Other bat
lies could have been lost and the final
-e5ult of the war remain unchanged.
perhaps not so with the battle of Fort
Stevens. With the National Capital in
he hands of the enemy. 1t would have
)een impossible to prophesy The prob
able foreign complications, to say moth
ing of the decentralization OF the people
Of the United States. And it must be
s orne in mind that the result turned on
-everal events which now seem to US
General Wallace was de-
Geated on the 9Th. but he delayed the
Confederate army twenty four hours.
Fry was unable to successfully resist
II Rockville. but he entertained Early
Tor nearly two hours. and who shall say
that on the 18th of July. 1864. those two
hours did not hold the destiny of the
National Capital, if not the Nation
itself2"
Intersporsed through the program were
he following pieces. rendered by the
Soldiers Home Band. under the direc-
ion Of Leader John S VI. Zimmerman:
The Soldiers Dream" Beyond the
Gates CT Paradise" and "Einsam Wan
lie Ich." The singing of the st. Peters
Church choir. conducted by Mr.. Lucius
F. Rau,S lph. jr., was feature Of the
occasion. Rev. C. II. Remington. of Ia
koma Park, and Rev. ]. ]. O'Brien, of
me Catholic University, pronounced the |
and benedictlon. respectively. |
Or. c. V Petteys. Of the Association |
# the Sixth Army Corps Survivors, in |
place of GoGcIal Wheaton. spoke feel
ngly of the members of the corps who |
we're present and those who had passed |
o the beyond.
Decorating the Graves.
The school children placed the flowers
,ver the graves OF the comrades who
rerc killed in the Fort Stevens battle,
committee of ladies. of which Mrs. L.
, Shoemaker was chairman. having this
art of the exercises in charge. The
loraI tributes were bountifnl and the |
was tasteful. The graves
epresent only Il portion of the dead on
he Union side OF the engagement. and
he following regiments: Twenty-ffth
Few York Cavalry, Fortieth, Forty
bird. Forty-ninth. Seventy seventh, and
inc Hundred and Twenty-second New
-ork Infantry. sixty-frst, Ninety-third.
eighth, and One Hundred and
-hirty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry
;econd Massachusetts, Cavalry. Thirty
eventh Massao husetts Infantry, Seventh
iaine Infantry. First Rhode Island Cav
Try, Third Vermont Infantry. and Sec
nd United States Artillery.
The ceremonies ended with the bene-
iction. and then the mournful taps
Gated out on the cars of the departing
multitude.
The following committees Were ir
barge of the exercises:
Executive Committee-A. $. Perham.
hartman: A. p. Tasker, vice chairman;
harIes V. Petteys, NJ. D.. secretary:
Tyler Powell. w. V. Cox, chairman
cception committee; Gen. Frank Whea-
on. U. S. A.: Nathan Bickford, past de-
artment commander. G. a. r.: l.. p.
hoemaker. president Brightwood Citi-
ems Association; J. b. Kinnear. presi-
ent Takoma Park Citizens Association;
=. Mex Clayton, presiden; Brightwood
ark Association: Samuel S. Shedd.
layor of Takoma. Md; Franklin 7.
lowe. BrooklaHd. u. C.; c. G. Stone.
hartman committee on seats and .
lands: Pref. W. e. Nallcy, principal ,
rightwood School; Edward T. Bates.
Reception Committee - W. V. Cox,
hartman: Gen. Frank Wheaton, vice I
hartman; Gen. A. W. Greedy. Gen. |