Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1904-10-08
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
President Watched Contest For the
Possession of Washington.

in and about Washington, there is not
one that played a more important
part in the defeise of the nations
capital han picturesque Fort Stevens.
Just to the north Of the city. There.
1T over forty years ago, Abraham
Lincoln stood on the parapets OF this
hastily constructed fort and watched
the battle for the protection OF the
city of Washington. 1t was the only
time in the history OF the country |
when the President, who is comman- |
der-in-chief Of the army, has stood |
exposed on the field of battle to the |
bullets of the sharpshooters OF the op-
posing forces.
Sacred as the spot should be, 1t was
for many years neglected. In recent
years, however, a dilatory Congress
has seen to its care, and now 1t is at
tractive enough to take many visitors
daily to the high ground five miles
north of the city where the Union SOL
diers fought it out with Jubal Earlys
men on that memorable morning or
July IL. 1864. There is a little GEN.
etery hard by now, where clustered
about tall flag pole from the top Oh
which the stars and stripes float TO
the breeze, are the graves of the men
who died that Washington might be
saved 1t is hard to say what might
have been the result had they not
checked Gen. Early's march on
Washington. If President Lincoln had
ESCAPED capture it must have been IL
| fight.
High up from the pike, in former
days the main artery between wash
ington and Baltimore, stands to-day
| picturesque little church OF stone,
| called Emory Chapel, the home OF a
congregation of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, South. 1t stands in the
very center Of the old fcrt, and in the
spot where the magazine then was,
Its position is a commanding one, Civ
| ing view Of all the surrounding coun-
J try Round and about it the breast
works of the old fort are yet to be
seen. Here it was that the Union sol
diers sustained the only onslaught OF
the Confederate troops in their attack
on Washington.
| It was first called Fort Masscchu-
sets, because it was largely con-
structed by troops from the Bay state,
but after it was strengthened and al
tered. in 1868, it was rechristened
Fort Stevens, in honor of Gen. Isaac
I. Stevens, colonel of the 10Th regi'
ment, New York infantry, afterward
maior-general of volunteers, who was
killed Sept. l at Chantilly.
It was in the early part of July,
1864. that Gen. Early laid his plans
for a descent upon the national cap
ital. Lew Wallace had opposed his
march with the 9th corps at Mona
cacy. and though the Confederates
won the day, they were so worn by
the battle that they had to rest one
day before following up their advant-
age. That one day was fatal. 1t en-
abled Grant to overtake the 25th New
York cavalry by telegraph at City
Point and hurry them by way OF Bal
timore to Washington. They reached
Fort Stevens early on Monday morn
ing. twelve hours before the other re-
endorsements.
News OF Early's coming had reached
Washington, and the town was in
turmoil of excitement. 1t was known
that the forts about the city were gar
risoned only by small forces, com
posed chiefly of hundred-day men,
convalescents of the veteran reserve
corps and clerks from the government
department who had bravely and
cheerfully responded to the call for
; volunteers. So great was the anxiety
in the city that steamboat was l-ept
at the river front with steam up all
! day ready to take away the President
and the most valuable government
: records. It was decided that the main
(attack would be made at Fort Stew
, (ens. and so what force could be mus
, tered was concentrated there.
The command of the forces for de-
. Tense was placed in the hands OF LiaJ'
I Gen. Alexander Mcdowell McCook
!. Liteut. Col. John n. Frazee was given
immediate command of the fort. Maj
Gen. Horatio G.. Wright was also
r there. In fact, there were many gen
r erals and few privates.
g AS Earlys men advanced, much
i. woodland was cut down and many
h houses burned, the occupants beina
n given but a few hours to get theii
n goods out. skirmish line Was
;. thrown out, consisting of the 25tf
9 Now York cavalry, and, although they
lost heavily during the first days bat
tie, theT were able TO hold Early'S
forces In check until reinforcement:
n arrived the day following. On Tues
!. day the real battle was fought, ant
). the morning after not a Confederate
: was to be seen. It was fight in the
n open and bloody one. OF the Loo
;. men Of the 9th corps who went into
o the fight go were either killed o.
v wounded.
is The opposing forces were not more
than fifty rods from the fort, and dur
ing Il all President Lincoln stood oil
the parapets, apparently unconsciou
n, of his danger until an officer fell NOR