Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-09-24
LINCOLN 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 defense of the nation S
capital than picturesque Fort Stevens.
Just to the north of the city. There.
bit 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, it was
for many years neglected. In recent
years, however, a dilatory Congress
has seen to it's care, and now it 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 Early's
men on that memorable morning of
July II, 1864. There is little Gem
etery hard by now, where clustered
about a tall flag pole from the top of
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. Earlys march on
Washington. If President Lincoln had
escaped capture it must have been in
flight.
High up from the pike, in former
days the main artery between Wash
ington and Baltimore, stands to-day a
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 fort, and in the
spot where the magazine then was.
Its position is a commanding one, CIV
ing view of all the surrounding coun-
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.
1t was first, called Fort Masse chu-
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
1. Stevens, colonel of the 18th regi-
ment, New York infantry, afterward
major-genera1 of volunteers, who was
killed Sept. 1 at Chantil1y.
1t 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 a
turmoil of excitement. 1t was known
that the forts about the city were gar
Fisoned 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 toS-the call for
volunteers So great was the anxiety
in the city that a steamboat was Kept
at the river front with steam up all
day ready to take away the President
and the most valuable government
records 1t was decided that the main
attack would be made at Fort Stew
ems, 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 Maj
Gen Alexander Mcdowell McCook.
Liteut--Col. John n. Frazee was given
immediate. command of the fort Maj
Gen. Horatio G. Wright was also
there. In fact. there were many gem
erals and few privates. q
As Early's men advanced, much
woodland was cut down and many
houses burned. the occupants being
given but few hours to get their
goods out A skirmish line was
thrown out, consisting of the 18th
New York cavalry, and, although they
lost heavily during the first days bat
tie, they were able to hold Early's
forces in check until re-enforcements
arrived the day following. On Tues
day the real battle was fought, and
the morning after not a Confederate
was to be seen. 1t was fight in the
open, and bloody one. OF the 1000
men of the 9Th corps who went into
the fight $50 were either killed or
wounded.
The opposing forces were not more
than ffty rods from the fort. and dur
ing it all President Lincoln stood on
the pirapets, apparently unconscious