Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-13

NSh. SViAi ". ofdCk, Vi
the Grand Army of the Republic. made his
appearance and was given a soldiers well
come to the campfire then in full prog
ress. He was Immediately introduced, ana
lad actuated him throuEhout the day and
its beautiful ceretbhials. Gen. Black
closed his interesting remarks by a feeling
all to the scene on the grounds close los
by, when Capt CSfus Weaver. who had
lost his strong right arm on that battle
field. had come bat4 safter a lapse of forty
years to loosen theSSords. and lift with has
left hand the flag from the monument dedi-
Gated on that field to the fallen In that Dat
tie"
DR.. Petteys introduced Mrs. Lizzie Calver
as the woman who had done so much for
the veterans of later war, that of Cuba
and the Philippines, representatives of
which organization were present, and MRS.
Calver gave brief account of the tenn
porary home of which she had charge dur
ing the early part of the war. The ex-
ercises closed with the recitation of The
Flag by Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball.
DR.. Petteys and the 9Th Corps Survivors
were loaded with congratulations Tor the
delightful entertainment they had afforded
their guests, its very unexpectedness max
ing 1T all the more pleasing.
Two Addresses at dwelling.
After The Stars report closed last even
ing two very interesting addresses were
made. That by DR.. Petteys. as president of
the 9th Corps Survivors. told the story OF
the gallant 9th and what his association IS
trying to do to preserve Fort Stevens.
DR.. Petteys said:
This little cemetery and Fort Stevens
were hardly known, and for thirty-six years
people had come and gone and others had
passed along and beside the old fort ana
cemetery without even the knowledge OF us
important history. where you boys went to
victory under the eyes of our grand ana
noble President Abraham Lincoln, and
saved the cantal first action taken
regarding Its history was when Mr. w. V.
Cox who had defved into the records OF
the War and othersdepartments and found
of what historic value 1t was. and sent me
word to meet him so that some action
could be taken to make 1t. what 1t deserved
in history, a Mecca for future patriotic
generations to visit the spot where stood
Abraham Lincoln on the day OF the pattle
under the fire Of the enemy's guns. After
this interview 1t was decided to have ex-
ercfses on Flag day, the 14th Of June, 1901,
and with the Assistance of Mrs. Rosa
Wright Smith daughter of Gen. Wright,
our corps commander, and also daughter
of the 9th Corps), who contributed most
beautiful flag; Mr.. Cox. who contributed
the flagstaff; the associated survivors.
Gen. Vincent Commissioner Mcfarland.
Secretary of State Hay and others, Fort
Stevens and the Battle Ground cemetery
were given the important and historic re-
nown deserved, and which have been given
their proper recognition every year since
Through the efforts of the citizens OF TINS
vicinity and our association we now look
forward to a park, with tablets to mark the
lines of battle, and in this, L am informed,
the confederates are anxious to take part
Comrades, we are here today to dedicate
this beautiful monument to our beloved
comrades who gave their lives to save this
nation and its beautiful capital But for
these dead and we living there might have
been a different story told today. rms
glad reunion of old comrades who fought
side by side In common cause and for
common country has its other slde-the
saddening thought that so many OF our
comrades who marched proudly forth TO
meet the human enemy met death. the last
foe of all, the one that Is ever the con-
queror, and they have Joined the great and
silent majority who sleep today beneath
the low green tent whose curtains never
outward swing.
Capt. Weaver's Remarks.
OF paramount interest was the address
of Capt. Caius Weaver, the MANNED vet
eran who left his right arm on the battle
field, and who was there yesterday for the
purpose of unwilling the monument his
regiment had reared to their dead there.
Capt. Weaver said: We are standing now
where forty years ago today was fought
the battle of Fort Stevens. 1t Is also the
same day Of the week and about the same
hour OF the day that the old Sd Brigade
of the ID Division of the 9th Corps. to
which the 1921 Regiment belonged. adj
yanced to the attack of Early's forces.
/ While that battle of Fort Stevens was
not one Of the great battles of the war, it
was one of the most important in Its re-
suits, as we judge battle more by the
results obtained than by the number OF
troops engaged the great loss OF men.
BY our victory here we saved the capital
from capture, the army and the national
administration from the humiliating effect
such direful results would have produced.
Had the old 9Th Corps not arrived at w ash
ington on time and Earlys tried veterans
taken possession of the city 1t would have
been a feat of arms that would have made
the world ring and would have done much
to encourage the then dying confederate
cause and 1t would have given 1t hope of
recognition abroad.
The battle of Fort Stevens was the only
battle fought in the District of Columbia
and the only one witnessed by the Presl-
dent of the United States.
When we filed through the works on the
7th street road and advanced In front or
fort Stevens, we saw standing on the
parapet of the fort the tall form of Abra-
ham Lincoln. In vain he was warned that
his position was swept by the fire of sharp
shooters until an officer was wounded with
in a few feet of him, when he reluctantly
stepped down. Sheltered from the enemyS
fire were some of the cabinet officers. citi
zens and ladies. GREATNESS with excitement,
as they watched the fortune of the battle in
their front. Strange as was llllS SCeHe dl the
gates of the national capital. it would have
seemed much more so to those who were
beholding it could they have known that in
the camp of the enemy short distance
from them, as if in typical contrast to the
tall figure on the parapet of the fort. stood
q man who, four years before. had been
the Vice President of the United States.
Small as this battle seemed to US, when
compared with other conflicts in which
were engaged, it was no mock battle that
the spectators behed. Very soon after the
Sd Brigade got into action on that July af
ternoon, stretchers by scores were coming
from the front with their CHASTITY loads;
many a lad with arm in sling, or face be-
smeared with blood was passing along the
road seeking a surgeon to dress his wounds.
All the attendants at the hospitals in the
rear of the fort were actively engaged, and
here and there from where the skrmishng
commenced up to the line occupied by our
troops when might spread her sable mantle
over the scene" dotting the meadows the
grassy slopes the orchard and the dusty
highways, lay many lad for whom the
wild cheers of his comrades and the crack
of the rifle fell on deaf ears
Today we are assembled on this historic
field, to dedicate a monument to our brave
and heroic dead who fell here, yielding up
their lives in defense of the capital Of the
nation. AS President Lincoln said in his
memorable address at Gettysburg, The