Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-12
MONUMENT UNVEILED
To Memory of Dead Of l22d
New York Volunteers.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY
AT BATTLE GROUND CEMETERY,
SITE OF FORT STEVENS.
Speeches of Survivors of Contest Of
Forty Years Ago - Col.
Bingham's Grafton.

The long, clear notes of Bugler Wilfred
Gaudet, chief trumpeter of the 18th United
States Cavalry Band, sounding Assembly
at Battle Ground cemetery this afternoon
at 3 o'clock was the signal for the un-
yelling ceremonies OF the monument to the
dead of the 122d New York, erected by the
survivors a most distinguished audience
greeted the presiding officer, Capt George
H easier, president of the Regimental AS
ISOLATION, and one of the largest ever gath
cred in that cemetery.
On the platform were many survivors of
the battle at Fort Stevens, including Col.
James NJ. Gear, Col. o. v. Tracey, Capt
Robert M. Moses, Capt Martin Ryan,
Col George H. easier, Caius Weaver,
" iiiam J. Anderson, w. A. Bur-
Ii game and Hubbard Mauzer. As guests
of the association were Gen. John Z. Black
commander-in-chief of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, and staff; Col. Abram Hart,
commander of the Department OF the Poto-
mac, G. a. R., and staff; Col John McEi-
roy, past senior vice commander-ln-chleI'
Auditors Rittman, Andrews and Brown, Dr.
Charles V. Petteys, president of the Asso-
ciated Survivors of the 9th Corps; DR.. Reu-
ben Burton, Mrs. Ida l.. Chase, president
of the Department of the POTOMAC, w. II,
c.; Gen George H Harries and large
number of others who had been carried d.
rectly to the grounds in special car.
The picture spread out before the au-
dience was falr 10 looh uIoii. Much hoh'i Ga
in every way than 1t was forty years ago.
A Striking Contrast.
Forty years ago, this day and this date,
barring the year, the people of the city
we're awakened by the thunder of guns at
the walls of Washington, and then indeed
was there mounting in hot haste the
steed, the mastering squadron and the clat-
tering car" for the enemys objective point
was the national Capitol building and the
national archives, and 1t was well known to
the people of Washington that 1t was prac-
tically defenseless!
This morning the song of birds in the
beautiful parks and the distant boom of
the sunrise gun at the fort over on Airing
ton Heights was the harSheStg sound that
fell on slowly awakening senses. Out be
yond the city limits on the northeast line
of the District, where grass-covered para
pets and homegrown embrasureS mark
forty years ago We're thrown up to pro-
tect Washington, flags are flying, laurel
wreaths hung and rose garlands wreath
the monuments which stand like sentinels
a the gateway to the one memorable bat
tiefield of the great civil war which lies
within the confines of the District of Co
lumbia.
Forty years is more than half of the
average lifetime yet many of those gath
cred at Fort Stevens today to dedicate to
their undying memory the monument erect
ed by survivors to the dead of the I'D
New York We're not boys when they fought
in that battle to save Washington. One was
there who lost his good right arm almost on
the spot where he unveiled the monument
and drew aside the flag which he nearly
gave his life to save and which is halloWed
to him by the lives of seven of his COM