The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1904-09-30
LINCOLN ON THE BATTLEFIELD
President Watched Contest For the
Possession Of Washington.


Possession Of Washington.
OF all the places of historic interest
In and about Washington, there is not
one that played more important
part in the defense of the nations
capital than picturesque Fort Stevens.
Just to the north of the city. There.
q bit over forty years ago, Abraham
Lincoln stood on the parapets Of this
hastily constructed fort and watched
the battle for the protection of tho
city OF Washington. It 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, dilatory Congress
has seen to It's 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 Early's
men on that memorable morning OF
July 10, 1864. There is a little GEN.
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. It is hard to say what might
have been the result had they not
checked Gen. Early's march on
Washington. II 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
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 a 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.
It was first called Fort Massechu-
sets, because it was largely con-
structed by troops from the Bay state,
but after it was strengthened and al
tered, in 1863, it was rechristened
Fort Stevens, in honor of Gen. Isaac
I. Stevens, colonel Of the 18th regi-
ment, New York infantry, afterward
major-general of volunteers, who was
killed Sept. 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
inc twelve hours before the other re
endorsements.
News of Early's coming had reache'
Washington, and the town was in
turmoil of excitement. 1t was know
that the forts about the city were gar
risoned only by small forces, CON
nosed chiefly of hundred-day mer
conyalescents of the veteran reserv
corps and clerks from the government
department who had bravely an
cbeerfully responded to the call TO
volunteers. So great was the anxiet
IN the city that a steamboat was leI
At the river front with steam up
day ready to take away the Presider
and the most valuable governmeI
records. It was decided that the mai
4 attack would be made at Fort Ste
ems. and so what force could be mu
tered was concentrated there.
The command of the forces for d
tense was placed in the hands OF La
Gen. Alexander Mcdowell McCoo
Liteut. Col. John N. Frazee was give
immediate command of the fort. Ma
Gen. Horatio G. Wright was ali
there. In fact, there were many &c
erals and few privates.
AS Early's men advanced, mu'
woodland was cut down and mai
houses burned, the occupants bell
given but few hours to get the
goods out. A skirmish line W
thrown out, consisting of the rs
New York cavalry, and, although tn
lost heavily during the first days b'
tie, they were able to hold early
forces in check until reinforcement
arrived the day following. On TUE
day the real battle was fought, a
the morning after not a Confedera
was to be seen. It was fight in t
open, and bloody one. OF the 10
men of the 9Th corps who went In
the fight $50 were either killed
wounded.
The opposing forces were not me
than fifty rods from the fort, and d