The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-01-27
EARLYS CAMPAIGN.
HOW WASHINGTON WAS
SAVED.
Interesting "reminiscences Of
the Stirring Times When the
Capital was in Danger
Frederick's Part in Causing
Early's Delay.
[ooNrrNUED FROM LAST WEEK.

hAOh h0h Wv u AOA hsNN ihAO a.
regiment made up of various
commands, was attached to a
brigade in one of the divisions of
the Sixth Corps. AS we marched
up Seventh Street, meeting on
our way old comrades, and hear
ing people who had crowded on
the side walks, exclaiming: cit
is the old Sixth Corps, with a
part of the Second. The latter
remark was made from the fact
that many of the hospital regi-
ment belonged to that corps.
The Sixth Corps badge was the
Greek Cross These are the men
who took Mayre'S Heights. The
danger is now over" Washing.
ton, an nour before, was in q
panic, but as the people saw the
veterans wearing the badges of
the Greek Cross and blue club
marching through their streets,
the excitement subsidized and con
fidence prevailed.
Thus we made our way to the
north of the city, the sound of
cannOnading in our front Stimu
latlng and Fastening the steps of
the men. Families with few of
their choicest articles of house
hold furniture loaded into wagons,
were Fastening TO the city, re-
porting that their houses were
burned, or that they had made
their escape, leaving the greater
part of their goods in the hands
of the Confederates. While on
the march to Fort Stevens, we
passed General Wright, who had
received his verbal instructions
to mass near Crystal Springs, in
the neighbOrhOOd of Fort Ste
phens, where we arrived at about
A o'clock in the afternoon. AS
now recall the commanders name
| think it was General Frank
Wheaton who received the verbal
orders from General Wright.
AT D p. M, or an hour later the
force outside of Fort Stephens,
consisting of portions of the vet
eran reserve corps, war depart
ment clerks, and citizen vOlun-
teers, was driven in toward the
fort by an advanced line of
Early's men. At the same time
General Wheaton was ordered to
move a regiment Of his men out
to recover the line held by the
men driven in. This was sue
cessfully accomplished before Z
O'Clock, or two hours later by the
Ninety eighth PENNSYLVANIA vet
eran volunteers commanded by
Colonel Baillen; the One Hundred
and Second Pennsylvania veteran
volunteers, Major Thomas Nc
Laughlin, and the One Hundred
and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania
volunteers, Captain James Nc
Gregor. These commands de
plOy ed as skirmishers and drove
the Confederate advance back to
their main lines. The position
was strengthened at dark by
other forces, and extended from
a point opposite the center of
the line between Fort Stephens
and Reno to the west and point
opposite Fort Slocum on the east,
distance of about two miles.
SkirmishiDg continued through
the night.
In vain all the afternoon of
July 1lth Early tried to find a
weak spot in the lines, but he
was met eveIyw here by the fire of
forts. guns and musketry. He
reported the works exceedingly
strong, Boosting of what appear
ed TO be enclosed forts for heavy
artillery, with a tier of lower
works in front of each pierced
for an immense number of guns;
the whole being connected by
curtains, with bitches in front
and strengthened by palisades
and abattis. The timber had
been felled within cannon range,
all around and left on the ground,
making a formidable obstacle,
and every possible approach was
raked by artillery. On the right
was Rock Creek running through
a deep ravine, which had been
rendered impossible by the fell
ing of timer on each side, and
beyond were the works on the
Georgetown pike, which had been
reported the strongest of all. On
the left as far as the eye could
reach the works appeared to be
of the same impIegnable char
acter.
Early then held a consultation
with his generals-Breckenridge,
Rhodes, Ramseur and Gordon.
pointing out the necessity of
action before the fords aud noun
tain passes were closed against
eL.... AL =. .0..1.l:.... l.. -.