The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-11-09
OLD FORT STEVENS.
Martha L. Schneider. Washington, ID c..

New subdivisions are being made in
the suburbs of Washington and unless
something is done to prevent it
historic old Fort Stevens will soon be
a thing of the past.
This fort was built in October 1851,
after the battle of "Bull Rum" when
notifications were finally deemed
necessary to protect the city. In the
hollow ground south of the fort, where
trees were felled, houses torn down to
erect barracks, officers quarters and
suffers stores, and where the dying
and wounded were brought after the
battle, churches and school houses
now proclaim the glad tidings OF
Peace on earth, Good will towards
men,"
On July 18th and 18th, 1864, General
McCook and his staff occupied the old
"Moorland Hotel" at the crossing of
Brightwood road and the Seventh
street pike. This old tavern is gone
and more pretentious and prosperous
hotel takes it's place.
AS l alight from the trolley at this
crossing I see nothing to remind me
of the excitement that must have
prevailed here during those days so
long ago when the Confederates were
within five miles of Warrington,
Across the road on high command
ing hill, the emery House." still
stands, we'll preserved and little
changed since the time that it looked
down upon and played its part in the
history of the battle of Fort Stevens
on July 18th, 1864. A little further on
l see few uniformed men. Am !
dreaming? No, these are not some OF
the brave old veterans still roaming
over the scene of their battle field, but
the sire laddies," proud of their new
house and its equipments to fight and
quench the flames-should any occur
in the surrounding suburban homes.
Across the road on a hill, where now
stands "house of God," cannons
reared their brazen heads after the
troops built here the fort which they
named in honor of the "Old Bay
State" Fort Massachusetts. This
was soon found to be too small and it
was enlarged in 1862 and 1868 and then
renamed "Fort Stevens" in honor of
General Isaac ingalls, Stevens, who
had recently been killed in battle at
Chintilly, Va.
To find what remains of this old
fort climbed the steep steps leading
to the church. Passing around the
church / come to road where | am
forced to pause to allow herd of cattle
the fright of way" With dignifed
and measured tread they slowly emerge
from behind the ramparts of the old
fort, quietly seeking pasturage where
the abates lay thick and bristling
when the fort was new. Can this be
the place where troops went forth to
give battle and to meet death? One
can we'll doubt it so pastoral is now
the scene.
On my left as 1 enter the heart of
the fort, l see row of little houses,
peaceful homes filled with those, no
doubt, who never in imagination
people these parapets at their front
door with cannon and glittering
bayonet. They remind me of the
bird "who built its nest in the
mouth" A little further on
1 find rather pretentious frame house
and an old colored woman came forth
to meet me. This proved to be old
Aunt Betty Thomas, still hale and
hearty. She kindly offered to "show
me around" and told her story of
those anxious days of July 18th and
18th, 1854. She showed me the old
sycamore tree in the hollow back of
the fort, where she and her four
children took shelter when the
Pennsylvania Dutch soldiers" as
she called them, tore down her house
when building the fort to use the cellar
for the magazine. She told of the
sympathy of President Lincoln when
he saw her huddled under the tree
with her household goods and crying
babies. She could not be frightened
off, however, but remained in hastily
erected suffers tent, afterwards taking
possession of the log-cabin when the
fort was abandoned to fall in ruins as
it is today.
Aunt Betty stands by the old we'll
and smiles me farewell as I turn
once more towards the old ramparts.
Someone here loves and holds dear
the memories of the past, for from the
very centre of the old fort, where shot
and shell were stored, rises flagstaff
and from it flies the stars and stripes.
Looking up at it so proudly floating
on this lovely autumn day Of 1906. I