Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-21
PLEA FOR MEMORIAL
Veterans Present Statement to
President Roosevelt.
ASSURED OF SYMPATHY
Gen. Stones Recital of Early Events
in Washington
DISTRICT SOLDIERS SERVICE
Commanders Tribute to Their Zeal
and Patriotism-Certain Mill
tary Force A ssu red.
DISTRICT SOLDIERS SERVICE

S"IiLiittee was composed or w. A. o. Meara,
Frank Burrows. w. H. Braund, William
French and James T. Sheckells W. A.
o Meara. commander of Potomac Post, q.
A. r.. acted as spokesman. After the sew
eral members of the committee had been
formally introduced to President Roosevelt
the spokesman told him the object of their
visit and said he wanted to call the atten-
ton of the President to a letter that had
been written to the chairmen of the Dis
trict committees in Congress by Commits
Sloher Macfariand faVoring the proposition.
President Roosevelt assured the members
or the committee that he is in full accord
with the object they are seeking to accom-
piish, and said that such monument
should certainly be erected. Reference was
made to the monument In Boston COM
memorating the days of 1776, and that in
Baltimore erected to the heroes of the wal
of 1912.
Before withdrawing from the White
House the committee presented the PresI-
dent with a statement that was prepared
by Gen. Charles p. Stone and read upon
the occasion of the twenty fifth anniversary
of the beginning of the civil war.
District Soldiers,
President Roosevelt promised that he
would read the statement, which is as fol-
lows:
THE circumstances under which the Dis
trict of Columbia volunteers were organ
lied and mustered into service, and their
action in service, were as follows:
'On the 31st December, 1860 when the
political situation was so critical that no
man could foresee the outcome, the govern
ment of the United States had in it's capital
city no effective armed force for sustaining
its dignity, preserving public order or even
protecting its existence in the capital.
"A few enlisted men of ordnance occupied
the arsenal: two men had the care of the
Columbian Armory, and a small force OF
ms no rd of no I'd
but these were not in sufficient number to
effectively guard their own positions. The
organization of the militia of the District
had been broken W in anticipation of a
new law on the subject, but the proposed
new law had not been acted upon by the
Congress, and there could be hope under
the then existing circumstances that action
would be taken on 1t during that session.
This condition of affairs was the subject
of serious conference between Lieut. Gen.
Scott. then commanding the army, and my
self, in the evening of the 3lst Deem Der,
1860, he having come from New York to
Washington, called by the President for
consultation on the policy to be pursued by
the government.
THE aged general expressed to me his
solicitude on the want of any military
strength in the capital, and asked me wha I
would, in my opinion, be the attitude of the
people of the federal District toward the
government of the United States In case of
any serious danger threatening it's stability.
l had made that subject one of careful
study, and informed him that | felt conf
dent that two-thirds of the fighting stock
of the District would be ready to stand by
the government and defend 1t: that great
anxiety and uneaSineSS prevailed among the
people and that while thousands were
ready to do their utmost for the stability OF
the government, no one knew its policy or
its desires; that there We're plenty of sug-
gestions. but no sound plan of action, and
there was no rallying point for such as de-
-. II hn s -inn 70 a a
The "Rallying Point"
"Our conference was closed by the arrival
of the hour at which the general-in-chiet
had an appointment to call upon the Presi-
dent; but as he was about entering his car
riage he turned to me, and, placing his hand
upon my shoulder, said, very emphaucally:
You say these people have no rallyfng
point. Make yourself that rallying point.
He drove off to the executive mansion, and
on the following morning, January /, 1861,
l was appointed by the President colonel in
the staff and inspector general of the DIS
trict of Columbia.
II Immediately addressed letters to a
large number of influential citizens and ad-
dressed myself personally to others, stating
that it would be agreeable to the govern
ment should each of them raise a company
of 100 men, volunteers, for service in the
District.
This action was the first intimation from
the government to the people that mix
ture of force was to enter into Its policy.
which, up to that time had been one OF
Cancellation pure and simple.
1.-THE response of the men of the federal
District was prompt and not to be mis-
taken or misunderstood Old volunteer or
CARNATIONS assembled and filled their ranks
and new companies of volunteers formed
rapidly and presented themselves. The peo-
pie were enthusiastic, and the newly formed
companies purchased their uniforms them
nd IA
to assemble for drill. and called upon the
government for arms, equipments and am
munitions only.
"By the 22d of February a respectable
force Of as nearly as l can now remem-
Der about 1900 of these troops paraded IN
honor of the day, and made 1t evident 10
all present in the capital that the govern
ment had at its disposal at least certain
military force in case OF necessity.
Results Achieved.
THE number of companies increased
daily or almost daily, and it was this force
which. the 4th of March, 1861. together with
q handful of regular troops which Gen
Scott had been able to assemble Gas nearly
as remember two batteries of artillery
one company engineer troops and some 2t
cavalry rendered practicable and safe the
quiet Inauguration of the constitutionally
elected President.
"A battalion of District troops guarded
under Col. TAFT, the position where the
President took the oath of office and made
his inaugural address. District of Column
bia volunteer cavalry guarded the carriage
in which the two Presidents rode, while the
engineer company Duane) marched before
the carriage and District volunteers be-
hind it.
District volunteer rifemen occupied the
windows of the Capitol overlooking the
ceremony of inauguration and also occu
pied the roofs of the houses along Pennsyl
vania avenue through which the procession
passed.
during the month of March, 1861. these
volunteers were active in drilling and per.
fecting their discipline, and, although no.
yet mustered into the service, most of then
held themselves constantly ready for serv
ice in case of need. The case of need soor
came Before the firing of the first hostile
shot against Fort Sumter the condition o.
affairs at the capital rendered 1t necessary
for the government TO have troops for the
protection of the public departments, and
the muster into service of at first foul
companies. then eight companies. and be
fore that could be accomplished of all the
District volunteers, was ordered. This mus
term was commenced on the 10th of April