Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-11
UNWILLING OF
MEMORIAL STONE
Anniversary of the Battle OF
Fort Stevens.
SURVIVORS GATHER THERE
Members of Company K, 150th Regi-
ment Ohio Volunteers.
STORIES OF MEMORABLE DAY
Address by Mr.. W. v. Cox-History
of the Monument by Asa
STORIES OF MEMORABLE DAY

| SdAAOA
| A handful of survivors of Company X,
| 15Oth Ohio Volunteers. gathered at the
! Battle Ground National cemetery shortly
| before noon today and unveiled memorial
| stone to the memory of the dead of their
| company, who fell at the battle of Fort
, Stevens, District of Columbia July II and
| IL. 1864. Especially commemorated was
the sacrifice of life of Private William E.
| Leach the first of the company to fall.
He was shot on the skirmish line. July IL.
The ceremonies were opened with prayer
| by the Rev. James Hayes Laird first ser
| geant of Company X, now residing at Hins-
| dale Mass. An address delivered by
| W. V. Cox, president of the Second Ma
| tional Bank, and the story of the monu-
| ment the plan for its erection and how
| it was carried out. was told by Asa Can
| non. former private in Company X, now
| residing at Lakewood, Ohio.
The monument is large block of Quincy
| granite with side polished. bearing a
memorial inscription to the dead of Com
! pany X.
When the assembly was called to order
the survivors of the regiment in attend
ance were Lieut.. Col. Frazee of Cleveland,
Ohio: Chaplain Laird of Hinsdale Mass;
DR. Dwight Burrell of Canandaigua. N. Y:
F. ]. McWade of Philadelphia, and Mr.. J.
C. Cannon of THIS city. Gen Thomas M.
Vincent T. s. A. retired. who was prom
inently identified with the work of the War
Department at the time of the battle. was
also present. Col. F@azee acted as the
chairman of the unwilling exercises
MI Cox's Address.
Chaplain Laird delivered the invocation.
and Mr. Cox was introduced as the prin-
cipal speaker.
The voluntary offer of 5000 troops to
President Lincoln in April, 1864. by the
governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. Iowa
and Wisconsin," said Mr. Cox, made it
possible to end the civil war earlier than
otherwise.
The 10th Ohio was one of the thirty
regiments of that great state that answered
ty to the call, and the quick re-
Spouse should in itself enoear the members
of this regiment to the patriotic citizens OF
the country.
1T was great honor to belong to any
Ohio regiment, for officers and men we're
good soldiers, and at the close of the war
the ranking commanders of the Union
army were generally from the Buckeye
state.
at was privilege to belong to Company
X 1JDth O. y. G., composed. a it was, of
ge boys from Oberlin; brilliant boys OF
a serious nature who's inspired by a sacred
duty, were soldiers from choice, and here
where you were encamped you are still re-
membered as gentlemen.
'Whe the country'S capital was threat
ened by Gen. Early in 1864 you boys held
the place of honor at + ort Stevens on the
crest of yOnder hill.
Il rejoice that after forty-three years
some of you able to return. and in
peace erect monument to the memory of
your brave companions at Il spot on the
battlefield that at that time would nave
been certain death.
I'VE remember that one of your COM
pany w. r. Leach, was the first Union
soldier III this battle to be struck by the
deadly mimic ball; that your comrades
died from disease contracted here in line
of duty.
Ten Boy Soldiers Die.
The records show that ten of the hope
full boy soldiers of your regiment died
here; all except one were buried 1t AR
lington. Five of the nine belonged to
your company. They were: w. +. Leach,
Corp. +. A. Ellis, f. l. Beach, ii. A
CowIes and John Monroe.
The others were: Corp. w. II. w ynan,
Company G. Henry krum, Company d;
A. NJ. Parker, Company H. Arthur Wright.
Company q, and Charles Perkins, whose
remains We're taken TO Cleveland BY low
ing friends.
Il wish that your fallen comrades had
been buried in this little cemetery, on
ground consecrated by their own blood.
"A tablet placed by tie Fort stevens
Lincoln Military Park Association as
temporary marker on the old eartnW orkS
says: on July 10, 1861. Fort Stevens was
garrisoned by Company X, 100 y. \. G.,
commanded by Capt. Stafford; portion OF
the 18TH Michigan Battery, by Capt Du-
pont, and cOnValeScentS from various
branches of the service, commanded by
+Lieut. III. L. Turner, numbering III all 200
men.
We have been trying to save Fort
Stevens from physical destruction, and
We feel that the ground should be ac-
CURED BY the government before the cen
IGnulal the DlTtIGdV the = Lin
coin.
*Lieut. Turner, 100, Q. n G.. was then
but nineteen years old. During she war
with Spain he was colonel OF the 1St Mi
nois Regiment.
MI. Lincolns Presence
Mr.. Lincoln's presence on the parapet
was to encourage you young and mex
perienced soldiers to do your full duty,
and by so doing prevent Gen. Early cap
turing Washington.
The capital was saved to the Union!
What an honor TO have fought in the
presence of Lincoln, the communicating
chief
What a heritage to transmit to pos
terity,
The monument shows what You col
lege boys from Ohlo did. 1t is lifting
tribute to your patriotism and a me-
mortal to the lives of your comrades laid
down as sacrifice for the Union.
we WeiCplHc on TO foreground GEM
etery, made sacred by the remains of
many who fell lighting to save the capt.
tai.
We welcome you to Fort Stevens,
where President Lincoln welcomed you
wherejhe fate of the nation hung trem-
bling in the balance.
We welcome you to Brightwood amid
peaceful surroundings, trees and happy
homes in great contrast to denuded fields
and forests. camps, Smoldering ruins Of
houses rifle trenches and the bristling
abattis of more than forty years ago.
Welcome to historic and modern
Brightwood.
"reminiscences of the Day.
The Rev. James Hayes Laird, VINO served
as first sergeant of Company X, 15Oth Ohio
National Guard, read "reminiscences of the
battle as follows:
Our company was formed in Oberl,n at
| the beginning of the war. 1t became part
| of the Ohio National Guard and continued
| it's drill until called out as Hundred Days"
| men, in May. 1854 We then became a
| nf Vnluptaar Int