Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-06
Secretary of War. September 9. 1914. or
dered Maj. L'Enfant to come here and
| reconstruct the fort

dered Mai. L'Enfant to come here and
reconstruct the fort
Describes Taking Of Fort:
Capt. Gordon. H. M. 8. Seahorse, COM
handing the Potomac squadron. in his re-
port had the following to say Of that part
of the Journey in the vicinity Of Mount
Vernon and Fort Washington:
THE following morning, August q.
1914 to our great JOY the wind became
fair. and we made all sail up the river.
which now assumed q more pleasing as
pect. At o'clock In the afternoon Mount
Vernon. the retreat of the illustrious
showed us for the first time since we en-
tered the Potomac a gentleman's resi-
dence.
Higher up the river. on the opposite
side Fort Washington appeared to our
anxious eyes. and to our great salts
little before sunset the squadron anchored
just out Of gunshot: the bomb YES
sells at once took up their positions to
cover the frigates in the projected at
tack at daylight next morning and began
throwing shells.
The garrison. to our great surprise
retreated from the fort. and q short
time afterward Fort Washington was
blown up. which left the capital OF
America and the populous town Of Alex
loss of a man. 1t was too late to ascer-
tain whether this catastrophe was occa-
stoned by one of our shells or whether
it had been blown up by the garrison. but
the opinion was in favor or the latter
Still we are at a loss to account for
such an extraordinary step. The position
was good. and it's capture would have
cost us at least fifty men and more. had
1t been properly defended. besides an un-
favorable wind and many other chances
kS>Al~ fo,.N md NO onnp1f
have only destroyed 1t had we succeeded
in the attempt.
AT daylight the ships moored under
the battery and completed it's destruction
The guns were spiked by the enemy: we
otherwise mutilated them and destroyed
the carriages.
Fort Washington was a most respecta-
BILE defense: 1t mounted two f1fty-two
Founders. two thirty-two Founders. eight
twenty-four Founders; in a martelle tower
for musk try. and a battery in the rear
mounting two twelve and six six-pound
field pieces.
Could Have Saved Alexandria.
There can be no doubt, the historian
says. that had Fort Washington been
properly garrisoned and the channel OBJ
structed, as Gen. Winder requested
August 10. 1914 and suitable batteries
erected at the proper time on the river.
the British squadron would never have
reached Alexandria. The officer who had
run away with his command from Fort
Washington was tried by court-martial
and dismissed from the service.
After the second war with Great Brit
ain, Fort Washington was allowed to go
to rack and ruin for want Of proper care
Of Its armament and intrenchments. until.
In 1880 1t was mere military post. hav-
ing one or two companies of artillery, and
later on only detachment of the ord
nance corps.
Prominent in History.
In all periods Of North American his
tory. aboriginal, revolutionary and seces-
sional, DR.. Morgan remarks. the ground
where Fort Washington stands today has
taken a prominent part. The first order
issued during the civil war for the pro-
lection Of Washington to the naval forces
was dated January s, 1861, signed Isaac
Toucey. Secretary of the Navy. and ad-
dressed to Col. John Harris, commandant
Marine Corps. directing that a force Of
marines be sent to Fort Washington for
the protection Of public property. Forty
men. commanded by Capt. A. s. Taylor.
U. 8. Marine Corps. were sent In obedi-
ence to the order.
Historic Fort Washington, DR.. Morgan
concludes. which has seen SO many VI
cissitudes and taken part in so many
wars. invasions. sieges and Instructions
of this country. had garrison flag raised
to the top of a new steel fiagpole
Wednesday. December II, 1902. with mill
tary ceremony. the music playing. troops
drawn up In line with presented arms. and
a salute being fired from the guns Of the
fort. The new flag. which Is large one.
flies from the top Of the pole fully two
hundred feet above the river. 1t Is SO
situated on a high hill that 1t can be seen
for miles. Until this time only a small
flag had been used at Fort Washington
on the fia8pole within the old stone fort
Under the authority of the War Depart
ment the large garrison flag has now been
raised. signifying Fort Washington Is the
headquarters for the Potomac forts.
C F. c..