The Washington herald., 1911-09-17

Old Fort Stevens is to be monument
ed" On the site of the historic breast
works. from which President Lincoln
watched the veteran Sixth Army Corps
turn and drive back Gen. Early and his
warriors in gray from a panic-stricken
Capital. a bowlder monument. capped by
a five-ton granite stone, will soon be
erected.
After years Of soliciting and patient
effort the Fort Stevens-Lincoln Military
Park Association has raised sufficient
money to make the marking of the site
possible. Lewis c. White. secretary Of
the ASSOCIATION, who has had charge of
the collection work. now has something
more than $500 in hand. and if more IS
not forthcoming shortly the work will
be done with this fund.
Pamphlet "A Factor.
The Defenses Of Washington" a
pamphlet prepared by W. V. Cox, presi-
dent of the Second National Bank, and
read by him before the Columbia Histor-
ical Society, has been a potent factor
in the work of obtaining funds for the
monument. Mr.. Cox. at the solicitation
of the society, had two different extra
editions of his pamphlet printed and
turned over to the Officers, to be sold
for the fund. More than $125 was rails
ed IN this way. The remainder Of the
fund was obtained through the tireless
efforts of Secretary White
HIr Cox's pamphlet graphically de-
scribes the conditions in Washington in
1864, when Gen. Early. cutting away
from the Virginia campaign while Wash
ington was practically helpless behind
string OF unnamed breastwOrks.
crossed the Potomac, advanced through
Rockville, and appeared in front of Fort
Stevens, about five miles from the Cap
ital.
In Gordon of Defense.
Fort Stev ems was one of a string of
breastworks thrown around Washington
at the outbreak Of the civil war 1t
was erected at the point where this cor
don Of defenses cross ed the Seventh
street pike OBrightwOod road in 1861 and
was enlarged in lS63 The ramparts ex-
tended from point about fifty feet
north Of the present schOOlhOuse in a
northcrIy direction
During the war various troops Camped
in and around Fort Stevens. and to-day
those who re.~u var times will tell
al the Sever 'Chusetts being en-
Camped on farm. on the west
side Of RrlE., .uI avenue. the Tenth
NasSa, hus.irs on tn" Law farm the
J IhlItN-SlNth NtH YORK on tho east side
of BrIghtwoot avenue. opposite the
hote! tho Rhode Island regiment on the
old Ray farm. hy Piney Branch: the
Maine battery was west: Battery L,
First Ohio. was east Of Fort Stevens.
willie the "hundred-day men" all from
Ohio, were then. now. everywhere.
Barracks a< Hospitals
In the hollow ground south of Fort
Stevens, capable OF Sheltering large
bodies Of men from curved artillery fire
Were built barracks and officers quar-
terS. partly from timber cut down in
front of the fortifCations and from Ium-
Der in houses and fences belonging to
Mr. NJ. G. Emery and others, which the
soldiers tore down without consulting
the owners. During the battle these
barracks were converted into hospitals
for receiving the wounded The bricks
from the chimneys and foundations OF
the tOrn-dOwn houses were used in con-
structing baking ovens.
The Emery house still standing was
used for headquarters by Gen. D. 4.
Couch, Gen. Francis a. Walker, and
other officers, while the CupOla was used
as a signal station. and many were the
messages it is said. that were wig
wagged" from it to the Soldiers Home.
Mount Pleasant. and even TO the Cap
itol
The armament Of Fort Stevens consist
ed of nineteen guns and two mortars; of
these, five were thrty-pound rifed Par