The Washington times., 1911-11-08
VETERANS OF WAR
FIND CO|NC|DENT
At FORT STEVENS
Northwest Wind Blows Over
Battleheld-Tribute to
! Abraham Lincoln.

Although the placing of the boulder
on the perapet OF Fort Stevens to mark
the spot where President Lincoln stood
on July II, 1864, exposed to the fire of
the Confederate troops in the march on
Washington, was not erected on an an
niversary of the battle, still coincidence
was noticed yesterday by the few sur
viving Union soldiers present wind
blew from the northwest, as II blew at
Fort Stevens on the day of the battle,
except that the wind on that memorable
event was warm.
About 200 persons attended the exer-
cises, Gen. Floyd King, of the Con-
federate army, who led the fight for
General Early, was the orator. He paid
tribute to Abraham Lincoln. saying the
men who fought against him did not do
80 because Of dislike to him. but be-
cause each felt his theory Of govern
ment was correct, and that it was his
honored right to defend his cause. Gen.
crai King said that II it were necessary
today to fight for Old Glory the Confed-
crates, though bent with age, would
not hesitate to shed their blood as free
~ as they did In. the days of the civil
war. ~. ... ..
Among the Speakers.
OTHER speakers were Col. Henry Nc
Elroy, on Fort Stevens, the Moral
Turning Point of the War" Col. E. +.
Bingham. who gave the names of those
who fell in that battle and are now
buried in Battle Ground Cemetery;
Capt. III. M. Gilman, on Our Broken
Ranks" Major A. s. Perham, secre-
tary OF the Fort Stevens Association,
made his report DR.. Thomas NJ. Vim
cent gave list of the Union veterans
defending the fort who have died since
the association vas formed In 1900.
Some of the articles placed In the cop
per box beneath the boulder are, the
flag Of the United States, presented by
Mrs. j. II. Cox, pictures of Abraham
Lincoln, including his Kentucky and
Illinois homes and his entry into Rich
mond; roster of the Fort Stevens Asso-
siation; names Of contributors to the
Lincoln Memorial boulder fund; pictures
of Generals Fl. G. Wright and ~. Med.
tMcCook, who took part in the defense:
names of those who fell in defense OF
Washington: picture of John Hay, Sec
OF letter of President Lincoln, telling
OF orders issued on the battlefield, July
II. 1854: United States fag, thirty-sis
years after the battle; bills introduced
ir Congress by Senators Proctor and
Warner and Congressman littauer. to
establish National Military fark ut
the battlefield or Fort Stevens; map,
showing Notifications and defenses OF
Washington in 1864; bronze bulge OF
Grand Army Republic, medals of
William Mckinley. and william II.
. Taft; inaugural badges of Taft and
Sherman, 1903; picture of house at Fort
Stevens built by soldiers and occupied
by Elizabeth Thomas after the war; COL
lection OF bullets from the. battlefield;
COLLECTIONS Of army buttons, buckles,
from tile battlefield: Coins Of the civil
war period; collection OF modern cart
ridges. Including those Of the Sranish
and Philippians wars: directory of the
public schools. District of Columbia.
trict OF Columbia, 1911; picture of army
wireless telegraph of today; picture Of
Times, the Washington Post, the
Washington Herald, the Evening Star.
~ She Saw Lincoln.
One Of tile most interesting cha.
at the exercises yesterday was Eliza
beth Thomas, colored woman, better
known in Brightwccd as Aunt Betty"
whose cabin was uaed by the Ifnion
soldiers during the fight as head
quarters. Sne recalls the battle,
especially the presence of President
, Lincoln whom she saw several times
during the tight.
Among the Washington Union soldiers
who survive are: l. X. Brown, Lewis
G. White, Frank A. Baxter, c. B. Pet.
teys. r. NJ Gilman 7. A. Dobson, q.
r. FoSS and l.. Il Bingham