Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-09

Washington Attacked Confederate


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York Heavy Artillery Lieut.. French COM
handing Col Dayton reported later with
800 men of the Veteran Reserve Corps.
and Col CIile also with four regiments of
Veteran Reserves The enemy was in
considerable force in front and to the
left, its sharpshooters SO annoying the
line from a large house that it became
necessary to she'll the house.
Col. Thompson. with the list Provisional
arrived that afternoon. The intended as
sault at this point that night was not
made as the accuracy and activity of
the Federal artillery and the determined
skirmishing led the Confederates to be-
lieve them prepared with reserves. The
Union soldiers lay their arms that
night and We're ready for action at )
a m, on the 18th.
The effort made by Col. Gle with
company of Veteran Reserves. to cap
ture the house under cover of a heavy
artillery fire. disclosed the fact that
large reserve of the enemy secreted
near by in breastwork of logs and
brush and it became necessary for them
10 open fire to save the sharpsh ooters.
They were in great force and Col. iile
was compelled TO retire. But the Fed
eral artillery trained its guns this
house disclosed reserve Of the enemy.
did good execution and compelled them 10
retire in considerable confusion and join
the fCTte dSSdlllIiS Il Oil sottNtHS.
Col. Hayward, with his Tooth Regiment
Ohio National Guard and the quarter
master volunteers, having cleared the
trees and brush from the front of Fort
Stevens. the right and left defense force
of artillery were enabled to render eff
cient support to Gen McCcok at Fort
WI prr 49, the
most determ ned efforts of the enemy.
The sllirnishng was without intermis-
sion and the Confederate sharpshooters
had possession OF the Kramer. Wilson
Carberry. R;ves. Blair and Lay houses
and were haraSs:ng the Mon skirmsh
line and the eutre nched force. The RiveS
house was on an elevated piece OF
ground. surrounded b. an orchard and
shade trees il afforded an excellent COW
er for the sha:pshooters. The Lay house
was to the left OF the road. and from
these two houses the torfederates sue
ceeded II Killing and wourding thirty
skirm!shers Capt. Beatty made un-
successful attempt to capture these
points and Gen. Frank Wheaton was or
dered by Gen. McCook TO MAKE an as
sault with his Division.
These troops advanced. and when they
had gained a position favorable u assault
the houses were vigorously she.led from
Fort Stevens. Whsatnn's force dashed for-
warl The attack disclosed "A new fore
of the enemy concealed in raNine be
yond the house and in depression be-
yOnd copse on the right of the road
Thus the enemy's force was reinforced
by at least a brigade. and the contest
lasted until after dark. when the ground
was taken and crude intrenchments
erected While this engagement was on
the Provisional Regiments. the Veteran
Reserve Corps and the Qartermaster Vol
unteers were exposing themselves to view
with the object of deceivine the enemy in
point of numerical strength of defense.
Gen. Wheatons losses IN this assault
were officers and - men killed. Off
GERS and 81 men wounded total, 104. The
last shot was fired At - o clock.
The large force under Gen. Early con-
fronting the small one in defense caused
continual changes Of position to meet
emergencies. There was no Stacking on
the firing line from - m. Monday until
after dark on the 18th. Tuesday, and the
line miles in length The defense
artillery, although of less caiber than
that Of the enemy, did great execution.
The accuracy Of its fire was remarkable.
and contributed in a great measure TO the
success of the defense. About & IN.
the enemy advanced again. and placed
themselves behind an old target. about
1870 yards distant. Six twenty -four-pound
fuse shells We're fired at them. all exploding
and causing them to retire. The skirmish-
ing was without fnternisSion. and the
Confederate sharpshooters played havoc
with the Federal line all day. Tuesday
morning. the 18th, the defenders opened
on the enemy with thirty pound percus-
sion shells At g O'Clock every gun in the
fort was trained on Carberrys house.
which was set on fire, the rifiemen dis
lodged and driven back The number of
shots fired by the artillery at Fort Ste
vens was 81. at Fort De Russy 100. at
Fort Slocum 81.
At o'clock on the morning of the 18th
Gen. Meigs had his command all under
arms ready for action as the gray dawn
spread over the landscape An oc-
casional shot from the suspicious picket
broke the stiffness, and at last the SIM
arose. All was quiet
Cavalry was sent out, and soon re-
ported that the enemy's positions were
abandoned, they were retreating into
Virginia. Washington was saved The
troops OF the 9Th and 18th Corps were
soon in pursuit, and the Provisional
Veteran Reserves and Quartermaster
volunteers took a much needed rest
The losses in killed and wounded will
never be known. The enemy took with
them as many as possible, leaving about
400 behind. The greater number of the
Union forces wounded were hurried to
the city By the many roads
The Battle Ground cemetery" sim
ated on the battlefield. eth street road,
contains the remains Of some of the
dead. killed in this battle, but not all,
and services are held in it Decoration
day. similar to those at Arlington
The presence Of President Lincoln at
Fort Stevens the afternoon Of the 18th
while the battle was raging had an in
spring effect on the rank and file, and
his immediate promotion OF Brig Gen.
Montgomery c. Meigs. auarterma ster
general, who was commanding the Hne
to be a brevet major general Of the