Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-28

Fifty years ago today an army OF near
ly 10000 men moved out of Washington,
crossed the Potomac, and occupied tine
Virginia heights opposite the capital,
and the venerable city of Alexandria,
the home town OF Georgia Washington.
This aggressive movement, marking the
beginning Of field operations in the war.
was FASTENED by the impotence of the
north for action. and by the report that
the Virginia forces under Gen. Robert E.
Lee were preparing to erect forts in
Arlington heights, commanding Wash
ington-
The troops began tol move in the middle
of the night, orders being given TO march
at 2 O'Clock. One column moved by the
Long bridge, which linked the lower part
of the city with the Virginia shore. An
other crossed by Aqueduct bridge, from
Georgetown One regiment and part of
another were dispatched by water to
Alexandra.
The march across the bridges was de-
scribed as peculiarly impressive. The
mellow radiance of a full moon flooded
city and river. throwing into relief the
unfinished capitol and Washington mon
ument, and making 1.-THE shadows of the
Virginia shore seem darker by contrast
with the shimmering surface of the Po-
tomac.
heavy. regular tread could be heard
long way.
thousands of anxious men and wom-
en- saw the cleaning of their bayonets
and heard with the deepest emotion the
sound OF their measured footballs, borne
on the still night air." said an account of
the period. for it was the initial act of
an opening campaign in civil warfare. the
consequences of which no man could esti-
mate"
TROOPS IN THE ADVANCE.
The troops in the advance consisted in
the main of three months volunteers who
had responded to Lincoln's call of April
IS, with militia, and regulars.
At Georgetown, where Gen. Irwin Nc
Dowell was in command a small body of
local militia crossed first, driving few
Confederate piclxets from the Virginia
end Of the bridge.
These were followed by As pioneers of
the 14th New York, the 9th Massachu-
sets. the 2Sth New York from Brooklyn,
the 5th New York, company of United
States cavalry. a section of artillery, and
the 18th New York, a regiment of stall
wart Irishmen, under Col. Michael Cor
coran Behind the troops went $50 labor
ers.
The column that crossed the Long
bridge consisted principally of the Ma
tional Rifles. Captain Smead; company
of Zouaves from the Washington light in
fantry. under Captain POWELL the Con-
stitutional Guards of the District Of Co
Iumbia, Captain Digges; the New York
Seventh regiment, Colonel Lefferts; the
Second, Third and Fourth New Jersey
regiments. under Brig. Gen. Theodore
Runyon, and the 18th and 18th New York
under Mai. Gen. Charles w. Sanford,
followed by the First Michigan, Colonel
Wilcox a detachment Of United States
cavalry under Major SLOVENIAN, and
section Of artillery.
On reaching the Virginia shore some
of the troops were halted. while others
were sent forward by the roads to seize
all points of vantage for either immedi-
ate defense or fertilization.
Before in the morning there was a
Gordon of troops along the irregular
hills of the Virginia heights, extending
at some places about four miles back
from the river. and stretching from
above Georgetown to Alexandria.
Pick and shovel were at once brought
into play, and before the sun went down
50 years ago today the first Of the great
chain of earthworks that were to prove
such a physical as well as a moral sup
port to the capital during the war, had
begun to take shape.
The first fort to near completion was
on the estate of Gen. Robert f. Lee.
Here the brawny 18th New York was
posted. Intrenching tools were familiar
weapons in their hands. and they made
rapid progress on the earthworks that
were to prove the first completed fort