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

The battle-ground was Fort stevens,
where BrookIand now stands The battle
Of Fort Stevens. July II and II 1864. is
UNIQUE in the history of the United States.
Man Presidents had participated in bat
ties previous to their elections TO the Of
nee but Abra ham Lincoln is the only one
who was ever under fire in battle
whiIo filing the Office. on the afternoon
Of July L. 1864 President Lincoln was
on rarapet al Fort Stevens viewing the
engagement With an officer IN uniform on
his left and a newspaper reporter on his
RICH. \ sharpshooter picked of the
uniformed officer. whereupon concerted
efeor. was made to induce the President
to steP down. He was very reluctant 10
DO So There are today many residents of
the District of Columbia who were in the
trenches that afternoon and never fail 10
visit Battle Ground cemetery on the ami
versary e the hattie or on Decoration
day.
TIE entire country was vitallv inter
estel in the success OF failure Of the
attempt by Gen. .Iabal early Il capture
Washington SIC ess meant the recogn
ton Of the Southern Conftderacy by Eu-
rope: failure would and proved to be the
beginning % the end The J-nionists
knew that Ma Gen. Hunter was in
virginia retreating westward from Lynch
burg that Gen. SiGei hesieged at
Maryland Heights that Mai Cen Crouch
was in PENNSYLVANIA recruiting militia
and that Gen. Early was heading for
the National Capital city.
This condition of affairs was the most
nerve-racking experience tho Union
officers had encountered since the open
ing of hostiHties. The city had suf-
ficient number of forts for defense. but
less than 1000 soldiers 10 defend them
and il was impossible TO reinforce them
In time TO meet Gen. Early The nearest
available troops We're at CITY Point, and
they were few in number. considering
the strength OF the enemy. When. July
8. IL became an assured fact that the
forces before Frederick City. Md. were
commanded by Gems. Early. Breckin-
ridge. Gordon. Evans. York. Terry and
Ramseur and that McCausland had 1.ss,
cavalry: that the force numbered 3O,WD
or more, that the Union troops opposing
under command of Gems. Wallace and
Ricketts, were but 10000 all told the
suspense throughout the states in the
sue teeding days was terrible. Telegraph
and newspaper Offices were ~esieged in
all cities for news of Early's movements.
Gen. Grant was forgotten At the War
Department President Lincoln, Secretary
Stanton, Gems. HalleCk. Augur, Meigs
Rucker and other officials were mapping
out strategy, the only possible chance,
a One-in "a hundred chance, considering
the experienced generals leading the in
vading enemy.
On the 9th of July the news was
flashed that Early had taken Frederick
City, Md. and had ransomed the city for
S2nSn; that Wallace and Ricketts, were
al Monocacy. later on that the Union
troops, cut 10 pieces: were retreating to
Baltimore; that Earlys command in full
force was on its way 10 Washington and
only ''one-day march" 10 reach the
goal. The troops at City Point had not
yet embarked 70 REINFORCE: Il was time
for strategy and the work commenced,
sault until the arrival Of portions OF the
9th and 18th Corps as ordered.
The city was hoHeycombed with hos
pitfalls and every soldier who had strength
enough 10 stand M with gun in hands
was called in'o what was designated the
Provisional Corps MI told they num-
hered about 2.s'o. The Veteran Reserve
corps was force OF convalescents not
Yet in good enough condition to reloin
their commands in the field al the front
and they performed provost patrol and
police duty in the CITY An immense
frame barracks from curb to curb on
New Hampshire avenue. running south
from Pennsylvania avenue housed them.
The Provisional Veteran Reserve and
QGartcrmaster Volunteers We're the
stratcgi. hope" Perfect in all move
rleuts. cool and determined in all actions.
they constantly changed position in the