Evening star., 1911-05-30

Stevens Association and Its work.
TT seems appropriate" he said, 'tha,
something each Near should be said about
the Fort Stevens Association, which was
organized for the purpose OF having ex-
'ercises held at Battle Ground cemetery
on the field where valignt men laid down
their lives TO save their country's capital
Another object in it's organization was
to preserve and mark Che sites Of the
battle of July IL and 12. 1864. in which
Abraham Lincoln was the most conspicu-
Gus figure.
I'VE feel that there is no language TO
express the debt we owe, the love we
bear to all the dead who died for US.
so naturally we rejoice That these ex-
ercises in memory Of the sacred dead
have been established.
I'm carrying out tho plan of a dozen
at the old fort. on which our country $
flag floats today, as in "a.
We have placed temporary markers on
the fort and in field. and this year. by
permission of the surgeon in charge OF
the Walter Reed Hospital, We marked the
old poplar tree. the signal station of
Gen Early, from which the sbarpshooters
picked off the soldiers Of the Union.
Where Lincoln Stood
I'VE have located a granite boulder
weighing two and one-haAf tons. five and
one-half feet high. to be placed at Fort
Stevens, where Lincoln was under fire.
We have permission from the War De-
partment for its removal from the
grounds of the Walter Reed Hospital.
the Confederate position. in yonder oe-
pressed ground, to the top Of the hill at
Fort Stevens. This boulder, with a
bronze tablet. Is not what grateful
country should erect in memory of the
brave boys who fell in saving the cap
hut 10.
small tribute from sincere men who
have waited in vain to have the Old fort
preserved or have something tangible
done in honor of the great event.
"a road to Gettysburg would suit us.
Passing as 1t would through these his
toric grounds So would bridge across
the Potomac to Arlington. recognizing a
united north and south, but memorial
in the flats would not enthalse any or
us. monument in the flats, at point
where one of our members said Lincoln
never was<and had he tried, could not
have gotten there with rubber boots, Is
a melancholy travesty.
If history is to be truthful. we feel
that the memorial should stand al For'
Stevens, where Lincoln stood. encouras-
ing the Union soldiers to deeds OF valor.
1T is a matter of great sorrow 10 the
association that Henry NJ NevIus. COM
mander of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, who was wounded in this battle, near
McChesney spring, Of whom spoke last
year, is no more A splendid soldier and
man. whom we shall greatly miss
'.Our ranks are growing thin. Cnless
this battlefield is soon saved by the gov
ernment as a part of the Walter Reed
Hospital grounds. and unless suitable
memorial Is erected here within limited
time, the work will have to be done by
others or remain undone. 1t is our hope
that the republic will not prove itself un-
grateful to the memory Of Lincoln and
the defenders of Washington"
The invocation and benedictiOn at Bat
tie Ground were pronounced, respectively.
by the Rev Claude M. Hesser. pastor of
Emory Chapel. Brightwood, and Father
E. NJ Southgate. pastor Of the Catholic
Chapel, Soldiers Home. Col. Burton X.
Ross read Lincoln's Gettysburg ADDRESS.
At Soldiers Home.
In addition to the address delivered by