Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-08
WASHINGTON IN THE SIXTIES.
By James Croggon.

The dawn of January, 1861. saw the
country in such precarious condition tina,
| an air of seriousness rested upon the
people of the National Capital. Partisan
politics. patriotism. penitence and prep
aration permeated the population. A day
of humiliation and prayer had been sci
| by the authorities for January 4. The
| usual presidential reception was held
! January 1, and it was attended by
! throng, but there was tense feeling
apparent. On the following day prep
arations were made by Gen. Winfield
Scott, comma nding the army. to main
| tain order and insure the safety of the
capital.
There were then no regular troops sta
| toned here. There was a small force al
! Fort McHenry, Baltimore. Fort Wash
ington, down the river, was in state
Of disuse, unnamed. The United States
forces in this city consisted of a detach-
ment of ordnance men at the arsenal and
the sailors and marines in the navy yard
and at the barracks. One of the f1rst
acts of Gen. Scott was to occupy Fort
Washington. Having none or the res .,lI
lar army convenient, detachment of 2ot
| marines, under Capt. Wainwright, was
sent to the fort and remained there
| until relieved by regular artillerymen
January 70
The principal observance of the day OF
| humiliation and prayer was held i'll the
| nall OF the House of Representatives, and
it was attended by large number oil
persons, among whom were few SEN
ators or members of the House. Inc
sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas III
Stockton, the chaplain of the House, who
for an hour kept the audience spell
bound. At one time when he referred
| to the fear that the Stars and Stripes
Ia hV a pmbIaZOnpG
| with a palmetto tree the audience was
raised to the highest pitch of excitement
| In number of the churches services
were also held.
The District Militia.
Gen. Scott had appointed, January l.
Capt Charles p. Stone Inspector genera
with the rank Of colonel. He was depu-
tized TO supervise the militia of the Dis
| trict of Columbia. Gen. Roger c.
Weightman was the commanding general
| and there were two divisions under Gems
Peter Force and George c.. Thomas
Regimental districts were laid off under
! Coils. James \. TAFT, Peter +. Bacon, NJ
| f. Bright. James +. Morgan. }. D.
Hoover. T. Blackstone and r. S. Cox
| Company officers were then selected and
commissioned. These met frequently for
| drill and consultation as to placing their
! commands on an effective footing.
! 1t was unnecessary to enforce this law
for the calls on the commanding genera
were met by the uniformed volunteer
companies, old and new. One Of the Older
organizations was the Washington Light
Infantry Battalion. Lieut.. Col. James Y
Davis 1t was composed OF two com
of formation. The armory was located
over II. G. Purdys grocery on the south
| side Of Pennsylvania avenue, west of A..
| street. At o'clock on the morning OF
porarily out of service. The camp equipage
was taken to the Columbian armory and
the arms and accouterments Were
removed to the CoOmbs building
known as the Chesapeake saloon. on
the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
east of 10th street. 1t is now occupied
now occupied by the Salvation Army. The
| National Guard. Lieut.. Col. James A.
TAFT. at the Columbian Armory. on the
Mall. near 9Th and B streets southwest,
| like the Light Infantry, had two full COM
| panies and a third forming, made up OF
| temperance men in the eastern part of
the city. The National Rifles had more
| than 100 men. under the command of
up the regular drills at Temperance Hall.
They also had a howitzer corps. The
| Presidents Mounted Guard OF this city
and the Potomac Light Infantry and the
| Georgetown Mounted Guard and one or
| two other companies were also in ex-
istence and were having frequent drills.
Raising a Union Regiment.
Gen. E. C. Darlington. Mexican vet
eran, once commander OF the Light In
fantry, began about this time cam
paign among the republican clubs to
form a Union regiment to assist In the
| Inauguration of the President. After
q spirited speech at the Third Ward Re-
publican Club. in Temperance Hall. jan
uary Z, q company was enrolled which
took the name of Company A, Union
Regiment.
Gen. Darlington visited several clubs,
making speeches, and other companies
formed-Company B, on 18th street op-
posite the War Department. of which
Lieut. James Kelly of the Light Infantry
was chosen captain. and Company c. at
Odd Fellows Hall. near the navy yard, Of
which 8. T.. Arnold was made captain.