The Washington herald., 1914-07-12


Fifty years ago today President Lin
coin was under nre at Fort Stevens. one
of the defenses of Washington. in a skir-
mlsh between the Sixth Corps. and Early's
Confederates, in which 50 Federals were
killed and 1g5 wounded
The engagement was the elimination
you are standing. and / am responsible
attempted capture of the National Capi-
tai. Lincoln, intensely interested in the
defense Of the city. had made a round
of the forts the day before, when Early s
skirmishers first appeared, on the city's
northern side, but had not been under
| fire.
Now he stood, among washington's de-
tenders, in the waning afternoon. upon
the parapet of Fort Stevens, a con-
spicuous mark in his black clothes and
tall hat, while puffs OF smoke In the
green valley before him, and the occa-
sionaI singing flight OF a bullet. indi-
Gated the activity Of the sharpshooters
of the enemy. who lay concealed on a
gentle slope a few hundred yards from
the fort.
The President seemed absorbed In the
dramatic significance of the situation,
and unconscious OF danger. Ofhcers who
observed him feared for his life, and
suggested that he retire. for no man
was safe among them. When surgeon
who stood but few feet from the Presi-
dent was struck down previously wound
ed, and his blood gushed out upon the
ground almost at the Presidents feet.
Gen. Horatio @. Wright commander OF
the Sixth Corps. in firm but respectful
tones ordered the President to retire TO
a place of safety.
''Mr. President" said the general. Il
know you are commander Of the armies
of the United States, but am in COM
mand here. and as It is not safe where
your are standing. and / am responsible
for your personal safety, ! order you to
come down.
Lincoln looked at Gen Wright, smiled.
and then, as II humoring him In ms
earnestness- stepped down and took
position behind the parapet- Thls ne
did not keep long. but frequently stood
UP, exposing his tall form 10 the hre
that was steadily increasing In 'front.' et
the fort.
Guarded the North Road.
In memory of this historic hour. the
only one in which Lincoln was unosT
FIRE in the war, a marker stands TO-DAY y
a boulder with a bronze platoon the
gr.ssgrovn mound that was the parapet
Of Fort Stevens.
Tba visitor who would see the spot
must make particular inquiries. for hs
position is not a matter OF puolc KNOW
edge in Washington. 1t is in the pleas
ant and high suburb Of Brightwooo' horth
OF the Capitol. about FIVE miles on "hat
Is now the populous northern fringe vi
the city, where closely punt helBhooI
hoods merge into the open green ot the
hoonti,uI rolling country Of Maryland.
A RriEhtwood avenue car lands the Pill
grim in front Of an engine house, ana
friendly fireman directs him across the
street diaRonaIlv TO schoolhouse'
through the yard Of which bright ur-
chins guide the visitor to the old parade
and the bush-choked bitches OF Fort
Stevens.
the fort built here early in the war. as
mart OF the chain of works defending
washington, was first called Fort Mas
sachusetts. In the autumn Of lS6- II was
named Fort Stevens, for Gen. Isaac In
gals Stevens a gallant young ohcer Oh
The regular army, who fell st Chantlly'
Va, September !. 49,
The fort stood al the west side OF tne
road known then as the Seventh sfeet
nike now as Brightwood avenue. the
chief highway into Washington from the
north. II crowned a knoll. 81 feet ABOVE
tidewater. one OF the highest points IN
the District Of Columbia. From its par
apet a wide view OF undulating country
could be had. with pleasant fields. neat
farms, various substantial mansions ana
the white road stretching straight noT'h-
ward. through Silver Springs, In Mary
land.
ThronEs Watch Attack.
II was by the Seventh street pike that
EarIy's men arrived in front Of Washing
ton at noon on July II. They had come
from Frederick. Nd. having been delayed
n dav CJuly N at the Monocacy River,
three miles from Frederick, by a battle
with an inferior force under Gen Lew
Wallace, who had moved out from Balu-
more to meet them.
THAT battle had cost Early his chance
OF taking Washington by surprise. "hen
he arrived in front Of Fort stevens SOL
diers sent from Virginia by Grant to hold
the city were disemoarkinB irotn ~
ports at the Seventh street wharf across
the CITY. seven miles south. Before Early
could get his wearied and footsore men
into hattie line the veterans Of the skin
Corps. followed by those OF the Nine
teenth Corps. were filing into the works
on either side OF the road by which the
had come. and all along the
northern circle Of Washington's gtrdle OF
forts.
works at daylight on July r. but in the
night he received word from his cavalry |
that had been riding toward Baltimore,
of the arrival at Washington OF the sixth
and Nineteenth Corps. Knowing that
there were in the city as well some tho9
sands of militia, veterans. convalescents'
srtiIlerymen. and department clerks VINO
could be put into the works, Gen. Eariy
gave up his hope Of taking the CITY, ana
planned a retreat into Virginia.
1t would not do to retreat tamely oy
dav and invite swift pursuit, and TO dis
guise his purpose Gen. Early ordered
demonstration against the works. rms
began in the forenoon of July Il with |
skiruishing in front Of Fort Stevens.
News Of the attack had greatly ex-
cited the people of Washington, and De-
fore noon on July u throngs witnessed
the fighting from every hilltop and house
within view of the field for miles The
roar of the guns in the forts seemed
doubly loud to ears unused to such sim
isted music. Men, women and children
looked with almost uncomfortable excite
ment UPON this, dramatic demonstration
against the Capital, which could not have
been staged by device in more spec
tacular manner.
The day was intensely hot, and pal
pitatinE haze hung over the scene, In
which the puffs of smoke from the op-
posing lines shone with a pearly luster.
The Confederates occupied a gentle
ridge about 1000 yards from the line Of
forts Gen. Earlys headquarters were