Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-19
UNVE|L MONUMENT
T0CAP|TAL SAVERS
Continued from First Page.)

martyrs whose blood cemented the
union of states.
Representing his excellency, the
Hon. Martin H sI1ynn. Governor of the
State of New York, it is my privilege
to present to the United States this
monument of enduring granite-NeW
York's tribute to the valor, patriotism
and the sacrifice Of her sons who died
in defense of the nations capital"
Brig. Gen. Scott Replies.
in accepting the monument, said that
it was "a high privilege to have been
designated by the Secretary of War
to receive this monument in his name
from its committee and the representa-
tive of the Governor Of New York
into the hands and the fostering care
of the national government. which
has been preserved by the services and
sacrifices of the. men of the civil war
such as those rendered by the gallant
men Of the 25th New York Volunteers
upon those historic grounds in the
defense of Washington and comment
grated here today.
"I rejoice that there has been builded
for those patriotic men of the civil war
not alone these beautiful monuments
of stone, but others in the hearts of the
American people far stronger than iron
and more durable than brass"
High tribute to the gallantry of the
25th New York Cavalry was paid by
Representative ]. A. .Goulden of New
York, who was a participant in the
battles. After giving a brief account
of the mastering in of the command he
said:
fIts first . engagement was with
Early's corps near Fort Stevens. just
north of Washington, June II, 1864.
The regiment stood it's ground nobly,
although greatly outnumbered. Gen.
Alexander Mcdowell McCook. one of
the fighting brothers of that famous
| name in command of the defenses, or
dered the regiment to retire, which it
did in an orderly manner, contesting
| every foot of the ground until relieved
| by the 5th Regiment, Veteran Reserve
| Corps.
I. ed Early's advance and perhaps saved
| the capital"
| Being on the ground near Fort
Stevens, as volunteer. it was my priv
nege to itness this engagement can
therefore bear testimony to the bravery
| Of the men under fire. to the excellent
discipline maintained and to the SOL
dierly manner to which they slowly fell
will be pardoned. 1 am sure. if | digress
here to give brief personal account.
/ President Under Fire.
Il was stationed in the Washington
navy yard at the time. and wildly re-
| member the intense excitement prevail
ing. Early's famous corps of seasoned
veterans of Lees army was marching on
the capital with nothing but raw troops
and thousands of civilians laborers,
| clerks and so forth from in and around
Washington to oppose the enemy Clear
/ ly / recall marching to Fort Stevens
Il nf hoi to
| toned at Fort Slocum; just to the east
| of Fort Stevens heavy guns in the
different forts, mere earthworks. and of
! helping drill as best we could the
civilians who were expected to help
handle them. 1t is stated. and I believe
truthfully. that President Lincoln was
under fire at Fort Stevens on that
memorable July H. Fort Siocum and
Fort Totten were under the command of
Col. Haskin. gallant officer. OF the
other officers of note who were there I
recall Gems. Meies (the quartermaster
generaD, Augur. Rucker and Payne
| THE splendid work done by the 25tl
! New York Cavalry on the 18th of July
/ saved the day. as it checked Early's
I advance and enabled the 9th and a part
of the 10th Corps to arrive on the line
| of defense. which reached from For,
Stevens to Fort Lincoln, a distance OF
five miles. 1t is not generally under.
stood. I imagine. what force consti
tuted Early's army. which included {
]
vond a doubt. and that was Gen. Me
Cooks estimate. that there were 3o,Oot
: rlen and sixty pieces of ield artillery
in Maryland in front of Washington.
Il desire to quote the following from
the official records of .he War Depart
ment: The first important encountel
the regiment had with the enemy wa.
in the repulse of Early's attack OF
i Washington. July II to IL, 1864. 1
has been ordered back from the Arm,
Of the Potomac and placed on thu
picket line in front of Fort Stevens
Washington. d. c. At about noon, Jul,
II, this picket line was attacked by
strong line of skirmishers sent gu
by Gen. Early. Gen. Alexander Nc
Dowell McCook. who was in command
in person at Fort Stevens. observing
the line was too thin to cope with tn,
enemy's skirmishers directed them t.
retire. slowly contesting their ground
The regiment was relieved at o'c1ocl
- 49," "f'"r"0r~ '~'te~ hahn" heel