Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-29
FORT STEVENS SITE
CHANGED IN ASPECT
Battle Fought Near BrightWood
Unique in Many Features.
Lincoln Was Present.
ONLY BATTLE FOUGHT
IN DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
Lewis Cass White, Who Participated
in Engagement, Describes De-
tails of Action in 1854.

tails of Action in 1854.
Veterans who participated in the bat
tie Of Fort Stevens. when Gen. Early g
attempted raid on the National Capital
was brought to an end, are finding that
while many changes have taken place
in the section which embraces the scene
of that memorable engagement of July
IL, 1864. little difficulty is experienced
in locating roadways. hills and ravines
which played an important part in the
events Of that day.
Fort Stevens and the scene of the
battle which bears its name are located
a short distance north of Brightwood.
d. c., and may be reached by the 9th
street car line. the ride from the center
of the city being about thirty minutes.
The battle of Fort Stevens was unique
in many respects. 1t was the only bat
tie of the 500 or more that took place
during the civil war at which President
Lincoln was present. 1t was the only
battle in the HISTORY of the United
states which was witnessed by CHIEF
executive, and it was the only engage
ment between the troops of the north
and the south which took place within
the boundaries of the District of CO.
lumbia. e
Topography of Site Unaltered.
Until about twenty years ago few
Louses had been built in the section
here the battle was fought, but dur
iag the past ten years there has been
considerable building activity in the
vicinity. improvements. however. have
rot greatly altered the topography of
tie section. being confined for the most
art to the ground Immediately ad-
jacent to Georgia avenue. formerly
as the eth street pike.
Within what at one time were the
confines of the fort itself row OF
mall houses has been erected. I'm
Tediateiy east of the fort there Is
i#rge residence in a grove of poplar
ees This was erected number of
-ars ago on the site of a house which
was burned down the day prior to the
Fort Stevens engagement for military
rCasons.
Veterans Who Died in Battle.
On the east side of Georgia avenue, a
square north of the fort. many homes
have been built during the past ten
years. With the exception of the east
side of the square north of the inter-
section of Piney Branch road, both
sides of Georgia avenue are now flank
ed by houses as far as the small ma
tional cemetery in which forty of the
nfty-four men who died from wounds
received In the Fort Stevens engage
ment are buried. Back from the ave-
nue. a few houses have been built, but
for the most part the improvements
have been along that thoroughfare.
Property on the west side of Georgia
avenue short distance north of the
battle cemetery was acquired by the
government several years ago and now
Ia utilized for hospital purposes. Sew
eral large buildings. comprising the
Walter Reed Army General Hospital
group, have been erected. and also resi-
dences for the medical officers and
the opposite side of Georgia avenue a
number of residences have been built
during the past five years
The country to the west and north of
Fort Stevens today is practically in the
same state it was when the battle was
fought there half a century ago. Hills
and ravines, which had been rendered
treeless at that time for military rea-
sons. today present different appear
ance, however. Only in the section 20
the east and northeast of the fort has
the character of the country been
changed.
Veteran Lives on Site of Battle.
AT the intersection of Georgia avenue
and Piney Branch road and within
sight of Fort Stevens stands the resi-
dence of Lewis Cass White, veteran of
Company II, 102d Pennsylvania Regi-
inent. who participated in the battle.
in mis- front yard tree marks one
conner OF the site of a tollgate house
"..ich played conspicuous part in the
rori Stevens engagement. This little
mouse marked the high water mark of
zen Earlys invasion. On the morning
o. July II, 1864, il was in possession
Of sharpshooters of Gen. Early's force
and IT marked the closest point to the
National Capital which the invaders
- in H..
OF the toligate house was taken by
Union troops.
Largely through the efforts of Mr.
mite a movement was started which
esuited several years ago in the cree
non OF huge boulder on the parapet
or Fort Stevens a marker of the
spot where President Lincoln stood on
July IL. 1854, exposed to the fire of the
enemy. and watched the progress of the
battle. Mr. White is the treasurer of
the Fort Stevens Lincoln Memorial AS
ISOLATION, which raised $3.50 by popular
SUBSCRIPTION and provided the marker
With small balance which was left
on hand concrete walk around the
boulder recently was provided and a
night OF concrete steps built to the
top OF the parapet An effort now is
being made to get together sufficient
funds to build the walkway along the
entire length of the parapet and also
provide a second flight of concrete
steps. retaining wall is needed on
the north side of the parapet to sup
port the embankment. painted board
sign now stands before the boulder
Members Of the association want to re-
place this with a bronze tablet to be
attached to the face of the boulder
This work will cost 500 and an appeal
for funds now is being made to veter-
ans and to the general public by the
association.
Remembers Battle Well.
Having participated in the Fort
stevens engagement and now being a
resident on the one-time battlefield Mr.
White always has taken the greatest
interest In all matters pertaining to
that battle No veteran of the battle