Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-28
RECALL THE DAYS
OF. THE C|TY'S PERIL

Veterans of the 9Th Army Corps gath
cred at Fort Stevens, near Brightwood,
D. c.. today and recounted incidents of
July II and IL, 1854, when they partici-
pated in the engagement that brought
to an. end Gen. Early's attempted raid
on the National Capital.
After listening to several addresses
which were delivered from the top OF
the parapet where President Lincoln
stood exposed to enemy gunflre July
IL. 1864, and watched his troops in ac-
ton. the veterans walked to the little
cemetery on the east side of Georgia
avenue about half a mile north of
the fort and paid honor to the memory
of their comrades in arms who fell In
the battle and are buried there.
A floral piece in the design of the 9Th
Army Corps badge was placed on the
graves with appropriate ceremony. The
veterans then returned to the city, and
this afternoon they are visiting Ar.
lington cemetery to pay honor to the
memory of their corps commander. Gen.
Horatio G. Wright. who is buried there.
Program at Fort Stevens.
William J. wray of Philadelphia,
president of the Society of the 9Th
Corps, presided at the reunion at the
fort. The first speaker was DR.. George
T. Stevens. veteran Of the 77th New
York Regiment, who was In charge of
the hospital in the fort at the time of
the battle.
DIR. Stevens told of the visit to the
fort made by President and Mrs. Lin
coin and related how the chief execu-
tive had exposed himself to the fire Of
the enemy by standing on the top of
the parapet on which huge boulder
has since been placed. DR.. Stevens
has written extensively on the part
played by the 9Th Corps during the
war.
Gen. Warren Keifer, representative in
Congress from Ohio, who was COM
mander Of brigade of the 9Th Corps,
the 9Th Corps badge for the official
badge of the veterans of the war with
Spain. Spanish War Veterans should
feel proud to wear a badge patterned
after that Of the 9Th Corps, he said.
Recalls Battle Of Monocacy.
Col. Andrew Cowan, commander of the
LIST New York Battery, and later artillery
chief Of the 9Th Corps, also spoke of the
Fort Stevens engagement. He said that
the noble fighting done by the Sd Brigade
of the 9Th Corps at the battle of the
Monocacy July 9, 1864. played an inn
pOFtsiIlt part Ill tilc Saving VI w dSihL6loA
from the invaders. Gen. Early's forces
were SO delayed, he said, that when they
did arrive at the National Capital a strong
force was ready to meet them.
Gen. Elisha H. Rhodes of the I'd
Rhode Island Regiment told of the con-
struction of Fort Stevens and the othel
forts about Washington early in the
war. He said when they were made
no one dreamed that they ever would
be used. Reports from the war iii Eu-
rope indicate that the earthen fortif1ca-
ton of the type of Fort Stevens Is
the best, after all, he said. since dam
age done during a days fighting can
be repaired at night.
Col. John r. King of the 9Th Mary
land Regiment. past commander-in-
chief of the G. A. r., also spoke at the
reunion. Among the veterans present
was Lieut.. Thomas H. Fearey, United
States Signal Corps, retired, who is
said to be the only surviving member
of Gen. Wright's STAFF at the time Of
the battle.