The Washington herald., 1919-01-19

quickstepped to the forts in northern
outskirts. Never before or since has
Washington received such a jolt as
was given by the approach of old
Jubal Early and his ragged and bare
footed veterans in ''butternut' and
gray.
On July 9. 1854, Early was reported
to be at Frederick, Nd. The follow
ing day he appeared at Rockville, ten
miles from Fort Stevens. where a cav
airy fight ensued. Mr.. w. v. Cox, in
his booklet, "The Defenses OF Wash
ington," says:
The rapid and successful movement
of the energetic Early, the appearance
of bodies of his forces in the most
unexpected quarters, startled the
North. Instead of there being AN en-
tire feeling of security for its safety
from menace the Capital was actually
threatened by Early's troops, flushed
with success. Indeed. there were
grave reasons to believe that with its
defenses stripped of the disciplined
artillery by Gen. Grant, the Capital
would be captured by the Southern
veterans, melted by the prize and in
spired by the audacity of the under
taking. The heart of the North beat
quickly, for 1t saw that with the Capt.
tai in the possession OF the enemy
grave complications would follow by
the recognition of the Confederate
States by foreign powers. longing only
for plausible pretext to begin the
diplomatic. campaign of dismember-
ment.
City Defended by Generals.
LAS we look back at the actual
condition of affairs in Washington in
1854" Mr.. Cox continues, I'VE find
that there were barely enough artil-
lerymen for a single relief of gunners.
There was only one-fifth enough in
fantry available to man the parapets,
and a small brigade of cavalry. mostly
unmounted. If We may judge by what
Gen. Halleck wired an ambitious Of
ficer on July II. Washington was de-
Tended by generals. Halleck said: we
have FIVE times as many generals as
we want, but we are greatly in need
of privates.'"
At the time of Gen. Early's raid
the Department of Washington was in
command of Gen. c. C. Augur, while
Gen. A. Med. McCook was in COM
mand of the troops and fortiiCations
about the city. sixty-eight in number.
each flanking the other and spread
out around Washington for a dis
tance of thirty-seven miles and con-
nected by rifle trenches.
In 1854 the Seventh Street pike.
now Georgia avenue. was the lead
ing highway to and from Wash
ington. 1t was on this turnpike,
at a distance of about five miles
from the Capitol. that Fort Stevens
was built in October, 1861. Here
the Gordon of defenses crossed the
road at a height OF 321 feet above
mean tide. The fort was first
named Massachusetts" but later
when enlarged in 1852 and 1863,
the name was changed to Fort Stew
ems. in honor of Brig. Gen. Isaac
Stevens, who had just lost his life
while leading his troops into action
at Chantilly, Va.
Mr.. Cox, who has taken q deep
personal interest in the venerable
defense and its history. says the
lamparts of Fort Stevens extended
from a point about fifty feet north
of the present school house. in a
northern direction for the distance
of about 160 feet. and then in a
general northwest direction for the
distance of 40 feet then northwest
at moro acute angie ninety rect,
then southwest about eighty feet,
and then south about ia feet, as
you now see it, with a perimeter
of LIPS feet, inside measurement.
The fort had two magazines. one
where Emory Chapel now stands,
the depression is still visible The
house of Elizabeth Thomas, colored.
known to the soldiers as Aunt Bet
ty," was torn down and the cellar
enlarged for this magazine.
Used rs "Wis-wag" Station.
The old-fashioned cupola of the
Emery House, still standing, was
used as a signal station apd many
messages were 'wig-wagged" from its
elevated portico to the Soldiers Home,
and even to the Capitol. The lower
part of the building was used for
headquarters by Gen. D. A Couch
and Gen. Francis A. Walker.
When Early's men in gray deployed
on the plains and hills in front of
Fort Stevens, July IL, 1854. the arma.
ment Of the fort consisted of nineteen
guns and two mortars, all ,of which
are now in the obsolete class of ord
nance. The employees of the Quarter