The Washington herald., 1922-01-01

an loea or the Impression preysf ifnrr
then an item printed at the time 10
here quoted:
The rebel army Of invasion
marched down the valley 5000
strong. including 5000 cavalry. nm
aer command OF Major General Iu-
bal Early and Brigadicr Generals
Breckenridge Ransom Imboden. and
hcCauslsnd. LOngstreet was a.
GordonsvilIe on Tuesday last Win
additional forces to Join the rebeI
army Of Invasion, and the purpose 81
that army was an attempt al the
capture OF Washington by sur
prise.
Some say that all these troops Ala
not come near Washington and par
'clpate In the Battle Of Fort Ste
Nens- IL Will. however. be admitted
Ihat considerable number Of troops
participated in this engagement,
on the confederate side. and that n
Was no small affair at that
Well-infOrmed officers at tn. Tina
placed the invading force At be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 men
or all branches Of arms. Two CON
leoerate infRntrymen. CAPTURED IN
the morning OF the 18th. said that
/ their force in the immediate vicin.
| lty OF Fort Stevens and DeRussey
numbered 10000. Of which A ron.
siderable portion were infantry
with little artillery, but they cv.
pected heavy re-enforcements ~
artillery"
An account Of the military actiy.
ity OF the first day says: The heavy
diminishing in front OF Fort ste
Vens. in the vicinity ~ the seventh
street road. yesterday Afternoon
continued until after dark.
Held Position In Woods.
The rebels held a position ,r ,l.,
woods. from which they threw nl,.
skirmtshers, who cropt along tho
ground or fired from behind rroo.
Al one time they succeeded in &C.,
ting within range Of tho rn-- aud
their sharpshootCrs were enabled g.
pick of Eunncrs. two Of urn,-,
were wounded. The rebels us,s M
artillery. but their movements fr
dicated that they were cndesyu-rr
I" plant a battery ~ bear IN Fort
stevens. and in order {" rrus,rare
their designs the fort throw shells
occasionally among them About
$50 our cavalry charged upon thew
back some distance The gkTrlnrsr-
ing was still kept UP. howeycr. and
a little after o'clock our infantry
was brought up and placed in line
in front Of Fort Stevens. while Tho
cavalry deployed - the right Tho
object Of this movement. or fits r.-
suits, was not known when VIC ,-r
the vicinity or the scene or action
last night.
The house ~ ?. ?. Blair has TO,
been burned. as reported ycsSrrda,.
the rebels appear TO be using r. a..
hospital as they were seen 70 hc
carving some Of the wounded into
IT. The houses 81 Mrs Reeves and
Mrs Carhery. on either side or
the Seventh street road. were oc.4-
pied by revel sharpshooters. who
annoyed our troops somewhat. Dur-
ing the afternoon they picked -~
three n our serEeants. shooting
them through tho head
Houses Destroyed.
1T was found necessary n do-
stroy quite a number OF houses On
= either side OF the Seventh street
road 20 prevent them being occupied
t by the rebel sharpshooters Among
z the houses destroyed were Mess~s
Richard Butts. VIM. Rell. J II NJ
. Chesney. Mr.. Shoemaker. and 'ra
. house occupied by the family % ''r
. late Vim. NJ Morrison. Timc Low
P ever was allowed the owners .'
] these 10 remove the furni'ur,. ar'
the road leading to this cir, Sc.
lined with wagons con,r, NJ tt-,s
( a place Of safety
, The farmers In 'rc vicinity '.s'
I the most of thei- sta, i. owing %,
] they say. to our y. Vets refus.r- g
2 let the drivers pass throuE' IN,
lines without rsrmit Tho .arw.
; crs had talk rrn preCaur ON {.
drive Their sr,.k toward tho r's
as the rebels advanced: hut MOOT
! being al'u ~6 to enter Il fC1 INT,
the hand> Of the enemy
"SevcraI citizens. policemen aur
) Others took part in tho engage
mert. prominent among whom vcr,
: Augustus Norton. r. McChosnc,
. and nfi"crs Boose and Bea1I'
President LIneoIn NJ Front.
Tho Intelligence. which was tn,
eldest newspaper in Washington q,
that time makes the following rCT'
erenCe to his visits: President Lin
coin and Secretary Seward. accom-
panied by one OF two Officers and
cavalry escort, visited the threat
ened defenses on Monday and ycs.
terday"
A contemporary states: 'Th,
President rode to the front IN IN,
direction OF TennalIytown at about
9 a. m, today. accompanied by A.
sistant Adjt. Gen. Hardie. and
mounted escort. Yesterday he pai,
a similar visit OF observation Ent
inspection. His presence amonr
our gallant troops will doubtless d
much to animate and encoraES
them in the discharge OF their du
ties" and President Lincoln and
Mrs. Lincoln passed along the linz
Of the city defenses in q carriage
last night. and were warmly greet,
ed by the soldiers wherever they
made their appearance amongs
them"
The interesting incident connect
ing President Lincoln with thu
battle, as related nearly forty years
ago, Is as follows: Just befor'
Gen. Wheaton made his chargf
President Lincoln. accompanied b.
his wife and several prominent on
cials. came on the ground in a car
rage without his escort. Seein'
Gen. Wright he at once eNtende'
his hand saying: General ] HH
very glad to see you. This look
as though you were going 70 o.
J something
Would Place status There.
This is the place where ii Is pr"
!