Evening star., 1922-11-22
CIVIL WAR SCENES
IN D. c. RECALLED
Daughter of Lincoln's Secre-
tary Reads Paper Before
Historical Society.

| Scenes Of the stirring civiI war
days IN Washington were recalled ny
| Helen Nicolay, daughter of Lincoln
secretary, in the reading of her pa
per. Washington III 1861 at a meet
| Ing of the Columbia Historical So
cicty at the Cosmos club last night
| The paper. which was composed Tor.
the most part Of the private CORE
| spondence of her father. recalls meui-
I ories Of the past to the older inhabi-
tants of Washington and affords n new
! interest in the city 10 The younger
! generation. for almost every spot ia
the downtown section is connected IN
! some WAY with the great historical
events Of the civil war period.
IL was at Willard's Hotel that som.
OF the troops that were defending the
city were quartored. Other regiments
were billeted in the Senatc chamber
at the Capitol. churches were hos
pitfalls. fortifications were all around
the city and incidents and scenrs
upon which the present day cxistenc-
of the United States stands we're en-
acted in almost every portion of the
town.
LfncOln's Unexpected Arrival.
Miss Nicolay's paper began with
the unsuspected entry of Lincoln into
the capital ahead of his schedule.
after hurried trip from Harris burg.
where IL WAS said that plans for hIs
assassination were being formulated.
! Upon his arrival in Washington Feb
ruarS "a, 1861. Lincoln found the
city very much divided in regard to
favorins his election. Miss Nicolay
read the letters Of her father IN
which he described the first PUBLIC
reception after the Inauguration.
r.,1a
huge crowd. The author of the let
ters wrote. For the description of
the reception | must refer you to The
Star
The navy yard was at that time
! one OF the centerS Of society. Judiciary
square an exclusive locality and the
blocks OF 9th street and the ave
nue. Just passing from residential
10 business purposes. with the city
itself collection of little centers
; rather than a big city.
Trying Days Open.
After the shot at sumter trying
days set in for Washington. Tho
Executive Mansion. from which could
be seen the Confederate flag flying
but short distance away on the
Alexandria Hotel. in Alexandria. was
the scene of anxious consultations.
Outside communications had been cut
off and the Massachusetts regiments
tered the enemy at Baltimore on the
anniversary of the beginning of the
revolution. There We're but 1000
regulars and 1000 of the District
! militia to defend the city, while there
were a large number of Confederate
troops at Alexandria and ships Were
landing more of the enemy on the
Maryland side Of the river. The sus-
pense of re inhabitants of the city
was grea. because of the delay Of
reinforcenents for the defense of the
town. When he supposed he was
alone, even Lincoln was heard to say
"Why don't they come" After Tho
arrival of the New York. Massa
chusetts and Rhode Island troops
matters took different aspect ia
the city. Spirits rose and trade re
vived
Narrowing scenes were witnessed iu
the city and Miss Nicolay described
, in her paper and read the letters Of.
/ her father which told of the wounded
and the dying and the anxious mo-
| ments during the battle of Bull Run.
/ Avenue Cobbles Disappear.
| During these days the tramp of
military feet had driven the cobb--
! stones. laid during President Jack
sons term of Office along the Avenue
! out of sight. and that thoroughfarc
alternately became inire or gave up
clouds of dust Flour was SIS bar
rel and wheat, $3.50 busheI.
Allen c. Clark, president of the Co
| lumbia Historical Society. described
the horse car of the 1861 period. and
spoke Of the complaints received in
regard to the ladies in crinoline TAX
ing up two or three seats. The
schedule in those days ran something.
like this: From the stand at the
Capitol or old Baltimore depot to LIST
street. six minutes; from 1st street to
7th street, twelve minutes; from 7fh
to 14th streets. eighteen minutes:
from 14th to 18th streets. twenty five
minutes: from 18th to ED streets
thirty-one minutes. and from o2d
street to west end of bridge to High
, street, fortytwo minutes. The whole
route is now made in twenty-three
and half minutes
A roof well covered with straw