Evening star., 1923-07-08

oANch ~hCCoOh anu All
available troops were concentrated in
the rifle trenches on either side of
Fort De Russy. Some of the veteran
reserves were moved across Rock
creek from the 1st to the I'd Brigade
and the picket lines were strength
ened as much as possible from the
Rockville pike to 7th street. Col
Marble of the 151st Ohio Nati6nal
Guard was sent to command the
troops and line at Fort De Russy
which was then regarded as the
weakest portion of the line attacke
on account of the broken topography
and shelter afforded by stumps. Fire
was opened from the heavy guns in
the fort. with the apparent effect ri
checking the enemys advance in large
bodies.
4 SHORT time before noon Capt
Berry. who commanded one of the
troops of the Sth Illinois Cavalry
sent messenger to McCook, notifying
him that the enemy was moving with
artillery, cavalry and infantry from
Rockville and that they were headed
in the direction of Silver Spring.
About noon a strong line of the
enemy's skirmishers came into sight.
They advanced on Fort Stevens,
where McCook was in command. The
picket line in front of the position
not being able to grapple with the
enemy, was directed to retire slowly,
contesting their ground
AS the pickets retired the guns
from Forts Stevens, Slocum and De
Russy opened fire. BY firing rapidly.
they succeeded in checking the
further advance of the Confederates.
who then took cover and kept up a
CALLING fire upon the gunners. About
this time there was great uneasines SIS
along the line of. fortifications. The
forces distributed in them, though
considerable in number. were not of
such a character as to inspire Sper-
feet confidence in their competency to
resist an assault Upon the arrival of
dismounted men of the I'd Division
Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac,
more than 600 strong, confidence was
restored in the hearts Of the defenders
TO a certain degree. The new SOL
diers advanced at 1880 o'clock in the
afternoon and drove the enemy back
about a thousand yards.
The firing was kept up along the
picket lines from the Rockville pike
to the front of Fort Slocum until
after dark. About o'clock Mai.
Gen. H. G. Wright of the volunteers,
who commanded the 9Th Corps, re-
ported at the fort. He was followed
night force of more than 500 SOL
diers from this battle-tried corps
was placed on the line.
During Sunday evening Brig. Gen.
M. c. Meigs of the Quartermaster
Corps had reported with more than
1000 quartermaster employees to Nc
Cook. During the world war Camp
Meigs, located out on Florida avenue.
was named in his memory. Upon off,
cial records appear the following ref
erence to Gen. Meigs: Much credit is
due this officer. In 1863 a brigade of
quartermaster's men employed in the
city had been organized and drilled
by him. This had, however. during
his absence on the Chattanooga cam
paign, been disbanded. With the ap-
proval of the Secretary of War of
that time, Meigs had at the last mo-
ment reorganized this brigade in
twenty-four hours time. and on Sun
day (14th) reported for duty. That
night 1t was ordered to join McCook's
command and was placed on the lines
from Fort Slocum to Fort Totten."
The following day Col. Rice. with
$500 convalescents and artillerymen.
also reported to McCook. The first
were then placed in rife pits on