Evening star., 1923-07-08
BY STEPHEN r. TILLMAN

BY STEPHEN r. TILLMAN.
| H7ESENT-d residents along
- Georgia avenue feel safe in
their homes. No dreams of
attacking ma:auders spoil their
rest. But fifty-nine years ago the
nth of this month it was different.
1t will be recalled that ii was on
July IL. 1864. that Gen. Early of the
Confederate Army made his famous
attack on Washington. The conflict
took place at Fort Stevens, in Bright
wood 1t was here that President
Lincoln stood on the rampant while
shot and shell fell around him. 1t
was here that Early was repulsed.
Allusion has often been made to this
attack. Some retrospect of the
events which precede it is necessary
for a full understanding of this epi-
side of the war between the states.
Sensitiveness for the safety of
Washington influenced every impor-
tant movement of troops in the Vir-
ginia theater of war. When, in March
of 1862, it was proposed to change the
lines of operations after Johnson's
defeat and retreat from Manassas to
York rivers. a council of corps COM
manders. to whom the plans had
been submitted. laid down certain
conditions as ispensable One Of
these was that the force to be left to
cover Washington should be such as
; would give the people of the city an en-
tire feeling OF security for their safety
from the menace of the enemy. Not
contented with the general statement
il was made more explicit by the
addendum that with the forts of the
right bank Of the Potomac fully gar
risoned and those of the left bank
occupied. a covering force in front
of the Virginia line of $4,000 men
would suffice" Later this was raised
to 10000 men.
When Gen. Pope took the field upon
the Rappahannock in July, 1862, q
large portion of the troops serving
in the defense of Washington were
. added to his command. Quite a few
of these were the so-called three
month men," meaning that they had
enlisted for three months service
only. Official records for that period
show that the 1st and I'd District Of
Columbia Volunteers were considered
more or less the backbone of the de-
fenses here.
WHILE marching toward Washing
" ton Early met Gen. Wallace near
Frederick. Wallace's forces were in
adequate to offer protracted re-
sistance. However, he gave battle.
and though suffering defeat detained
Early twenty-four hours and thus
gave time for the arrival in Wash
inEton OF two divisions of the 9Th
Corps under command of Gen. H. G..
18th Corps.
] The following day, July 10. Early
resumed his march and bivouacked
near Rockville. His cavalry had a
brisk encounter at that place with a
detachment of Col. Lowelrs cavalry.
The latter. after making a stand of
more than a hour and until the enemy
brought his artillery into action, re-
treated rapidly to his infantry picket
line, which was about two miles from
Tenallytown. At daylight of the fol-
lowing day Early's army started to
move. McCausland. moving on the
Georgetown pike, and the infantry,
preceded by Imboden's cavalry. turned
to the left at Rockville so as to reach
the Seventh street pike, which runs
by Silver Spring into Washington.
The previous day had been very
warm and the roads were exceedingly
dusty, for there had been no rain for
several weeks. The heat during the
night had been very oppressive.
Little or no rest was allowed the men.
This day was hotter than the one he