Evening star., 1928-11-04
Did War Office Structure Had Place in Many Stirring Even

ings, especially on Sunday afternoons,
and an item tells us that in the latter
part of April, 1901, Rev. Andrew T. Nc
Cormick, rector of Washington Parish,
conducted divine services in the corri-
dor of this building. The War Depart
ment remained in this building until it
was destroyed by the British in August,
1914, when it took up temporary quar-
ters on the north side of r street near
the corner of Fifteenth street.
The Rev. Mr.. Mccormick referred to
died in this city on April 81, 1S41, and
the National Intelligencer carried an in
teresting and eulogistic item about him,
the biographical part Of which says:
"Mr. A. T. Mccormick was native
of Ireland and came to this city in the
year 1855. He was among the first
to open a classical school and the very
first to establish an Episcopal church
in Washington. The building had been
barn on the land of Mr.. D. Carroll,
one of the original proprietors of the
city, and by the individual and unaided
eXertions of this worthy and pious man
it was converted into an humble but de-
cent temple of Christian worship. The
illustriouS Jefferson was won't to attend
divine service in this lowly chapel. He
usually rode alone on horseback; his pew
was handsomely cushioned and his
prayer book was French translation.
Mr.. Jefferson was much pleased with
Mr.. McCormick's reading, which he
church he officiated till a larger and
more commodious one of brick was
erected near the Navy Yard in 1907, and
continued its pastor till 1928, when he
retired from its pastoral duties. Though
unambitious of distinction, he endeav-
ored to render himself useful to his fell
low beings and to society. He was ap-
pointed several years ago by the board
of trustees of the Easter Free School,
established by the corporation of Wash
ington, their president, and acted in
that capacity till the period of his death
to the satisfaction of the trustees and
the corporation"
X *&
THE old War Department Building,
which is still remembered by so
many persons now on Uncle Sans re-
tired list, was not begun until 1918 and
not occupied until about 1920. Its use
fulness covered a period Of many years,
or until 1t was demolished in 1879 to
make way for the completion OF the
present State, War and Navy Building.
During the Mexican War 1t. was natu-
rally a very busy place, and during the
Civil War was a 24-hour-a-day eStab-
lishment. Here President Lincoln was
a frequent visitor upon tense occasions,
when he would go there to be close to
the telegraph office or to confer with
Simon Cameron, his Secretary of War,
and later, Edwin M Stanton, who sue
ceeded to this office. Upon a number
of the Presidents visits to the War
Department he was accompanied by his
son Thomas, or Tad" as he was af-
fectionately called, boy full of life
and filled with boyiSh tricks just the
same as any other boy. Upon one oc-
casion Tad amused himself dipping his
fingers in the inkwells and Smearing
| the telegraphers' desks. One telegra-
pher, upon reaching the limit of his
| patience, picked up Tad and carried him
to the President, expecting that he
would at least censure or chastise him.
But Mr.. Lincoln did neither simply re-
marking in his kindly way, II don't
think they are treating you right here,
Tad; we had better go away" and then,
gathering Tad up in his arms, he walked
away.
1t was in the old War Department
Building that Gen. Robert E. Lee paid
his last visit to Gen. Scott, just previous
to taking up the cause of the Confed-