Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02


AS many will recall it, Mrs. Cole desired to
build a bay window on her house. and obtained
q permit to do So and proceeded with the
work until the patchwork almost COM
pleted, when the aristocratic residents of High
land Terrace, opposite, objected because they
said the projection would obscure their view.
The case was soon taken into court and
injunction sought because it said that the
structure extended too far beyond the building
line.
AS matter of fact, this building might easily
be mistaken today for a separate house. as it
points toward the circle from the angle formed
by Massachusetts, avenue and M street. The
old part and the new part are easily dis
tinguishable the old part, as the writer recalls
it; being of light color while the new is Of
red brick
Mrs. Cole, throughout the controversy, stood
pat" and even employed a surveyor to survey
the other property around the circle, with the
result-as the writer recalls it, after these many
years-that nearly all were found to be in her
same position, in that they were also beyond
the building line AS the controversy in
creased so did the complications until bill
was rushed through Congress legalizing all
structures beyond the building line to that
date and all parties interested breathed easier.
especially Mrs. Cole, whose bay window still
looks out proudly on Gen. Thomas and his
bronze steed.
A ROUND the circle also lived people of dis
tinction and standing in the community.
Senator Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont resided at
No / and G. Wythe Cook, the physician, at
No. 3. On the east side Mrs Dahlgren'S
home and to the northeast of the circle still
stands the old residence Of Justice Andrew
Wylie of the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia. This building Is a severely plain
pressed brick structure, almost square, and
was occupied by the judge for many years. To
the south we still find the Portland, one OF
Washmgton's earliest apartment houses, and
to the north the Memorial Lutheran Church,
nearly across the street from which, on the
southeast corner of Vermont avenue and
street, Is what was once the home OF Gen.
Montgomery C. Meigs, who built Cabin John
Bridge and performed other engineering feats.
This old residence is landmark of the neigh
borhood and in more recent years was occu-
pied by Res-nald de Koven, composer Of
robin Hood" and other well known musical
compositions.
One of the first improvements in this Sec
ton, following the Civil War, was the building
in 1874 Of the Lutheran Place Memorial
Church which still remains as q worthy COM
panion to the new church just across the
street. Five years later. on November 10, 1879
on the sixteenth anniversary of the Battle
OF Chickamauga-the statue of Gen. George
II. Thomas was unveiled, an event that perhaps
q number Of old residents still recall for the
incidental exercises were extensive and elab-
crate.
zen. THOMAS was one Of the outstanding
officers Of the Civil War and one of the
greatest Of American military commanders. At
the Battle Of Chickamauga, sometimes called
1.-THE Battle Of the West" which was fought on
September 10 and 20, 1853, he demonstrated
his great generalship by holding OF the whole
Confederate army of 900 men under Gen.
Bragg and thus gaining for himself the title
Of The Rock of Chickamauga"
History tells that this battle, which was
ne Ores oknt1f mill
east Of Chattanooga. Tenn, began at am.
on the 19th without decisive advantage to
either side, and that upon its being renewed
on the goth, it was proceeding with varying
fortune when in pursuance Of q misinterpreted
order from Gen. Rosecrans In charge of the
Union Army, q whole division was withdrawn
from the Federal right
Gen. Longstreet, seeing the gap thus made
In the line, took the opportunity afforded and
poured his troops through the opening, soon
routing the Federal right and center which
were commanded, respectively, by Gems. Nc
Cook and Crittenden, and In this way the
Union troops were driven back toward Chat
tanooga in wild disorder. In this situation
Gen. Thomas fought against tremendous odds
Throughout the day, CALAMITY repulsing attack
after attack and infiicting great damage on
the enemy.
A fair estimate Of Rosecranz's army is placed
at SIS. 900 troops, and his casualties, including
killed. wounded and missing. at 1919, and
S~Ac NohACAcAotc Ao0o - PoSeu ~ low, WIhCH
10 only natural since they were the attacking
party
1t was in this battle that Mai. Gen. John
L. Glen, U. s. A., retired, then q drummer
boy was promoted to be q sergeant for his
plucky and heroic service in fighting through
out the engagement with a wounded soldiers
gun after his drum had been punctured and
made useless Today one Of the most modest
Of men. yet he is universally known as John
ny Glenn, the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga"