Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-19

UST Ct years ago last Sunday July IL,
1864, the citizens of Washington, with
Straining ears and pounding hearts,
listened to the roll of musketry to the
north as Jubal Early and his veteran
~ campaignerS made their daring thrust
at the heart of the Nation.
The situation in the Capital was desperate.
Gen Early chosen by Lee for this vital stroke,
with 30 900 veteran troops, fresh from their
victorious march up the Shenandoah, was
beating at the city'S gates. The defenders,
stretched in a thin blue line between the 1orts
on the northern fringe of the city, numbered
but $500. Renforcements from Grants army
were on the way. but most certainly they
would reach Washington only after it had
been captured and probably destroyed
single thrust by Early, and the city was
his; the Federal cause seriously endangered,
and the South heartened to greater effort
But Washington was saved and the Union was
saved by one of the clevereSt bits of strategy
of the war-strategy that won for its perpe-
traitor undying fame in the annals OF history.
Why was the Capital of the Nation lett In
such defenseless position? Why was TINS
crisis now threatening the success OF Union
arms? To understand the situation that now
faced the Federal leaders, it is necessary 10
review the activities of Grant during the
Spring of 1864
"A INTER had brought small success to the
w North, and Grant, with the coming Of
Eastern forces in an attempt to strike a blow
that would bring the war to speedy close
June found the Hammerer with his famous
9Th Army Corps sweeping from the Rapidan
to the James River, with Richmond as his
goal. Lee fell back upon Petersburg, and 1t
was here that Grant in early July was slowly
squeezing the life from the tired Confederate
Army in the jaws of great wise.
BY the first of July it seemed certain that
Petersburg and with it Richmond, the Capital
of the Confederacy was doomed. But mere
Lee showed that rare ability to save lost
cause that has placed him among the foremost
of the worlds great military leaders.
Realizing that Grant was not to be beaten
off by direct assault, Lee hit upon the plan OF
threatening Washington and thereby forcing
a shift of the Union forces. He knew that
Grant had drained every available man from
the defenses of Washington and Baltimore for
his drive on Richmond He knew that WASH
ington was garrisoned by hardly more than
corporals guard. He knew that threatening
move against the Northern Capital would send
Grant Scurrying back to its protection, and
thus save Richmond
To Gen. Jubal Early he intrusted this daring
maneuver, and with 10000 picked men sent
him up the Shenandoah on his secret mission.
He reached Martinsburg, w. Va, before Grant
became aware of the move and then the gods
of war began their mighty game of chess, with
Lee having made the first move.
Grant taken by surprise, sought to delay
q the Confederate drive until he could bring the
9Th Army Corps to the rescue Of Washington.
He ordered small attachments Of cavalry into
the valley for the purpose of haraSSing the
invading column He ordered Gen. Lew Wal
lace stationed at Annapolis with 5000
To-day men, to intercept Early at Frederick,
and the race was on-Early by land and Grant
by water-the prize, the Capital Of the Nation.
Majestically Early swept up the Shenandoah,
meeting Breckenridge and Rhodes at Martins
burg. w. Va, and with this added power
crushed a small Union force under Gen. Sigel.
A column swung of to Maryland Heights and
bottled up Gen. Weber, thus sweeping all OPP
position from the mountain passes.
On July S, the Potomac was crossed at
Point of Rocks and the next day Hagerstown