Evening star., 1933-01-01


to show that as far back as
ones memory goes, the United States Marines
were discerning reliable set of men who were
noted for their alertness in detecting mpaus-
able stories and for supplying drastic punish
ment to the offender If necessary.
Perhaps the Marines are a more familiar
sight to the citizens of Washington than to
those who reside elsewhere, for not only have
we here the headquarters of the corps, but also
the Marine Barracks and the famous Marine
Band, known the world over, and positively
never forgotten by those who have seen them
upon important occasions at the White House,
dressed in their attractive uniforms, or march
ing up Pennsylvania avenue.
The first detachment of Marines. that formed
the nucleus of the permanent post in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, arrived here-according to
Mai Edwin N Mcclellan u S. M c. officer
in-charge Of the historical section-in the
Spring of 1900. But, according to the same
authority, recruiting rendezvous had been
established in Alexandria and in Georgetown at
an earlier date.
1t was small body that first came here, and
only included Sergt. Jonathan Meredith and
twelve of his best men" They were ordered
here from Baltimore, and the hike over con-
sumed two days, their equipment being carried
in q cart.
Under the act OF Congress, approved by Presi-
dent John Adams July IL, 1898, the New
Marine Corps came into existence, for it should
be noted that the Marine. contingent that
served in the War Of the American Revolution,
was disbanded soon that war was over
Benjamin Stoddert, for whom the Georgetown
school was recently named, was then serving as
the first Secretary of the Navy. having assumed
his duties as such, June 18 1893 And that
makes two very good reasons why the Nation
should transfer his body to Arlington National
Cemetery: because he was the first Secretary
OF the Navy and the father of the United
States Marine Corps
After the act was approved. which again
brought into existence the Marine Corps, W. w.
Burrows became the major commandant, and
it was through him that Secretary Stoddert
directed that company Of Marines should
be sent to Washington ito guard and protect
the materiels" on the proposed site for the
Navy Yard"
Sergt. Meredith and his men of the first
contingent sent here, arrived in Washington on
March 81, 1800 and reported to Lieut.. Thomas
Barclay who had been ordered by the COM
mandant to see that the men were provided
with good quarters rations, wood and straw.
At first the detachment was quartered In
Georgetown, but during the latter part of
July find the headquarters removed to
Observatory Camp Hill, the reservation
selected for the National University on E street
between Twenty third and Twenty fifth streets
northwest where tents were set up. It
beautiful hill overlooking the Potomac" ac-
cording to early reports, but, apparently, In
August 1t was about as warm a spot as else
where in Washington, for In her diary OF
August %, 1900, Mrs. Thornton tells us that
Col and Mrs Burrows returned our visit
he said the thermometer was at "a yesterday
in his tent"
THE statement has been made that Revolu-
! tionary soldiers encamped on Observa-
tory Hill during the Revolutionary War, but
there seems to be no proof for the statement.
Perhaps the nearest authentic reference to
Revolutionary soldiers being in the District of
Columbia is that made by Christian Hines in
his Early Recollections Of Washington City"
when in referring to Boundary street in the
neighborhood OF Kalorama, he says:
'It appears from information I received from
uncle of mine, whom visited in the State
of Ohio, that portion Of the French army
were encamped in this neighborhood for a
while during the Revolutionary War, as they
were on their march to the South, while
portion of the Continental, or American Army
were encamped near to where the old Methodist
meeting house in Georgetown since stood, and
near the upper bridge, my uncle being then in
that portion of the Army, This Army
also marching in southerly direction. The
French Army crossed Rock Creek by fording it
near where the old paper mill Stood Wash
tngton City was not then thought Of.
This information was so strange to me (never
having had any knowledge of 1t before) that
on my return from Ohio was induced to make
some inquiry among the old inhabitants who
lived here at the time these things took place
and three Of four of them confirmed what my
uncle. Rudolph Hines told me-
"The first of whom inquired was Mrs Thomas
w. Pairo, who was occasionally customer at
large grocery store we then carried on at the
corner of Twentieth and streets. I asked her
If she recollected any of the circumstances
and, after a short pause, she replied by saying
that the French army officers had made her
parents kitchen their headquarters; that she,
being then child, would go to the kitchen
door and peep through the chink at the officers
and that her mother alarmed for fear the
French soldiers would steal her chickens, but
that none OF them was stolen by them.
Il also made inquiry of Mr. Thomas Taylor,
whose parents were living in Georgetown at
the time, and who had perfect recollection Of