Evening star., 1933-01-29
Beys nearby forces

Mentally this veteran of Falls Church is
usually alert and entertaining in relating his
boyhood days in this, and what is now Arling-
ton County. AS a contractor, much Of his
time was spent in Washington, and as a veteri-
marian he was frequently called to all parts of
Fairfax County and elsewhere Some Of his
boyhood days were also spent in Washington,
where he sold The Evening Star, and delivered
that paper to regular subscribers, and he is
therefore probably one of the Oldest OF the
newsboys left who carried this paper.
The writer had the pleasure of taking a ride
with Mr.. Merry and his wife far as TysonS
Cross Roads in Fairfax County and was enter
tanned by him all the way about the things he
recalled from his earliest days, when he
lad taking care Of his mothers COWS to see
that they were not taken away by the Southern
soldiers who frequently made raids into the
county
Speaking Of his family, Mr.. Merry told the
writer that his father was a Forty Miner, and
that he made three trips to California and on
his third trip went to the bottom Of the ocean
with the Inflated Central America, a steamer
that piled between Liverpool and New York.
There were 600 passengers on board and about
140 were saved, mostly women and children,
just what the hfeboats would hold Capt
Herndon, who was born about IS miles from
where Mr.. Merry was born, went down with
his vessel.
THE largest town in Fairfax County was
named In honor of Capt Herndon, he
said and the captains daughter later became
the wife of President Chester A. Arthur. The
Central America sank only a few miles OF
Cape Hatteras late in 1857.
This catastrophe left Mrs. Merry widow
with four children, three boys and one girl,
the oldest 9 years old. and a 231-acre farm
fairly well stocked and fruited and unincum-
I,oroI Tho hCfh Sfyoict nj rhpCI
mistress of Peach Grove.
In a few short years. according to Mr..
Merry, politics began to smmer-Democrats,
Wings and Abolitionists. Soon the Virginia
militia were drilling the adjoining farm at
Tysons Cross Roads. Then the pot began to
boil and boiled over at Hsrpers Ferry, and was
upset In the John Brown raid. Then Fairfax
County organized a cavalry company known
as the Fairfax Rangers. They furnished their
own horses and equipment. Things looked very
warlike Then came the election of Lincoln,
followed by the bitter discussion of slavery,
anti-slavery, States rights. and property
rights" Then came the Inauguration Of Lin
:oln which Mr. Merry attended, and soon after
ward the arrival of some 10000 troops in the
county, stationed at Falls Church and vicinity,
and commanded by Gen. Taylor Il had to go to
his headquarters" Mr.. Merry said, 'for passes
to 60 to Washington and return. Soon came
the Army marching up the Alexandria and
Leesburg pixies, separating on our farm, taking
the old Gen. Braddock road by way Of the old
court house and to Chantilly, where the
first fight of any Importance occurred, then
to Centerville, then on to Bull Run, Manassas
and Groveton. heard the volleys of musketry
and cannons during all that fight
Then after the retreat we were between
both lines for many months. When Gen. Nc
Clellan's army built forts and laid in the south
defense of Washington the scouting parties
from both armies came nearly every day and
often met and fought McClellan's headquar-
tiers were in the old Smoot house, where Dolly
Madison took the records and saved them when
the British captured the city of Washington.
The place was known as Camp Pierpont. Now
it is Mclean, named after John r. Mclean.
Gems. Mccall, Hancock, Ord, Meade and Smith
were in that vicinity. At one time Gen. Meade
and Gen Ord both had headquarters IN our
horse at one time. was messenger boy, er-
rand boy, cowboy, much Of the time IN the
saddle, shot at, at long and short ranges, many
times. I was prisoner often by the Union sol
dters because I was a rebel, and at times forced
;