Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-01


sent from his proper position and was repri-
manded in sharp terms by the sergeant. Lana
han replied with some impudent words. where
upon Brennan, placing his hand upon Lana
han, pushed him into his place. Lanahan
said. Do that again and I'll shoot you'll Bren-
nan turned quickly and inquired. What was
that you said. sir?' and on the instant Lanahan
raised his musket and shot Brennan in the side,
killing him instantly.
Brennan was a fine looking man and an
celient officer, and his death caused much ex-
element.
Lanahan, having been court martialed, was
adjudged guilty of the charges preferred against
him, and subsequently sentenced to be
hanged on Monday, the 9th day of January.
1862 at such hour as the provost marshal
should appoint. His sentence was read to him
day before yesterday in his cell at the central
guard house by Cerpl Burnham of the Sturgi's
Rifle Corps"
From the guard house Lanahan taken
to Franklin Square, and from there it is said
the military detachment. with the prisoner,
marched without music out Fourteenth street
to where it ntersects with Vermont avenue,
and turned into that thoroughfare, where the
Scaffold had been erected between o and p
streets. Vermont avenue. which would be
about at Logan Circle
Events of this kind are never pleasant, and
upon this occasion even the weather was
threatening and few flakes of snow added to
the melancholy situation. The earth was al
ready DIanketed WIN SNOW, ana lew puiluHSS
or trees sbscured a view of the high ground to
the north. Troops then encamped on
Meridian Hill, where is now Meridian Park,
and these were discernible as they watched the
hanging
THERE were extenuating circumstances in
-. this soldiers case. and the chances are
that had he been tried in a civil court the
jury would have convicted him of nothing
greater than manslaughter. The record of
the court rtial as approved by Gen. NC
Clelan. states:
"Sergt. Brennan was sergeant of the guard
at Georgetown D. c. on the 29th of October
last The prisoner was private of the
guard and on the first relief When the hour
came for posting that relief, Lanahan was not
ut the guard house AS Sergt. Brennan was
shout posting another man in the place of
Lanahan the latter came to the guard house.
The sergeant turned sharply toward him. told
him he was never in place when wanted,
slapped him and told him to get his gun and
go on post. Lanahan got his gun and took
his place on post Sergt. Brennan had pre-
viouSy given Lanahan a half hour of extra
guard duty. very few minutes afterward. as
Brennan was passing by his post, the accused
fired and killed him."
Vermont avenue at this time was an I'M
improved thoroughfare north Of Thomas Cir
Gle and. with the possible exceptions of Sew
streets improyed-or even partly imprOved-as
far north as Florida avenue Boundary street,.
Only commons were to be seen in the vicinity
of where the execution took place, except. per-
haps for the contraband camps for colored
people who had followed the Union Army into
Washington. which were erected not lar from
Logan Circle.
The old central guard house. where the
prisoner was confined for awhile stood on the
south side of Louisiana avenue between Ninth
and Tenth streets and the second guard
house for the housing Of local prisoners in
the city, the first tw0-st0ry brick structure.
ON the south side of Pennsylvania avenue at
Eighth street. having been occupied by Capt.
John H. Goddard and his men from 1912 to
1860.
AS far south K street, in Civil War days.
there were comparatively few houses, and
even a majority of these were of the poorer
class, as early views of this territory clearly
show. The National base ball grounds were at
Fifteenth and streets as late as 1858, and
between K street and Massachusetts, avenue
were mainly shacks. At an early date there
were some fine residences on K street between
Twelfth and Fourteenth streets and to the
north; on Massachusetts, avenue some nice
houses also were to be seen.
At 1881 L street there a nice brick resi-
dence which John Quincy Adams sold to Rich
ard T. Morsen monthly payments, which
was probably the first transaction of the kind
in this city It is said the last payment was
made the day Adams died. Lee d. Latimer.
the realtor. and grandson Of Mr. Morsell, was
born in this house.
MO. 1903 K street corner house) was the
~ home of Commodore A. S. Wordsworth and
there he was visited in 1889 by the poet Long
fellow. Col. Truman Cross, one of the first
men killed in the Mexican War, lived few
houses to the west. Hal H. Smith, writing for