Evening star., 1935-12-22
Fl. STEVENS WORK
EXPED|T|NG ASKED
BrightWood Unit Wants I'm
provementS Before G. A. R.
EnCampment.

Efforts are being made by officials
of the Brightwood Citizens Associa-
ton to have the grounds at Fort
Stevens, in Brightwood, developed in
time for the annual national encamp-
ment Of the Grand Army of the Re
public to be held here next year.
1t was on the parapet of Fort
Stevens that President Abraham Lin
coin stood under fire July IL, 1864,
when q sharpshooter, perched in a
high tree on the site now occupied
by the Walter Reed General Hospital,
wounded an Army surgeon who was
standing at his side. Lincoln was
the only President of the United States
to direct troops under fire and for
this and other sentimental reasons
the citizens of that community are
desirous that the grounds of the fort
be improved and beautified.
Monument Marks Site.
A large boulder monument stands
as memorial on the spot where Presi-
dent Lincoln stood, while a tall flag
staff nearby attracts the attention of
visitors to the fort. The fort forms
one of the links in the chain of forts
which surrounded Washington dur
ing the Civil War days and this one
in particular is being preserved be-
cause Of the fact that it was at this
point that the Confederate Army,
under Gen. Jubal A. Early, was
stopped in its attempt to capture the
seat of the Nation.
Fort Stevens is located in the rear
OF Emory M. E. Church South and
extends to Thirteenth street. On the
north it is bounded by Rittenhouse
street and on the south by Quacken-
bos street, which separates the church
property and fort from the old Bright
wood Public School on Georgia avenue.
Fort Stevens was erected in October,
1861, and was first called Fort Mas
sachusetts, but year later the name
was changed to Fort Stevens, in honor
Of Gen. Isaac ingalls, Stevens, who
was killed at Chantilly, Va. The RAM
parts of this defense extended from
a point about so feet north of the
old Brightwood School in a northerly
direction for about $50 feet and then
in a general northwest direction for
140 feet, then northwest at a more
acute angle for 90 feet, then nearly
west for 220 feet, then southwest for
about 80 feet, with a boundary line
of approximately 1,125 feet. The fort
had two magazines. one where the
Emory Church is located and the
other TO the west, where the depression
is still to be seen. The fort was armed
during the wartime period with l9
guns and mortars.
Check Being Made.
At a meeting last Spring Of the
National Capital Park and Planning
| Commission plan was drawn for the
improvement and development Of Fort
Stevens, including sodding and plant
ing of trees and shrubbery. as sug-
gested by the Brightwood Citizens
| Association. This plan was approved
by the commission and also by the
National Commission Of Fine Arts.
C. Marshall Finan, superintendent of
National Capital Parks, has advised
President Charles W. Ray of the
Brightwood Association that at the
present time the historical division
is checking the details Of the plan.
In contracting President Ray. he said:
I'VE have gone ahead with plans
in the hope that We could secure
funds to execute this work. AS yet
we have been unsuccessful but we are
continuing our efforts because we feel
this project to be worthy of develop
ment."
Superintendent of trees and park
ing for the District, Charles Lanham,
has informed President Ray that it
is the intention to plant trees on the
streets surrounding Fort Stevens,
where permanent curbs have been
constructed and at the same time
trees will be planted in the vacant
tree space in this area.