Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-08
Forts Around
Washington
BY Frederic J, Haskin.

L Dy - Hush"s
On the heights back of Arlington the
old home of Robert E. Lee, the grounds
OF which now have become the Arlington
National Cemetery, is located Fort Myer.
Its guns command the whole spread of
the National Capital across the Potomac
River below, but the guns are Anticipated
and never again will be used In fact, Fort
Myer is Cavalry post, but still is desig-
mated a fort. The remains of Fort
Stevens, where Abraham Lincoln was
under fire during the attack on Wash
lngton, are still to be seen.
The fort Of greatest interest is now
designated Fort Humphreys. 1t was
established in 1897, in an order signed
by President Washington, and, accord
ing to William J. O'Brien of the Army
War College, may be regarded as the
Oldest Army post to have been used
without interruption as a part of the
military establishment.
The fort was first established by the
placing Of single gun. 1t was en-
placed on strip of land known as
Turkey Buzzard, extending southwark
as a peninsula between the Washing
ton Channel of the Potomac and the
Anacostia River The land was a part
of the wide domains of Thomas Motley,
who was Governor of Maryland under
the lords of Baltimore. Today this
peninsula constitutes what many regard
as the most beautiful park at the Ma
tional Capital, for it looks more like a
park than fortress.
The first commander appears to have
been Capt. Willard. a FrenChman. who
had come over here with Lafayette to
take part in the War for independence.
and who, like many other French Off
GERS, remained.
In 1903 Congress appropriated $500 for
the erection of buildings. powder
magazine, and later an arsenal. we're
built, and portions of these structures
still are there.
Performance in War Of 1872.
The British feet came up the Potomac
but did not advance farther north than
Alexandria. knowledge of the approach
of the fleet caused the fort to be
manned, with action expected. But the
British saw fit, instead OF advancing
up the stream and boTnbarding the Capt.
tai City. to send a land force to the
larger City of Bladensbrg. The route
Of the Americans by Gen. Ross is a
part of history, and the heads of the
Ross family to this day bear the title
of Ross Of Bladensburg in recognition of
the victory. The Capitol and the White
House were burned and a detachment
of troops sent to take the fort. Here
follows strange story, the exact truth
concerning which never has been ascer-
tanned. Certain it is. however, that the
British met distinct reverse at the fort.
One version OF the story is that the
American garrison abandoned the fort.
but not until after they had taken the
store of gunpoWder and pla ed it in a
dry well, where it was felt it would be
hidden safe from the raiders. A British
soldier dropped a portflre. or possibly
a lantern. into the well. not knowing Of
the presence of the powder A terrific
explosion resulted All the British Off
GERS and 80 men were blown to bits.
Another version says the Americans
after placing the powder in the well, laid
a train of powder across the ground to
the waterside. They then embarked
escaping to Giesboro Point. across the
river. One man. when the British had
approached. touched off the powder
train and then got away in his boat
SCCIIlS IlO uOuDC lIldl the
were blown up.
In 1926 there was constructed on the
peninsula a structure designed by the
eminent architect, Bullfnch to be use,
as a penitentiary. 1t was so used TO
many years, and might be regarded
sort of Bastille. as few save important
prisoners were incarcerated there. Dur
ing the Civil War period the United
he l,oJ
good many political prisoners. But in
1862 the place had become too important
as an arsenal and the penitentiary was
abandoned, the prisoners being spirited
to Albany, NJ Y. A military hospital
then was established at the fort and
became receiving station for Civil War
wounded.
During the war various munitions
were manufactured at the Washington
Arsenal attached to the fort. June IT,
1864, there occurred an explosion which
cost the lives of 81 girls who were at
work at the plant. Some saved their
lives by jumping from windows, but at
the cost of broken limbs The hoop
skirts worn by the girl munition work
ers impeded them in their efforts. A
public funeral was held, and President
L1Il(OlIl IllLlSSlI IlCdOSu d SOlGLIIl plO-
ceSSion to Congressional Cemetery.
Becomes Fort Humphreys.
The close of the Civil War saw an
other interesting chapter added to the
annals of the fort In it were confined
Mrs. Surratt and the other conspirators
in the assassination of President Lin
coin. The old penitentiary building had
been used as an ammunition storehouSe.
but cells were cleared for the incarcera
ton of the conspiratorS. 1t will be re-
called that the trial of the assaSsinS was
taken over by the military tribunal.
Judge Wylie, father-in-law of Elinor
Wylie, the poetess, being unable to re-
tain jurisdiction in his civil court. Feel
ing ran high. and Judge Wylie said that
it was only because the United States
Army was stronger than the courts posse
that he permitted the change of juris-
diction. The conspirators then became
military prisoners, so to the fort they
went.
1t was to the fort also that the body
of John Wilkes Booth. the actual as
SaSSin. was taken after the inquest had
been held aboard a gunboat in the river.
The ammunition was removed from one
of the old cells. a flagstone of the floor
taken up. a grave followed and the body
lowered into it. 1t remained there until
1862 when 1t was diSinterred and taken
to Green Mount Cemetery, in Baltimore.