Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-07
CEREMONY FRIDAY
At FORT STEVENS
TO RECALL BATTLE
Men Who Fell Defending
Capital II Years Ago
to Be HOn0red.

GRAMS III IIlc DllShlWOOh
will be centered next Friday. July II,
in the little military reservation known
as Fort Stevens, situated between
Georgia avenue and Thirteenth street.
It was here II years ago that military
strategy saved Washington from being
invaded by Confederate soldiers.
It was here that President Abraham
Lincoln stood on the parapet exposed
to the fire of sharpshooters until Maj.
Gen. Horatio G. Wright ordered him
to come down. An Army surgeon
standing at his side was wounded at
the time.
Tentative plans are under way for
A brief ceremony to show reverence
for those who sacrificed their lives In
the defense of the Capital. The Fort
Stevens Post Drum and Bugle Corps
will play. Fort Stevens Post. No. 80
of the Department of the District OF
Columbia. the American Legion. Is
taking the initiative and committee
Is engaged in plans for the ami
versary.
Post Comdr. William H. Hargrave Is
awaiting the report Of this committee,
composed Of Charles J. Warren. A. W.
Tucker. Joseph Walker and P. J. Cav
annaugh.
Survivor Recalls Battle.
At the Memorial day exercises held
in Battle Ground National Cemetery.
lust a stones throw from Fort stevens
where lie those who lost their lives IN
the defense Of Washington, there was
present one Of the few living Union
survivors of that engagement. He Is
Mai. Edward r. Campbell, now IL MS
ODD wear. who still enjoys his faculties
and remembers many Of the important
details of the battle of Fort Stevens.
According to the version OF one OF
the few pioneer residents OF that sec
ton now residing in Silver Spring,
Lieut.. Gen. Jubal A. Early appeared
with his forces at Silver Spring, Mo.
about noon on July II, 1864. He had
about 10000 Infantry and other forces
to make up a total Of between lo,00o
and 20 900 men. Gen. Early had been
sent from Petersburg. Va. to attack
Gen. Hunter, whose force was dev-
astating the Valley of Virginia. known
as the grainery of the Confederacy
This devastation was completed by
Gen. Phil Sheridan.
Gen. Early drove Gen. Hunter and
his troops out of the Valley, clear into
the Allegany Mountains. II condl-
tons we're favorable. Gen. Early was
directed by Gen. Robert E. Lee to
come down the Valley with the double
purpose of attacking Washington on
the north side and of freeing the
large number of Confederate prisoners
confined at Point Lookout. on the Po-
tomac River 1t is said that due TO
the Battle of the Monocacy Gen.
Early was delayed for day and a
half and largely frustrated his plans.
Gen. Earlys forces then marched on
toward Washington as rapidly as the
excessive heat and dust permitted.
His Infantry turned east from Rock
vile and came down the Brookeville
road, on the old Seventh street pike,
now Georgia avenue.
Cavalry on Different Route.
His Cavalry took a separate route
south toward Tenleytown, but never
passed the Notifications on that side
of Rock Creek The Battle of the
Monocacy was on July 9, and that
same day Gen. Grant started the
remainder of the 9th Army Corps for
Washington 1t was a close race be-
tween the Blue and the Gray for pos
session OF the great Capital of the
Nation. While Early's army was
pushing forward along the Seventh
street pike toward its goal, the trans
ports from City Point were blowing
their way up the Potomac River. AS
the vanguard of Early's forces reached
Silver Spring these transports were
turning into the Eastern Branch, and
as Rode's men were deploying as skir-
rnlshers, Gen. Horatio G. Wright was
debarking with his men at the city
wharf.
On the afternoon of July IL. 1854,
,efore Rode's Division could be brought
up, cloud of dust was seen in the
rear Of Fort Stevens and soon a COL
umn Of soldiers filed in and the skir-
misherS were thrown out. This de-
feated the hopes of Gen. Early of get
ting possession of the fort by surprise.
These miscellaneous troops coming in
when they did and being seen by Gen.
Early, caused him to hesitate until he
could reconnoitre, and thereby they
served a purpose But could he at
once have looked beyond the outward
appearance he would have seen this
was an improvised army and not an
army of trained fighting men. He did
discover this a little later the same
day. but the real fighting men had
then arrived. Twenty-four hours, or
most certainly would have gone into
the city.
About pm. the next day, July II,
Gen. Wheaton organized an attack Oh
the Confederate skirmish line in front
OF Fort Stevens and within range OF
the guns Of Fort Slocum, between the
Rockville road and the road to Silver
Spring. A spirited encounter took
place here in which the Federal losses
were severe. Col. Daniel G. Bidwell,
43d New York Volunteers, was in
command Of the Sd Brigade and led
the attack IN LnIs encounter. This
brigade bore the brunt of the fighting
and lost heavily. The records show
that Second Division, commanded
by Brig. Gen. George w. Getty, July
10, embarked at II am for Washing
ton. July II. disembarked at Wash
ington and took up position in rear of
Fort Stevens; LIST Brigade engaged the
enemy. July II, lst and Sd Brigades
attacked and drove the enemy"