Evening star., 1936-07-05

all the works and the troops defending
them In admirable condition, and
ready to give the rebels q fitting re-
ception. should they approach within
range"
And then, at 2 o'clock came the
Second Edition. with the following
announcement:
Messengers just in report skirmish-
ing going on this morning in the vicin-
ity of Fort Massachusetts, (near Clag-
ett's place. some 4 miles out.
1.-THE rebels did not show themselves
in large force there, however"
Fort Massachusetts, was the early
name of Fort Stevens, named in honor
of Gen. Isaac /. Stevens, who lost his
life in the Battle of Chantilly Septem-
ber /, 1852.
THE military authorities at Wash
ington were not surprised at the
approach of Gen. Early, for when Gen.
Lew Wallace was forced to retreat, he
telegraphed the War Department, say
ing: Il have been defeated; the enemy
are not pursuing me, from which l
infer they are marching on Washing
ton"
However, while the Confederates
were moving on Washington, Grant
was being informed of their apparent
plans and when he fully realized the
gravity of the situation, he at first
thought of returning from Petersburg
| to Washington to take command in
person. On rejecting, however, he de-
cided to send back the 9Th Corps COM
manded by Gen. Horatio G. Wright.
According to the late w. v. Cox,
who made a study of the defenses of
Washington, the 25th New York Cav
airy, the headquarters guard of Gen.
Grant, which left City Point on July
7, seemed to have been the first regi-
ment to reach Washington from the
James, and went into camp about
midnight Of the 10th Of July, near
Fort Stevens.
What pictured" says Mr.. Cox
Early, with his fighting legion, ad-
vancing on the Capital from the North,
while fleets bearing the veterans Of the
9th and 10Th Army Corps were on
their way from the James and the Gulf
of Mexico to save the Capital they
loved SO we'll. North and South looked
on with bated breath, and wondered
which, in this race of armies, would
reach Washington first"
The troops garrisoning the fort on
July 10 were composed of Company K
15oth Ohio, 78 men, Capt. A. A. SAT-
ford; 18th Michigan Battery. 79 men,
Capt. Charles Dupont, and 50 conva-
lescents, commanded by Lieut.. H. l.
Turner, 150th Ohio.
With these few seasoned troops oc-
cupying Fort Stevens, the situation
was indeed critical and no one knew
it better than did the military au-
thorities at Washington and early on
July II the order was issued:
"Intelligencer, July 12, 1854
Headquarters, D. c. Militia,
washington, July IL, 1864.
General Order No. /.
Having this day been ordered by
the President to call out. for imme-
diate service, the Militia and volun-
teers of this District and specially as
signed to the command thereof, the
9th Regiment of Infantry and the
volunteer force, including Cavalry and
Infantry, are hereby ordered into the
service of the United States for 80
days.
Every available man is wanted i'm
mediately and captains of companies
and colonies of regiments will at once
notify the men of their respective
commands to assemble for muster
without delay.
Brig. Gen. P. F. Bacon will per-
sonally superintend the details of
this order and see that it is promptly
executed.
GEORGE c. THOMAS.
Major Gen. Com"
1T WAS not long before men in all
the departments of the Govern
ment were drilling and preparing to
60 to the aid of Fort Stevens, but,
through the timely arrival of those
sent here by Grant, few were called
into action.
President Lincoln was particularly
anxious to learn all that was going
l"TTNCT W.T.