Evening star., 1936-06-28

many places honeysuckle and sumac
cover the hoary footprints of Union
soldiers.
Leaving wooded Fort DeRuSsey. the
caravan winds through Military road
to Fort Stevens. This ancient roa
once knew the ringing hoofbeats of
Union Cavalry and the marching of
grim soldiers. Today Military road,
which carries its wartime name n
present times is one of the several
existing highways included in the
Fort drive.
FORT STEVENS. where the carava II
next halts, is famous for its gal
lant stand against invading troops
Here Ellasaph Godfrey clearly recall
the battle that saved Washington fror,
the audaclous Confederate Gen. Jubal
A. Early and his daring forces. Keen
and alert, in spite Of the many year
that have slipped by, Godfrey relate
the strange events that led TO his par
tlcipation in the renowned battle o.
Fort Stevens.
He volunteered as a private in 1862
and joined Company c of the l54th
New York Infantry. One year later
at the Battle of Charlottesville. h
was killed in action"
That's right. he says, anybody can
md my record today in the War De-
partment. You see, 1 was wounded
during the fight and fell unconscious
on the field among the hundreds OF
dead and wounded I lay there all
night, unable to help myself, and the
next day, when my comrades returned
10 bury the dead. was picked up and
sent to Stanton Hospital in Wash
lngton, where remained long time
While Pvt. Godfrey was convalesr
ing, the exciting news came that Gen.
Early's $4,000 men had scattered Lev
Wallace's troops at the Battle of Mo
nocacy and were advancing on the
Capital Early and his exhausted
troops arrived on the northern out
skirts of the city. July IL, 1864. When
the Southern general found the forts
were feebly-manned, he ordered hi
men TO rest for an attack the next day.
Frantic calls for Union volunteers
we're spread in all directions Wound
ed soldiers were taken from their bed,
and civilians from their work. Hur-
r1ed by the orders of Gen. Grant, the
9Th and 18th Corps arrived by lane
an water. Godfrey was placed in the
hospital unit, a group of convalescents
and invalids who wore uniforms ana
bore arms, They were sent to Fort
Stevens, not to engage in actual COM
bat, but rather to make an impressiv.
showing Of man power.
Dawn revealed 5000 Union men J..
the northern line of defense.
Gen. Early surveyed the situate
the next morning, and was amazed (,
find the hitherto empty forts bristlirc
with armed soldiers. AT daybreal
President Lincoln had personally leu
the Old Vermont Brigade up Seventl
street TO Fort Stevens.
Despite the hopeless outlook, til
Confederate forces began an assauI.
upon the fort. Early posted sharp
shooters in trees on a knoll north OF
the fort. Well aimed MIME balls
whined from the Gray rifles, woundine
skIrmishers on the Unions advance
line. But regiments of Blue fighters
dashed from the fort, and after a hot
engagement overcame the enemy
stubborn resistance.
WHEN the smoke of battle cleared
away, about 500 soldiers had been
either killed or wounded. AS President
Lincoln watched the battle from the
parapet, a surgeon standing by his side
was wounded by MIME ball.
Strangely enough. this was the only
casualty reported by the commandine
officer within the confines of Fort
Stevens.
Today, a granite monument on the
fort grounds marks the spot upon
which Lincoln stood as he watched
the fighting. He is the only President
OF the United States ever under COM
bat fire while in Office.
The tourists may see the early
stages of the reproduction of old
Fort Stevens which is being construct
ed by c. c. c. workers. During Civil
War days the fortification covered
wider area than the grounds of
today. A powder magazine. mortar
BEDS and gun mounts will be COM
pieteo IN the near future Nine Civil
war guns will be mounted on plat
forms In the same strategic positions
| as IN the war days. In those exciting
times. a total of 20 heavy guns pro-
tected the fort with their death
dealing messages. The original block
house and stockaded gorge will not BE-
restored. Later, however, officials ex-
pect to reproduce the old bombproof
which once sheltered soldiers from
curving artillery fire.
Although the entire original fortifi-
cations will not be restored. the
Daughters of the Union Veterans of
the Civil War plan to erect a pedestal
exhibiting a model of the entire fort
as it appeared in 1864
Thrilled by this famous fort. replete
with the dramatic events of a bv-
| gone struggle, the motorists drive to
Fort Slocum. Here is found a con-
Spicious 30O-yard earthen ridge. behind
which gunners once crouched. This
fort occupied an important position in
the defense Of Washington. Cannon
balls and grape-shot from its guns
harassed Gen. Early's left flank
during the battle at Fort Stevens. In
contrast to the other forts, the ground
here is practically barren of trees
and wild underground.
FORT BUNKER HILL, now a beau
tiful park area, is the next point
OF interest. The first thing noticed
mere Is the unusual sylvan amphi-
theater constructed by National Capt.
tai Parks workmen. A natural stage
nestles against a steep hill which is
profusely covered with olive green
laurel bushes. Fort Bunker Hill was
built upon the tabletop knoll that
commands the scene.