Evening star., 1937-07-13
RECOUNTS BATTLE
OF FORT STEVENS
Survivor of 9th Corps, j. M.
Kline, Speaks at Bright
wood Rites.

Standing near the spot where Presi-
dent Lincoln was under fire during the
battle of Fort Stevens, in Brightwood,
John M. Kline, lone survivor of the
9th Army Corps, yesterday related de-
tails OF that tWo-day struggle July II
and II, 1864, when Gen Jubal A.
Early Of the Confederate Army at
tempted to capture the Nations
Capital. He spoke at meeting
sponsored by the Brightwood Citizens
Association, the Department Of the
Potomac, Grand Army of the Republic,
and the Ladies of the Grand Army
Of the Republic.
we are all right now, the 9Th CORPS
Is here was the exclamation of
citizens as the troops marched from
the Seventh street wharf to take a
position in this northernmost fortress
defending the city Kline, who is COM
mander Of the Department of the
Potomac, Grand Army of the Republic
and who will be 80 years old July 20
told Of his enlistment in Company A.
49th Pennsylvania Volunteer In
fantry, as a private and of war ex-
perlenceS that included being taken
prisoner at the battle of Cold Harbor,
va, June /, 1864, which prevented
him being present at the battle of
Fort Stevens. He told how the 1st
ana I'd Divisions of the Army of the
potomac had been detached at Peters,
burg, Va, and sent to Washington.
Gen. Early retreated after the
battle, crossing the Potomac into Vir-
glnla,' he said, while the 9Th Corps
followed, but after a time returned
and rejoined the main army in Vir-
ginia"
A large number of the 6th Army
CORPS located in Washington after the
Civil War and about 1880 an organ
1zatlon. known as the Associated
Survivors Of the 9Th Army Corps, was
formed, The organization was dis
banded May 30, 1929. Kline related
now the organization and the Bright
wood Citizens Association had con-
quoted exercises COmmemorating the
battle and of the erection of a boulder
with a large bronze tablet showing
President Lincoln witnessing the battle
OF Fort Stevens.
John Clagett Proctor, vice president
of the Brghtwood Citizens Associa-
tlon. told the gathering how the walls
OF the fortress had rapidly been dis
appearing and were saved only through
efforts on the part of the members of
the association and the citizens of
BrichtWood
Up to 1900, no effort was appar-
emily made to save Fort Stevens" he
said, and it was on Flag day, June IA
OF that year, that the movement was
inaugurated and an American flag
presented by Mrs. Rosa Wright Smith.
daughter of the late Mai. Gen.
Horatio G.. Wright, vho commanded
the troops Of the 9Th Army Corps in
the defense of Washington. Later the
Fort Stevens-Lincoln Military Park
Association was formed"
President Charles w. Raw of the
BrlghtWood Citizens Association. whose
relatives owned the tract on which the
fort Is located, gave information re-
garding the celebrations conducted by
the organization.
The Invocation was by Rev. Horace
E. Cromer, pastor of Emory M. E.
Church South at BrightWood, which
property formed part of the fort dur
ing the war days. The Pledge of
Allegiance" was led by Department
President Mary E. Bowen Womans
Relief Corps, and music was furnished
by the Fort Stevens Drum and Bugle
Corps, American Legion.