Evening star., 1937-07-25
DUPONT CIRCLE MEMORIALS
Statue of Admiral and Later Fountain Have Been Notable Orna-
mens to Section of City Associated With Center of In
Auence in Higher Development.

Academy On the outbreak Of the
Mexican War he was sent to COM
mand the Cyane. and toward the
beginning Of the Civil War was ap.
pointed flag officer and ordered tc
the command OF the South Atlantic
blockading squadron.
Perhaps his greatest achievement
in this war was when, In conjunction
with Gen. Thomas w. Shermans land
forces, he captured the forts at Port
Royal Entrance, S. c.. and Tyber
Island, at the mouth Of the Savannah
Thus Port Royal became the great
depot for the Union fleet. In this
engagement, We are told, the ship.
described an ellipse between the forts
each vessel delivering its FIRE as it
slowly sailed by, then passing on and
another taking its place. The line
OF this ellipse was constantly changed
to prevent the Confederates from get
ting the range of the vessels.
His attack on Charleston, April T.
1858, did not, however, end so glori-
ously, and his attempt to run the
fortiflcations at the entrance to this
city ended in disastrous failure,
when he was repulsed with consid
cradle loss. Shortly after this. on
July 5, 1863 he was relieved from
command.
RESIDES the fountain, erected here
to his memory. fort was named
for him during the Civil War, and part
OF the earthvorks still denote the spot
1t is Just about on the southeast Dis
trict Of Colum bia Maryland line where
1t is crossed by the Marlboro road. Be-
ginning at the top Of Good Hope road
where was Fort Wagner, the other
forts, extending on line to Fort du
Pont, were Fort Baker, Fort Davis
and Fort Cation.
Admiral du Pont was the third son
OF Victor Marie du Pont de Nemours,
who was born in Paris, France. Octo-
Der l, 1857, and died in PHILADELPHIA
Pa, January 80, 1927. He in turn was
the son Of Pierre Samuel du Pont de
Nemours, French economist.
Victor Marie du Pont settled in
Louvier, Del, and became one OF
Americas outstanding manufacturers.
His father, Pierre Samuel du Pont de
Nemours, who was born in Paris, De-
cember "A, 1899, died at Eleutherian n
Mills. near Wilmington, Del, August
7, 1917, He is stated always to have
been an ardent advocate of the cause
OF American liberty. and when the
time was ripe for peace overtures be-
tween this country and Great Britain,
toward the close OF the American Rev.
olution, to have been entrusted by the
Count de Vergennes with the delicate
mission of conducting the secret nego-
tiations with the English representa-
tive, DR.. Hutton. which eliminated
in the peace treaty Of 1888 by which
Great Britain acknowledged the inde-
pendence OF the United States.
He was also instrumental in pro-
noting the treaty of 1903, by which
the United States purchased Louis
lana. However, like Lafayette. his
trials in his own country were great,
and upon one occasion he barely
escaped the guillotine. After the re-
turn of Napoleon from Elba. he was
forced to fee to the United States
where his two sons had already be-
come citizens.
ONE could hardly speak of Dupont
Circle without saying a word
about some OF the nota Bile buildings
that surrounded this well known park
especially the pioneer of them all
Stewards Castle, erected in 1873, by
Senator William NJ. Stewart, at 4 cost
of about s225,0o0, with furnishings
costing 100000 more. On December