Evening star., 1938-05-15

Federal City. Dined at Mrs. Thomas
Peters and remained there until
Wednesday. and then went to Mr..
Laws and remained there until Friday,
when We set out on our return home"
Following this visit, on May 81, 1898,
he offers an apology to Joseph Hop
kinson and tells him his delay in writ
ing him was due to his absence in the
Federal City with friends for more than
eight days. On September 20, 1898. wa
find in his diary, "Dined and lodged
at Mr. Thomas Peters" and November
5, 1913. Set out or a journey to
Philadelphia. Met at turnpike by
party on horse and escorted to the
ferry at Georgetown, where I was re-
ceived with military honors. Lodged
at Mr.. T. Peters" Again, November
10, 1898, stopped at DR.. Thorntons
and Mr.. Peters and dined at home
May 81. 1899, Went up to the Federal
City. Dined and lodged with Mr..
Peter" What was probably his last
visit to the city was made November
9, 1899. month before his death,
when he records: Viewed my build
ings in the Federal City Dined at
Mr.. Laws and lodged at Mr.. Thomas
Peters"
These houses have been slightly re-
modelled and pebble dashed and seem
to be in good state of preservation.
Here was also the first British Legation
in Washington outside of Georgetown,
and in addition to being the residence
OF Anthony Merry it was also the home
OF his successors, Francis James Jack
son and David Montagu Erskine, the
latter being recorded as "the friend of
the United States. because of his con-
tention for the rights of America pre-
ylous to the War of 1872" He resided
here from 1905 to 1909.
IT WAS during Mr. Merry's sojourn
here that the poet, Tom Moore, was
his guest, and also at that time a
question of precedence arose between
Mr.. Merry and the great Democratic
President, Thomas Jefferson, that left
bad taste in the mouth of the envoy.
From their K street home Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas Peter moved to Tudor
lace in 1905. At this date only two
wings of the mansion had been erected.
but as Mrs. Peter had fortune Of her
own left her by Gen. Washington, it
was decided to complete the buildings,
which was done from plans drawn by
DR.. William Thornton. 1t was here
that Gen. Lafayette made a friendly
call in 1924, at Mrs. Peters, whom he
had met at Mount Vernon when she
was child, and the meeting was
naturally an affectionate one.
Anotter particularly interesting SON
OF Robert Peter was George Peter, bet
ter known at Maj George Peter on &C.
count of his military service. Indeed.
ne seems to have been born a soldier.
for at the early age of Is he Joined
the Maryland troops to put down the
whisky insurrection. In July. 1899, he
had the supreme pleasure OF being ap-
pointed second lieutenant in the
Regular Army, the commission being
handed him by Gen. Washington at
Mount Vernon, and when the Army
was reorganized in 1901 he was ap.
pointed lieutenant from Maryland.
In 1905 he was in the artillery and
stationed at st. Louis. In 1906 he was
first lieutenant, United States Regular
Artillery, and in 1907 was serving as
captain. He resigned from the service
July IL, 1909.
HOWEVER, his military training
was taken advantage of a few
years later, when the British invaded
the Capital and burned the public
buildings, on August "a, 1914. 1t was
them that Maj. Peter was offered a
commission as colonel to command
the Volunteers in the District of CO.
lumbia,'' but feeling that his accepts
ance would create a jealousy in the
Army. he declined to accept the Office.
At this time he was in command of an
artillery company and the two rife
companies commanded by Capts. Stull
and Davidson. and made it known that
he preferred this assignment.
The defeat of the American forces
at Bladensburg at the time OF the
memorable visit of the British Is long
story and demonstrates how an army
can be so completely "balled" up and
disorganized when not properly Off
cered and commanded. But this was
not an entirely discreditable army, and
so, with all its faults, it is refreshing
to refer to some of the contingents,
like Barney's sailors and Peters artil-
lery, that did all they could under the
circumstances, and even at this late
date are surely entitled to praise.
Commodore Barney has often been
glorified, so it will be showing no par
TALLY to briefly refer to what has been
said of Maj. Peter, which is: THE field
pieces, under the direction Of that ex-
cellent officer, Maj George Peter Of
Georgetown, and Capt. Burch Of the
Washington Volunteers, kept up spir-
tied fire and behaved in the handsom.
est manner, rendering all the assist.
ance their limited means afforded"
In 1916 he was elected a member Of
Congress from the State Of Maryland
and served in the House Of Represent
atives for three years, after which he
continued in State politics. He died
June %, 1851, and is buried in Oak
Hill Cemetery.
There are many old landmarks in
Georgetown associated with the lives of
the descendants OF Robert Peter and
their connections by marriage, in addi-
.tion to the K street houses and Tudor
Place, before mentioned.
A MOTHER house associated with
this family was long known as
the Dunlop home, but in more recent
years has been called the Lincoln resi-
ldence, since here resided, until his
death a few years ago. Robert Todd
Lincoln, son Of President Lincoln. The
number Of this old family dwelling is
3014 N street, and it was built about
1900 by John Laird. who married Lu-
cinda Dick, and after her death her
lsee GEORGETOWN, PAGE 6-6J
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