Evening star., 1939-04-09
By John Claeen Proctor.


university in the city named for
rest of the Federal Offices moved in
1900. Indeed, an effort was made
to accomplish this cherished desire
by commissioners appointed by Pres
ident Washington to lay out res
ervations and thoroughfares Of the
Capital City and erect the public
buildings. One of the sites pro-
posed by them for this purpose
and which received the approval of
the first President, was Reservation
No. 4. bounded by Twenty-third,
Twenty fifth and E streets NV,
which originally contained 10 acres
and extended to the Potomac River
to the south.
This reservation was early known
servatory Hill came in use, for as
the former it was the rendezvous
of Richard S. Briscoes company, Sd
Battalion, 1st Legion of Militia.
This company had its headquarters
on Camp Hill during the war of
1812-18l5, and this company no
doubt was among the troops en-
gagged at Bladensburg on August "a,
1914. who marched up the hill and
then marched down again and beat
1t for home, sweet home.
Personnel Listed.
John Ross was the lieutenant and
Christian Hines ensign. Samuel
johnson. Isaac Randolph, James
Shaw and Matthew Hines were SER
geants. The corporal was Josiah
Tally and the privates were Edmund
Duvall, Thomas Dove, Henry Hines,
Aaron Nally. William Worthington,
William Williamson, John Reeder,
John N. Maus, Samuel Lewis, Will
liam Smith, James Esling, Daniel
Hines, Rufus Elliott, William God
frey, William P. Godfrey, Peter Hag-
ner, Frederick Tschiffely, Josias
Taylor, David Walker, Thomas
Tuttle, Stephen Pleasanton, Luther
Fraunk, John Macoy, Abraham
Hines, John D. Hill, William Lin
kins, Nathanial Fry, Frederick
Brewer, James Duvall William
Mozingo, Joseph Smith, Thomas
Burgee, John S. Higdon, Michael
Lowe, jr.; Benjamin Pickerill, JOS
eph Ward, William Waters, John
Lemon, Joseph Lilley. Nathanial
Maxwell, F. A. Wagler. James Birth,
George Boyd, Milburn Mahoney,
Richard Morgan, John Stewart,
Daniel Shelley, William Birkhead,
w. w. Bell, Frederick Hartman,
Daniel Sheldon, Ignatius Edelen,
John Lawrence, Tench Ringold.
Thomas Sandiford, jr.; Thomas Will
son (Mason), James Watson, James
Wigfield, Abraham Shepherd. John
S. Have, Joseph ThaW, John B. Abel,
John Jeffers, Henry Barnes, Thomas
Waters, Edward Lewis, John Hep
burn, John R. Watson, Isaiah
Lemon, John Sibley, Benjamin Hunt,
William Hallenbach, George Barker,
True Green, William P. Bryan, An
drew Ramsey, Thomas Huck, John
Albert, Conrad Schwarts, Joseph
Switzerland, John Eakin, Samuel
Pendrid, John Folio, John Lawry,
Thomas Wilson, jr.; William Duper,
William Church, Thomas Muslin,
William Ramsey, Brook Breeze,
Frederick Hines, Walter Bell and
James Miller.
Gen. Braddock's Camp.
Tradition tells us that when Gen.
Braddock made his camp on Obser-
vatory Hill an epidemic OF illness
caused the death of many of his
men and they were buried there on
the side of the hill. AS matter OF
fact, the remains of soldiers have
been unearthed here, as well as mill
tary buttons and other small equip
ment, and at one time could be seen
on this hill the ruins OF an old fort.
This site was selected as an OBJ
servatory by President Tyler. 1t is
the second highest eminence in the
old city limits. The first observa-
tory building erected here was from
plans drawn by 1t. Gilliss and Mat
thew F. Maury, later in life dis
tinguished geographer, was first
placed In charge of the observatory
in 1845 and continued until 1861,
when he left Washington to join
the cause of the South. He was
succeeded by 1t. Gilliss, who was
followed by Rear Admiral c. F.
Davis.
Other early superintendents in
cluded Rear Admiral B. F. Sands,
who was succeeded by Admiral Davis
in 1875. Commodore John Rogers
came next, followed by Vice Ad-
miral Rowan In 1882. and other
noted naval officers have filled the
post since that time.
1t was at this old observatory that
Prof. Asaph Hall made his discov-
cries of the moons of Mars on Au-
gust II and II, 1877. Among scien-
lists this was considered a remark
able discovery, and Prof. Halls fame
dated from that tipe.