Evening star., 1942-04-05

!hese haze been erected at Fort
Society. and IN this connection he said
1t was diflcult tc mark the positions Of
the outbuildings and stables on account
Of the weeds and bushes, though ruins
Of the mansion were discernable about
so feet from the lane where signs were
placed at several points warning depre-
dators of penalties for removing bricks
or wood"
To quote Mr.. Duhamel: what re-
mains of the foundation wall is in
state of excellent preservation but the
southeast corner room Is so filled with
debris that it is difficult to determine
If that corner of the cellar was ever
dug out. The flreplaces in the north
and south walls are complete and the
one in the northeast room has curious
little niche at one side perhaps COM
partment to keep food warm.
The northern end is very likely the
servants quarters and the door
and steps at the northeast corner pro-
vide means for access from the outside.
The front door step on the east side
is in evidence from the brick base but
no stone remains.
The southwest cellar was probably
entered from the floor above as there
are no signs Of doors or windows in sight
and the porch that ran the length OF
the east side Is now reduced to piles
of overturned bricks that constituted the
~ koa In Of
each end.
Perhaps remnants Of the offices men
toned In the advertisement might be
found on searching the grounds IN the
vicinity, but Just across the road from
the house are more brick bats which
NAV prove to be all that remains Of
them
The grounds for some distance around
the mansion were once cleared but
young growth of trees has reached quite
a height and high grass, weeds and
briars abound, the flower garden is IN
evidence and year after year the same
old plants bloom and go to seed around
the, ruins and have perpetuated them
selves since the seeds were first sent
from England.
"It seems strange that there are no
signs of q window except in the northeast
room and 1t Is impossible to say what
flooring was adopted in the cellar. AL
of the bricks from the upper walls seem
to have dropped inside Of the founda-
tions as few or none are to be found out
side of the walls except those above
referred to and probably iron utensils
will be found If the vast accumulation
Of bricks are removed"
What q pity it Is that this historic
building was never restored, as proposed
by Representative Howard w. Smith OF
Virginia, in 1882, when he introduced
bill in Congress asking for an appro-
priation of $4,000 for this purpose.
Whether this military reservation was
ever called Fort Belvoir before recent
years the writer would hesitate to say,
though a small engagement Is said to
have taken place there in August, 1914,
when Commodore David Porter. U. S. N,
with light battery of Is guns, followed
Gordon's squadron from the Virginia
shore, when the British were returning
down the river after having taken much
booty from Alexandria. Porter, it is
said, attacked whenever he could get
in gun reach. Finally he made a last
stand on the wooded heights of Belvoir.' "
Elsewhere the statement is made
THAT two batteries under Commodore
David Porter and Commodore Oliver H
Perry engaged the retreating ships from
the Virginia shore, following their pas
sage down river. They crossed the west
ern end of Mount Vernon estate and TOOK
up position on Belvoir Heights. AS the
English ships passed there was a spirited
engagement. But this naval battle
fought in sight of Mount Vernon, was
overwhelmingly onesided."
Naturally, this could not have beer
otherwise, since Gordons ships mustered
173 guns and Porter's insignificant bat
terry could accomplish but little, except
to show the pluck Of the men under suct
big odds, and to call the engagement the
Battle of Belvoir."
Another account Of this skirmish put!
Commodore Porter on the Maryland sidt
Of the river, which may be a mistake
However, this story Is interesting, and
no doubt, in the main quite accurate. 1
follows:
after the British army had with
drawn, the fleet remained for some day!
at Alexandria, where they loaded al
the small vessels they could find with
-four, and such other articles as the!
wanted. Then they sailed down th'
Potomac towards Chesapeake Bay, with
all their plunder. They took the pre-
caution, before they arrived at the Whit
House, to send the small craft as nea