Evening star., 1948-07-11
Washington's War Scare
By John CIoqett Proctor

BY John Ciogetf Proctor
Eighty-four years ago. on July H.
1854. began Washington's greatest
scare of the Civil War-if We do not
include the first Bull Run, or Ma
nassas engagement, fought on Vir-
ginia soil July 81, 1861. When skir-
mishing began before Fort Stevens,
at Brightwood, through and includ-
ing July IL, when Gen. Jubal Early
made his hasty retreat. there was
considerable anxiety in the Nations
Carital. (Fort Stevens was known,
prior to April l, 1863, as Fort Mas
sachusetts9
| Hagerstown had already paid
Early's army a tribute OF $4,000,
and Frederick 10 times as much,
and thus intoxicated with these
successes, the Confederate general
determined to make a drive on
Washington which had been left
almost unguarded as he had sus-
pected. When he defeated Lew
Wallace at the Monocacy on July 9,
1864, naturally the fears of the
citizens and public officials in WASH
ington were greatly intensified.
But Wallace had not the remotest
idea of defeating Early. He was
sent by Grant to the Monocacy
merely to retard his progress and
hold him back until Gen. Wright,
with other parts of the 9th Army
Corps, could reach Washington. This
Wallace accomplished most salts
factorily. and although he lost 123
killed and 603 wounded. he was
able to fall back with his army
and put himself in position to
protect Baltimore. Wallace is said
/ to have had $3.50 men at the Monoc-
acy, and the estimates Of Early's
forces run as high as $4,000.
Force at Rockville
With Wallace out of the way,
Gen. Early lost no time in advanc-
ing on Washington, for although
he did not leave the Monocacy be-
fore noon on July 10, that night
some of his forces, at least, camped
only four miles north of Rockville,
having marched nearly 20 miles that
Afternoon and evening. The next
day. at dawn, he continued his march
to Silver Spring, where his advance
arrived shortly after noon, greatly
fatigued from the dusty roads and
the hot July sun.
The Star of July II, 1864, carried
this item, saying:
Last evening force OF from
1900 to 1000 rebels entered Rock
vile and passed through to point
a few miles this side of that village.
Hating there for a brief while,
they retraced their steps to the
town, where they bivouacked for the
night"
In The Stars I'd addition Of July
II, we find it stated:
Fighting on the Seventh Street
Road.
Messengers just in report lively
skirmishing going on this morning
in the vicinity of Fort Massachusetts,
(near Clagett's place., some 4 miles
out.
I'VE give elsewhere the opinion
entertained by many around us that
the rebel force is not of weight suf-
fcient to undertake a serious attack
upon the fortifications of Washing
ton, and it is not their purpose
to do so.
The rebel army Of invasion
nm
strong, including 5000 cavalry, under
command of Maj. Gen. Jubal Early
and Brig. Gems. Breckenridge, Ran
som, Imboden and McCausland.
lLongstreet was at Gordonsville on
Tuesday last, with additional forces
% join the rebel army Of invasion,
and the purpose of that army was
an attempt at the capture of Wash
ington by a surprise -.
"The President in the Field.
"The President rode to the front
in the direction of Tennallytown at
about m. today, accompanied by
Asst. Adjt. Gen. Hardie and a
mounted escort. Yesterday he paid
similar visit Of observation and
inspection. His presence among our
gallant troops will doubtless do much
to animate and encourage them in
the discharge of their duties"
"Arming the Employees.
This morning arms were given
out to the employees of several OF the
departments who had modified for
the defense of the city. This after
noon the clerks of the Adjutant
Generals Office were drilling in
front of Lafayette Square, fully
armed and equipped.
"A number of the patients In the
hospitals, able to bear arms for a
short time, have been sent out
about $50 going from Campbell Hos
pital this morning"
| Defenders Weak
Gen. Early's first sight Of Fort
Stevens convinced him that the
works were but feebly manned" In
fact, this opinion was justified, since
the only troops that were ready to
defend Washington at this time in
cluded mainly convalescents from
nearly every regiment in the Army