Evening star., 1948-05-09
A Battle Hymn Is Born
By John CIoaett Proctor

oy JOHH SsOSStt piVStW
vN nearby Virginia there are
many historic spots of which
/ the average Washingtonian or
visitor to the Capital knows
but little. though these notable
places were undoubtedly Of much
strategic value in protecting the
city from capture during the period
Of the Civil War.
Take for instance Baileys Cross
Roads, located at the intersection
of the Columbia and Leesburg turn
pixies, just over the Arlington Coun-
Ity line in Fairfax County. In the
early days of the war, We are told,
this was the rendezvous of the prin-
cipal part of the Army of the Poto-
mac. and here many q man had
his first training as soldier, SUBJ
sequent to becoming conspicuous
as an officer on the Union side.
I Here later ON, Mosby and his men
frequently spread alarm when they
made a sudden dash upon some out
post or small, unsupported detach-
ment of troops. But most historic
of all, here occurred the grand" re-
view, as it is called, of the
vast number Of troops assembled on
November 20, 1861, to be reviewed
by President Abraham Lincoln.
In the course of these many years
Baileys has grown to be an attrac-
tive-looking business center, and
the roads here are well posted. One
sign indicates to the traveller that
Falls Church Is 8 miles to the
northwest; Fairfax, 10 miles to the
west; Alexandria, miles to the
southeast, and Washington, miles
to the northeast.
Army Drilled There
Baileys, itself, is not more than
half a mile the other side Of the
old District of Columbia line, which
existed until that portion OF Vir-
ginia was retroceded by Congress
in 1846.
Baileys Cross Roads gained its
greatest reputation during the early
part of the Civil War, when, for q
time at least, the main body OF the
Army Of the Potomac was recruited
and drilled here, and made up
partial line of defense for Wash
ington.
The place was we'll fortified and
protected, and thousands Of troops
were here encamped, and when
Gen. Mcclellan was given supreme
command of the troops after the
debacle of Bull Run of July 81, 1861,
he found an army fairly well trained
for the three years and half more
OF war still to be fought.
Traffic Jam of 81
Regarding one Of these reviews.
The Star of November 20, 1861, had
this to say:
Everybody in Washington went
over today to see the great review
at Baileys Cross Roads, but owing
to the length OF the route prescribed
(via Balls Cross Roads, and the
narrow passageways at the Long
Bridge draws and the stockade, 1t
was half a days work to the point
of review. Many were sitting for
hours in their vehicles at the bridge
waiting for the slow current toI
move on.
Gen. Mcclellan, with a brilliant
staff and escorted by several regi-
ments of cavalry with q full cavalry
band, proceeding by the same route
Gong Bridge, Balls Cross Roads
and Munson's Hill !sdid not reach
the ground until = quarter past
| IL m. ."
Upon this occasion, President
Lincoln was in attendance, and
other notable guests included Prince
de Joinville, third son of Louis
Philippe, and the princes two sons.
Battle Hymn History
One of the incidents connected
with this particular review at
Baileys was the visit made by Julia
Ward Howe and the writing at the
old Willard Hotel, early on the
following morning, Of her immortal
poem, THE Battle Hymn of the
Republic" the first verse Of which
reads:
Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
where the grapes OF wrath
are stored.
He has loosed the fateful light
ming Of
His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on"
Mrs. Howes own version OF how
she was inspired to write this soul
stirring song follows:
1T would be impossible for me to
say how many times I have been
called upon to rehearse the circum-
stances under which I wrote The
Battle Hymn of the Republic. II
have also had occasion more than
once to state the simple story in
writing. AS this oft-told tale has
no unimportant part In the story Of
my life, will briefly add it to these
records.
Il distinctly remember that feel
ing of discouragement came over
me as I drew near the City of
Washington at the time already
mentioned, I thought of the women