Evening Star Newspaper, July 18, 1891, Page 9

or batteries should be subjected not only to the fixes of many points along the line, but also from heavy rifled guns from distant pointe un- attainable by the enemy's field ane. The forts were built of earth, the walls being from twenty to twenty-five feet thick at the base and from twelve to eighteen feet thick on the para- pets. The outside ditch was generally about six feet deep, and a few feet in front of the ditch a glucis was thrown up, on which a stron battis of pointed brush and timber was lai and secured, extending entirely around each fort. A CIRCLE OF FORTS. Defensive Works Erected Around Washington During the War. GUNS ON THE HEIGHTS. A SUMMARY OF THE WORK. Gen. Barnard, who was during the greater part of the war in command of the defenses of Washington, says in bis report: “At the termination of the war, in April, 1365, the ‘de- fenses of Washington’ consited of sixty-eight inclosed forte and batteries, having an gate perimeter of 22,800 yards (thirteen ) and emplacements for 1,120 guns, $07 of which and 98 mortars were actually mounted; of 93 unarmed batteries for field guna, having 401 emplacements, and of $5,711 yards (twenty tiles) of rith nches and three block houses. ‘Thirty-two miles of military roads, besides existing roads of the District aud the avenu of Washington, verved as the means of com- munication from the interior to the defensive lines and from point to point thereof. The en- tire circnit, including the distance across the Potomac from Fort Greble to Fort Lyon (four ‘The Preparations Made to Repel an Attacking Army—The System of Fortifications That Covered the Hills—Defenses in the Vicinity of Alexandria. | JASHINGTON WAS ENCIRCLED BY A chain of fortsduring the war. Many of the veterans of the Grand Army spent a part of their service behind the earthworks that were thrown up for the defense of the capital. How eficient these fortifications would have proved im the case of a determined asmault by s large army was not determined by actual experience. When the boys in blue appeared on the para- peteat Fort Stevens and the adjacent works sgedbieo pir tn the fortifications seemed sufficiently formida- | Mey), WA® thirty-seven af Woskingun wees able to induce Early to beat a quick retreatand | capable of and what they were incapable of,” march back into Virginia, The accompanying | he continues, “is very well illustrated by real map, drawn from the official map by General i When the army of the Potomac, in beaten in the field. end to some ex- Barnard, shows the location of the forte about | tons Jemoralized and disorganized, it fell back the city. on to the detenses, where it rested in security; From the bombardmentof Fort Sumter, April | a very few days of respite, the arrival of rein- 12-15, 1861, until the arrival of the Massachu-, forcements and f change in the commander, setts and New York volunteers, via Annapolis, | enabling it to take the field again offensively. sud the reopening of the great northern route) When Early marched on Washington in through Ealtmors, Washington, almost desti-| 1904 the defonecs had been strinped of tute of troops, wasbeld by an extremely pre- the disciplined and instructed artillery carious tenure. The defensive arrangements regiments (numbering about 15,000), cousisted rather in some improvised expedi-| which had constituted their garrison, ents, such as the obstructing of bridges, roads, | aud their places supplied by newly raised 100- &c., than in fortifications. No soouer, how- | day regiments (Ohio National Guards), insuf- ‘ever, was the federal ion of the capital | ficient im numbers and quite uninstructed. made sare than occupation of the opposite shore der such circumstances much auxiety was of the Potomac became indispeusable. ‘The por- | felt on theapproach of Exrly’s veterans, flushed sibility theta large portion of the city and nearly | with recent success, inspired by the very au- all the buildings occupied by the executive | dacity of their enterprise and incited by the branches of the government could be shelled | prize before their eyes. Yet, inadequately or reached by direct artillery fire from the | manned ss they were, the fortifications com- heights of Arlington made it necessary to/| pelled at least a concentration and an arraying beid the southern shore of the Potomac. The | of force on the purt of the assuilants and thus nearness of Alexandria to Arlington Heights | gave time for the arrival of succor.” and the importance of the place as command- ing the navigation of the Potomac, and from its connection with the railroad system of the south, demanded that that point should be in- cluded in this occupation. SECRET RECONNAISSANCES. Gen. J. G. Barnard, in his report on the de- fenses of Washington, referring to this period, says “Although a state of ‘war’ was not yet clearly recognized and communication with Virginia not absolutely cut off, it was not ALIST OF THE FORTS, The forts and batteries that encircled the city, beginning in order at the south of Alex- andria, then along the Virginia shore, crossing the Potomac above Georgetown, sweeping around north of the city and extending along the ridge east of ths Auacostia to the river oj posite Alexandria, were as follows: Forte Wil- lard, O'Rourke, Weed, Farnsworth and Lyon, Battery Rodgers, Forts Ellsworth, Williams, Worth, Ward, Reynolds, Garesche, Barnard, Berry, Richardson, Craig, Scott, Albany, Run: yon, Jack: Cass, Whipple, Woodbury, ©. FP. Smith, teries near’ distributing reservoi Cameron, Parrott, Kemble, Martin Scott, Bailey, ‘ermont, Alexander and Benson: Forts Sumner, ‘pickets’ who watched these points; | Kerby,Cross, Davis, Mansfield, Simmons,Bayard neighborhood of Alexandria | and Reno; Buttery Rossel, fort Kearney, Batter- twas not deemed prudent to make even at- | ies Terrill and Smeade, Fort De Kussy, Batteries tempts of the kind. By such means the loca-| Kingsbury and Sill, Forts Stevens, Slocum, tion and plans of Forts Ruuyon and Corcoran | Totten, Slemmer, ‘Bunker Hill, ‘Saratoga, Nim a general way were determined upon; but| Thayer, Lincoln, Mahan, Shaplin, Meigs, Du- ‘there was not sufficient knowledge as to the | pout, Davis, Baker. Wagner, Ricketts, Stanton, wirons of Alexandria toenable us to fix, even ) Suyder, Carroll, Greble aud Foote. eonjecturally, the location of character of the Nyoras required. CROSSING THE POTOMAC. “The crossing of the Potomac took place on the night of the 23d of May, 1361, in three col- Umas—one, under command of Maj. Wood, by the Georxetown aqueduct: another, under Maj. mow general) Heintzelman, by the Long Entaxe,“and another, under Col. EUsworth, by water to Alexandria. Capt. D. P. Woodbury, assisted by Lieut. 0. E. Cross, had charge of | ‘the engineering operations of the right column; Capt. B. & Alexander, assisted by Lieut. ¥.E. Prime, of those of the center colum: Capt H. G Wright, ax a volunteer, a ied Maj. Heintzelman and “devoted Treat principally to posting of his troops. As Boon, however, as our possession of Alexandria ‘was established he was sent by Gen. Mansfield chief command) to selects point for a forti- thereof. An ample supply of intrenching toois accompanied the troops. The works were roughiy laid out and the ground broken at Forte Corcoran and Runyon by daylight. At Alexandria, after a preliminary recounaissance to select the proper site, a large bastioned work called Fart Elisworth’ was laid out by Capt Wright and commenced during the ensuing deemed prudent to make avowed ‘reconnais- sances’ of the other shore. Eugineer odicers, indeed, xamined the ground at the termins- ige and of the ‘Aqueduct,’ ng as they could without @ the notice of the (apparently) u armed but in the WHEN EARLY WAS HERE. The Confederate Army That Came to the Gaces of the City. ‘THE FIGHTING IN THE VICINITY OF FORT STEVENS —THE CONFEDERATE FORCE REPULSED—FRIGHT- ENED BY A DECEPTIVE DISPLAY OF FORCE— HOW & PERIL WAS AVERTED. ARLY'S RAID AND THE DEFENSE OF Washington has been one of the promi- nent incidents of the war and has probably been the subject of more discussion than any other movement of like magnitude. In the light of better information as to the actual weakness of the defense, Gen. Early has been criticised by southern historians for not enp- taring the capital. It is now a matter of cou- gratulation to the wholecountrys that that move- ment was not persisted in with greater vigor; but rather than criticism of Early for too much caution, praise is due those who de- fended the capital for skillful arrange- ment of the defenses and the conceal- . aia ment of their weakness from the knowl- THE SOUTHEEN LIN! 4 edge of the enemy. One thing that During the coven weeks which elapsed be-| Gon. Barly complains of in hie writings on the ‘tween the crossing of the Potomac and the ad- vance of Gen. McDowell's army the engineer officers were occupied in pushing the work on the chair of forts commenced on the Virginia side of the river. When the disaster of Bull | Kan occurred the necessity of the thorough | fortifying of Washington ceased to be doubt- ful. Forts Corcoran and Albany were cou- | nected with intermediate works 80 as to fortify the position ou the heights of Arling- ton. “Forts Craig, Tillinghast, Cuss, Woodbury and Strong were speedily constructed. Haif sunk batteries for field guns were preferred be- | tween the sites of Forts Strong and Woodbury and « battery was erected on heights north of the Potomac between Georgetown and the dis- tibuting reservoir. Other works were pro- Jected in the vicinity of Alexandria. subject, which added to his perplexity is that none of bis sympathizers in this city comima- nicated with him to give him information. This, perhaps as much as the demonstration on the defenses, led him to suppose that the federal forces at the capital were much stronger than he had anticipated. WELI-CONCEALED WEAKNESS. This shows an alertness and care on the part of those in charge of the defense, which counts almost as an army in such an emergency. Early in the war it was adopted as animportant part of the federal policy to have such # force | about Washington as to give a feeling of en- and it was the unanimous opm. n of the council of corps commanders that 40.000 men should be held for the defense of Washington. ‘The necessities of the war ON THE NORTH, were such that the best troops—ail What was deemed the most available point, | the available troops—shonid be kept to ‘ue front, and, contrary to the desire of the au- thorities, the forces hud to be drawn off from Washington and the city was for most of the the south shore of the Potomac, was first Strengthened before attention was turned to| the defense of the city from approwch along the northern shores. Then Fort Reno was erected on Tenleytown Heights, commanding t time left in almost a practically defenseless condition. The knowledge of this fuct now makes confederate leaders feel that they made the three r uniting ant, | atmistake in nut doing their utmost to capture ‘This was followed by Fort | theeity. 7 Btevens, commanding the Seventh "Sireet| Raw recruits, three months men with their Pox Forts Totten and Slocum, and Fort | terms gf enlixtment almost expired, local vol- Jincoin, commanding the Baltimore turnpike feud Baltimere railroad. Soon afterward the Ports be Russy, Banker nd Thayer, were built. e beyond Anacostia ‘Were commenced and well ad’ ced to comple- tion before the end of the year. Forts Ethan Allen aud Marcy were constructed and insured the} ‘occupation of the Virginia shore near the Chain bridge. The greater portion of these forts erected in 1861 were inclosed works of enrth, | te Craig, Tillinghast, Scott, | and Gaines—were lunettes lunteera and small veteran reserve made up the defensive force. Almost as fast as the men gained experience and efficiency by careful drilling they had to be ordered elsewhere, so that the safety of the city depended largely on the manner in which the enemy were kept oc- cupied elsewhere. At times capital was well protected, bat almost es soon as. this con- dition was reached there was @ call for the troops elsewhere. The earthworks thrown up to guerd the ap- proaches to the city, though of the simplest sort, were constructed and arranged with skill, so that when Early appeared before them with his army he was impressed with their strength, hesitated and finaily declined to make au as- saul THE AVAJLABLE FORCE FOR DEFEXSE. On the 10th of July, 1864, when Washington was thrown ipto a state of excitement and alarm by the roach of Early, there were 20,400 men here, but of these but 9,600, mostly raw recruits, constituted the garrison of the defenses and a considerable number of the rest were unavailable and the whole force in- su:ticient for service on the line. Parepels and in the garrison but 4 single relief of gunners, This force consisted of the one hundred and fiftieth, one hundred and fifty-first and the one hundred and seventieth Obio National Guard, enlisted for ome hundred days: fiftcen com: panies of heavy volunteer artillery, two com- panies of light artillery and two compames of regular artillery under Gen. Harden, north of the Potomac; ihe ene handred and thirty- sixth, the one hundred and forty-fifth, the one bundred and forty-seventh, the one ‘hun- dred wud sixty-fourth, the one hundred ond sisaycisth aud the one hundred and sixty. ninth Obto National Guard, six companies of heavy and twelve of light and two companics of regular artillery, Gen. De forces were 1,819 infantry, 1,894 artiliery and G3 cavalry north of the Fe: tomac, and south of the 4,068 in- cevalry. The Columbia volun- and detachments amounted to $,900 under Gens. Wisewell and Slough, on duty, and 4,400 veteran reserves. At the urtil- cat EaBLY'S MARCU ON THE CaPrTaL. On the 12th of June Gen. Early was ordered carriages. Some rtant works bad a considerable extent of bum! prot @over. STRENOTREXINO AND EXTENDING THR WoRKS. When the capital was again imperiled in the fall of 1862, after the failure of McCielian’s cam- it of the defenses of the city was A commission consistin, ot Gen Town, Chet of Engineers Gen. Meigs m. Barry, Gen. and Gen. Cullum ted by the Secretary of War October “to examine and report cyen 8 pn resent forts and sufficiency of the pres- ‘of defenses for the city.” The com “y adit a infantry 42 oe the ent sy aise: of = heavy battery on Jones’ wear Alexandris for defense plished their mag com; c the confederate advance, four hours there was of inestimable value the defense of Washington. At Rockwell, on the 10th, there was » brisk engagement between Early’s men ands detach- the latter retreating to tne anne Wises Rese e latter retreating to two miles from Tesleytown. ? — ved at daylight on the 11th, MoCeus- Inna moving on tae aoe, sown paar ents the infantry, preceded by I n’e cevalry,under Col. Smith, turned to the left at Rock’ sons toreach the 7th street pike, whieh runs by Silver Springs into W: Jackson's cavalry moved on the left ‘The previous day had been very warm and the roads were ex- ceedingly dusty, as there had been no rain for several weeks. The heat during the night bud been very oppressive and but little rest bad been obtained. * * ® “While marching the men wereenveloped ina suffocating cloud of dust, and many Tame fell by the way from exhaustion. Uur progress was therefore very much impeded, but I pushed on as rapidly as possible, hoping to get into the fortifications around Washington be- fore they could be manned. Smith drove a small body of cavalry before him into the works on the 7th street pike and dixmounted his men and deployed them as skirmishers. rode ahead of the infantry ana arrived in sight of Fort Stevens, on this road, a short time after noon, when I discovered that the works were but feebly manued. 4 WARM BECEPTION. “‘Rodes, whose division was in front, was im- mediately ordered to bring it into line as rap- idly as possible, throw out skirmishers . and move into the works if he could. My whole column was then moving by flank, which was the only racticable mode of marching on the r were on, and befcre Hodes’ divi- sion could be brought up we saws clond of dust in the rear of the works toward Washing- ton, and soon a column of the enemy filed into the on the right and left, and skirmishers ere thrown out infront, while an artillery fire was opened on us froma number of bat- teries. This defeated our hopes of getting pos- session of the works by surprise aud it became necessary to reconnoiter. “Rode's skirmishers were thrown to the front, driving those of the enemy to the cover of the works, and we " hgyenpoed to examine the fortifications in o1 to ascertain if it were Practicable to carry them by nssault. ‘They were found to be exceedi: strong and con- sisted of what appeared to uaclosed forts for heavy artillecy, with a tier of lower works iu frout of ak ees for an immense number of guns, the whole being connected by ourtaius With ditches in front and utreagthened by pali- sades and abattis. The timber bad beeu felled within cannon range all around and left on the ground, making « formidable obstacle, and every ible approach was raked by artil- lery. On’ the rigt was, Rock creck rauning through a deep ravine, which bad been ren dered impassable by the feiling of the timber on each side, and beyond were the works on the Georgetown pike, which had been reported to be the strongest of all. On the left, as far as the eye could reach, the works appeared to be of the same impregnable character. ‘The posi- tion was naturaily etroug for defense, perience, showed what might have pected, that every appliance of science and un- mp means had been used to render the fortitications around Washington as strong as possible,” ex- WHY BE MARCHED away. Gen. Early says that his men were in bad condition and that his infantry was reduced to 8,000 men, not more than one-third of whom were effective for service when he arrived in t of the fortifications, His artillery, he yi, was defective in size and strength. ‘The federal sigual station at Soldiers’ Home kept tue defense informed as to every move he made and he thought that the city had been strongly reinforced from Grant's army, having takeu some of Ricketts’ men and some of the sixth eorps at the Monacacy. He believed that delay would give time for Hunter to get to Harper's Ferry and cut him off from the main body of the confederate army. After consulting with his officers he decided to make an assault upon the defenses at daylight the next morning unless some information should be received before that time showing the impracticability of such ® move. During the night he got word from Gen. Bradley Johnson, from near Baltimore, that two corps had arrived in Washington from Grant's army, and the whole army was probably in motion, Daylight showed the parapets lined with soldiers, and Early reluctantly abandoned the hope of captaring W n. the force of Early is variously estimated. The confederate estimate is 13,500 men. By others it is estimated ail the way from 20,000 to 30,000 men. THE AVERTED EVIL. Within the federal lines, conscious of their Own Weakness, of the inability of Gen. Hunter to divert Early from bis advance on Washing- ton or to get any considerable reinforcement from elsewhere, the situation appeared perilous in the extreme. Picketts dbiaion, letached from the lines before Petersburg, arrived in time to take part in the battle of the Monocacy, but three other divisions did not arrive until lute—not im time tobe of service had Early acted more ptly. alaj. Gen. MeCook was to command of the reserve corps near Piney branch, be- tween Washington and Fort Stevens, where the second District of Columbia volunteers, ninth regiment of veteran reserve corps and Gibbs’ and Bradiey's batteries reported to him daring the night. “Several additional regiments of diss mounted cavalry were ordered to Fort Stevens im the morning. Gen. Hardin, then commanding the defenses of Washington north of the Potomac, took uj his headquarters at Fort Reno. There he foun, the best possible distribution bad been made of the forces. Troops were at once concentrated and the guns and rifle trenches were mounted from Fort Kearney on the right to Fort Sim- mous on the left. THE FlomTINe. Snyder's battalion of ninth New York heavy artillery assisted in this work. Lowell, seoond Massachusetts cavalry, with three equadrons of his own cavalry and two of the eighth Illinois, met Early ina cavalry skirmish @ short dis. tance beyond the infantry picket, forced them back on their reserve and then was bimvelf forced back. Some firing was done between Fort Simmons and the confederate light ar- tillery. Gen: McCook was in command in person at Fort Stevens at the approsch “of the enem: July 11. The picket line in front of Fort Stevens was ordered to retire slowly, contesting the ground as they retired. The guns from Forts Stevens, Slocum and De Russy opened a rapid fire, checking the advance of the enemy. ‘ihe = Were pretty well mounted as to numbers, ut cavalry from the cae weakened the ke) rita the sixth corps, reported his veterans were ‘Two thousand qt Gen. Meigs, were Sloe and the fort. ‘Tuesday at 11:90 a.m. Gen. MoCock received on ited toes on Gilmore, United States volunteers, & por- nineteenth arm; is essigned te commandy toe ee, fram Hoes, Tomes to Fort De Russy; Brig. SGD. Rae, United States volunteers, to from Fort De Bussy to Fort Sumner, inclu- sive; the alzth corps, 2 seaman Inited States — volun to be held in ‘the entire line ae ba acme vy wf ander McD, McCook.” A ‘of the sixth corps haialready op the skirmish line, and, instead the in re- necessary to give it leading é i i Hl nb 5 ! His E i 3 irEesEE iy 4 'Y |the Georgetown bridge and the Georgetown THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C, SATt TLED BABTEWORKS—WHEEE GoLDIARG WERE RBHTRENCESD IN THE DAYS OF PERIL—SOME FORTS STILL WELL PARSERYRD. IVING MEMORIES OF THE WAR ARE dear to the old soldiers, and nowhere today are those memories more vividly presented then in Washington and its environs. On ‘every hand you are brought face to face with reminders of the bloody conflict, But among all those attractions perhaps none are more in- teresting tothe veterans than the old forts that encircle the city. To be sure, with the excep- tion of Fort Stevens, out at Brightwood, they revive no recolieotions of sanguinary conflicts, but they do bring back to many an old soldier memories of anzious and happy days spent in their trenches, on their battlements and ram- parts aud in the cozy huts and tents, where Joke, story and song were ever heard amid laughter and good cheer. The forts were built, as a rule, by raw troops temporarily sta- fioned here, preparatory to assignment to act- ive duty in the fold. ‘Time bas dealt gently with a few of these old works, but many of them are either leveled to the ground or obscured by growths of trees and underbrush. ‘The sites of all of them are easy of access, for they were connected by a system of roadways that havesince, asa rule, bes continued as public highways. And so famuliar | have the old forts become in the neighborhood mind that even ut this late day neurly every one living in the vi of any of them is able to furnish inquirers with desired information re- garding its particular location. THR FOUTS ABOUT ALEXANDRIA. To enable readers of Tue Stag, both resident and visiting, to reach theve old interesting relics of the great war by the shortest and best routes Tue Stan will briefly direct them thither. Forts Willard, O'Rourke, Wee, Farnsworth, Lyon, Elisworth, Williams, Worth and Ward, and Battery Rodgers are in the vicinity of Alexandria, Fort Willard formed the extreme left of the defenses of Washington,and isa mile and a half south of Hunting Creek’ bridge. Its southern exposure is prominently visible from River road. The earthworks are pretty wel pre- served. Battery Rodgers stood near Jones’ Point light, at the mouth of Hunting creek. The ‘works are nearly obliterated. ‘The site of the battery bears the distinction of being the outhern point of the ten miles square that constituted the old District of Columbia. Fort Lyon, over on the old Mount Vernon road, is prominent viewed from Hunting Creek bridge. The rod mentioned runs through the old works, which are quite well preserved. It is well worth a visit. prevented from the old feet above tide level. It was naned after G. Lyon, who was kil early in the war at Wi von's Creek, Mo. It is one and a half miles from Alexandria and is reached most directly by way of the Telegraph road, but it can also be reached by way of Hunting Creek bridge and Gravel road. Fort O'Rourke stands back of Gravel road, near its junction with old Moant Vernon road. It is one mile and a half from Alexundria and was named in honor of Col. O'Rourke of the New York volunteers, who was killed at Gettye- arg. Forts Weed and Farnsworth are also_in th Yicinity, which was knows as Moant Eagle ] the old days, Forts O'Rourke, Weed and Farnsworth can be reached by the Telegraph and old Mount | Vernon roads, or by way of Hunting Creek und Gravel road. ‘THR FIRST ERECTED, Fort Ellsworth stands on Suter's Hill in West Aloxandris and is 149 feet above the level of the Potomac. It can be reached by either the Telegraph or Leesburg roads, Tt is named after Col Ellsworth, who. wus ‘killed at the Marshal! Honse, Alexandria, May 24, 1861, by Inckscn, the proprietor of the house, ashe was coming down stairs carrying a captured seces- sion flag which was lying from a tlagstaif on | the rool. It was the firat fort erected in Vir- | ginia by the Union forces, work being begun on it on the morning of Ellsworth » death. Cups. H. G. Wright, who afterward became fa- mous ae the commander of the old sixth corps of the Army of the Potomac, superintended its construction. This fort is delightfully situ- ated, affording the finest landscape views im- aginable, and much of the old earthworks are yet visible. Forts Williams and Worth are north of Little River road, about a mile west of Alexandria, and are reached by way of the Telegraph and Little River roads. "A portion of the ‘earth- works are visible and fairly woll preserved. They stand 267 feet above tide level. Fort Ward is about three miles west of Alex- andria on the Leesburg road and about a mile from Fairfax Seminary. It occupies a com- manding hill, 285 feet above the level of the ding far-reaching views. The old work ure pretty well preserved and are not at all obscured by trees or other vegetation. CROSSING THE LONG BRIDGE. Forts Reynolds, Scott, Barnard, Berry, Rich- ardson, Albany, Craig, Runyon and Jackson are best reached by way of the Long bridge and the Columbia road. ‘They can also be reached by way of the Georgetown bridge by taking at Rowslyn either the Georgetown and Alexandria road or the Fort Myer and Cemetery road and McPherson road. “Either of these two routes Renetrates the Columbia road at the village of ington. Fort Jackson stood at the north end of the Long bridge, but there is nothing now to indi- cate its exact location. Fort Runyon isin the midst of the brick yards at the jauction of Columbia and W. sh- ington and Alexandria roads, anda good part of the works are yet visible. A mile west of Fort Runyon, at the junction of the Columbia and Georgetown and Alexan- dria roads, is Fort Albany. It is south of the first named roa:l, oceapies a commanding site, 190 feet above the river, the works being pretty well preserved. Fort Scott is on Garfield ridge, andis reached by way of the Georgetown bridge and George- town and Alexandria roads. Crossing Colum- bia road and moving through Fort Albany to the old Georgetown and Alexandria road, srhich leads along the top of Gurficld ridge for mile to the southern end of the ridge, when turning to the left on old Armory road, which is now-unnsed and nenrly obliterated, a few paces you tothe old works. Although now almost entirely obscured by the trees and underbrush, the works are ina good state of Preservation. They stand 166 feet above the river. From Mr. Edward Crane's house, near by, fine views ere presented. ANOUND ARLINGTON. Fort Richardson is beat reached by way of Splendid views ai rapets, which are 1 and Alexandria and Columbia roads. Arriving ‘at the last named road and moving to the right forongh the village of Arlington, half a mile brings you to Columbia school; on’ the north of the road looking south the works of the old fort are visible, which can be reached by a path the entrance to which is opposite the school, They stand 225 feet ubove the level of the dare ina fair state of preserva- iver, tion. From this point Forts Craig and rid armed are visible ge oy necthwarde the latter within the southern wall of Arlington Natio: Someinty. “By-tonis ind io" euch. the works which are fairly well presery. . more than 200 feet above the river. Fort’ Me- Phereon was named AY,JULY 18, the are the surrounding country. was known in the old duyeas Carberry Meadows, 2 haga barony Ds oi rough the fort. is the Falls Chareh road and Ivanwol Rosalyn, at Fort Strong. Fort Strong, which is on the north side of Church road, little south of Fort C. F. Smith and about » mile west of Rosslyn, is pretty well preserved, there being no trees to it, It in 288 feet above the river. NEAR THE CHAIN BBIDOR. Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy, which are not far from the Virginia end of the Chain bridge, are best reached .by way of the Cansl road. bao can also road about halfa mile south of the Chain bridge. The old works are visible from all sides and are fairly well preserved. They are 285 feet above the river level. Fort Marcy looms up ron to the west- ward of Fort Echan Rien, ut it is best reached from the Leesburg road, it being on | that road about a mile west of the Chain | bridge. As you approuch a glimpse of them resented. They can be reached by a path which leads road. The entrance to this is nearly repeats | the house of Mr. Waggaman. looking south at your feet is the ground upon which the famoue bioodiess duel was fougnt ry Clay and nearly nty years ago by He: in Kandolph of Roanoke, Tl here is 275 feet above the rivei ON THE MARYLAND SIDE. Fort Sumner is on River View bluff, on the Maryland side, overlooking the Conduit road to the fort, but it-can be reached through the woods from the Conduit road. A little west of the forts just mentioned and north of the receiving reservoir are Forts Sgn- monsand Mansfield. There ix no public road loading to them, but they can be reached by way of Murdock Mill road, which is entered from the old River road at Tenlevtown. The works are hidden frown view, but parts of them are fairly well preserved. “They ure 305 fect above tide level. Fort Simmons was named | after Col, Seneca Simmons of the Pennsylvania Reserves, who was killed in one of the seven | anys’ battles around Richmond in 1862. NORTH OF THE CITY. Fort Bayard isa mile northwest of Tenley- town, on the old River road. It is built on the District line, and the works are well preserved, being visible from every direction. It was named in honor of Col. Bayard of the Penn- nylvania cavalry, who was killed in one of the cavalry fights in Virginia early in the war. It is 344 feet above tide level. Fort Gaines isa little to the southwestward of Tenleytown and is reached by way of Mur- dock Mili road and a private road that leads southwar.l from the point where the former road takes a northwesterly course at St. Albans’ Mission Church. ‘The works are fairly well proverved and visible from the road. It in 403 feet above the river. Fort Reno is a little north of Tenleytown, on wt side of the Brookville road. It has the ion of oceupsing the highest ground in ¢ Columbia, being 429 teet above he works are very prominent and well preserved,an'l from them: magnificent views ure presented. ‘Lhe breastworks or rife pits enveloped Tenleytown to the northward, aud some of them are visible and fairly well’ pre- served eust of tue old River road. It was tain. Fort Kearny was three-fourths of a mile east | contains the names of thousands of persons, = > roe 1891-SIXTEEN PAGES. ‘304 feet above the river. The works are pretty well preserved. and from the parapets far-reach- sa Teens meee ‘orts Di it, Davis between and Baker are on Hi On the the negro village of Gartield is Fort Stanton, which was one of the most formidable of the ‘fort. The works are well and from them fine views arehad. They are 279 feet above the level of the river. The fort was ‘and good War 3 Cost Fort Snyder was also on the Hamilton shout three-four sof » mile southeast of Fort nton, but worl ve ost disappeared from the face of the earth. Fort Carroll stauds on the west side of Nichols avenue, a litile north of the mouth of Living- ston road. at an elevation of 173 feet. The works, which are in full view, are in a fair state of preservation. A wire fence Incloses them. From the old embankments good views down the Potomac and the Zens ate prevented. It is from the Navy Yard bri: Fort Greble is on the summit of Bald Eagle hill, west of which runs the old Geisboro road, Oxon run meandering along by ite southern base. It is 178 feet above the level of the river and two and one-half miles from the Navy Yard bridge. ‘he earthworks are not visible from the road, but if the underbrush is penetrated they will be found in « tolerabie state of pret ervation. It was named for Lieut. Greble of fhe regulars, who was killed at itig Bethel, Va., in 1861. Fort Foote, on the left bank of the Potomac below Alexandria, oceupied the extreme right of the fortifications. It is about six miles from Navy luru bridge and can be reached by by land. ‘The best way to reach it by boro road route would be saorier, but the roud is hardly passable in the Vicinity of Oxon run. The fort is well preserved and guarded by a government detail. It was named after Commodore Foote, who was mor- tally wounded at Fort Donelson, Tenn., in 1861. eto cae re THE SILENT BIVOUACB. The Beautiful National Cemeteries About Washington. ARLINGTON AND THE SOLDIERS’ WOME — TER BURIAL GROUNDS ON THE SITE OF THE BATTLE OF FORT STEVENS—THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT ALEXANDRIA. A BEINGTON Is THE BEAUTIFUL CEME- tery which crowns the heights on the south side of the Potomac, and most important of the eighty-two miltary cemeteries established by the government. It coutains 1,160 acres, mostly good arable ground, and the graves of over 16,000 soldiers are within its inclosure. The old Lee mansion at Arlington can be seen from the national capital. The roads leading across the river pass through # picturesque region, and are lovely drives which are taken advan- tage of every day in the week by hundreds of residents and visitors to the city. HE ARLINGTON MARION. ‘The old mansion where the family of the late | Gen. Robert E. Lee spent many happy years is | in good condition and the register kept there {cluding many prominent generals, captains of Fort Reno. ‘Ihe works are in a fair state of Bre reuched by a path which | Keno. 1s62. | Fort De Russey, on the Military road, a little | weat of Brightwood, is about the bes: preserve l of all the forts within the defenses of Wi ton. It presente a good appearance adjacent rouds, no part of the works being bid- den. It is also one of the most clevated, being ‘B54 feet above the level of the river. did good service during the battle of Fort Stevens. This fort {s within the limits of the proposed Rock Creek Park and it has been pro- posed that steps be taken tosecure its preserva- tion as a relic of the war. WHERE 4 BATTLE Wan rovouT. Fort Stevens (originally named Fort Mas- sachusetts) is on the outskirts of Bright- wood. Portions of the works are well pre- served although the march of improvement has somewhat affected them. Emory M. E. Church stands on the roadside just inside the works. A battle was fought here in July, 1864, and the Union killed are buried in Battle cemetery up the road apiece. This fort was named after Thaddeus Stevens and it is 821 fect above. the i Southeast of Fort Stevens, on the Blair road, stands old Fort Slocum. named for Gen. slo- cum, who commanded the twelfth army corps during the war. A portion of earthworks are visiblo. The fort is 321 feet above the level of the river, presenting fine landscape views. It is best reached by way of Brightwood avenue and Rock Creek Church road, being near the junction of the latter with the Blair road. Fort Totten is eust ot Rock Creek Church road, behind the village of Rupliville, Lock Creek and National cemeteries. being on the westand south respectively. The old works, | which are well preserved and exposed to view, stand 321 feet above the river level. It is reacl by way of Brizhtwood avenue and Rock Creek Church roxd. It can also be reached by way of Lincoln avenue and Bunker Hill, Sargent and Bates roads. Forts Slemmer and Buuker Hill were a mile and a mile and « half, respectively. southenst of Fort Totten. The first named is not now visi- ble, but it stood in the vicinity of Broukland. Fort Bunker Hill occupied a commanding site ou the Bunker Hill road, in the outskirts of the present village of Brookland. The old works @re ina fair state of preservation, and splendid, far-reaching views are obtained from the lookout now located on them. The fort ts 248 feet above the level of the river. 1t is best reaghed by way of the Eckington electric rail- road or Lincoln avenue and, wr Hill rosd. Fort Thayer is s:tuated on the south side of the Brentwood road, a little east of where it crosses the Queen's Chapel road. The earth- works are Beals deoares, but part of them are visible from road. The fort was named after Gen. Thayer of Nebraska, who is n [bisa of that state. The mouth of the ntwood road is # little east of the juuction error Saat and Florida avenues, ‘ort, formed by “fe ce of Queen's Clay rowda. Past Yet Preserved and are visible from tne road. it is 186 feet above the level of the Potomac. tis best reached by way of the Brentwood road. It was numed after | . Kearny, who was killed at Chantilly in | Its guns | and private who fought for their country. The Fort Myer sigual st tion and a number of co! | ored families, known as squatters, who do light | farming. | | | THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN. In the cemetery isa large tomb erected to the memory of the unknown, and beneath it are the bones of 2,111 of the departed defend- ers. At the main entrance gate isa high arch com- posed of marble columns taken from the por- tico of the old building in this city occupied by the War Depertment until 1873, when it was demolished. “Three of these huge masses of stone are inscribed with the names Scott, Lincoln and Stanton. The bodies of the 2,111 unknown were gath- ered from the battle fields of Bull Run and along the route to the Rappahannock. The tomb is surrounded by caunon and shaded by four large oak trees, Many famons men are buried at Arlington. In front of the mansion on the slope overlooking the city are the graves of Sheridan and Porter. THE SOLDIERS’ HOME. The Soldiers’ Home National cemetery is within easy access of the city and may be reached by fwo street car lines as well as by city to the home. This cemetery ir situated on the north side of the road separating it from the home the Capitol and ia one of the most attractive drives in the vicinity of the cit; ‘The original site of the home and The grounds are laid out in ‘meadows and lakes and seven miles of beautiful drives. ‘The home wus the favorite summer residence of Presidente Pierce, Buc! during thi e war old Fort Lincoln, and part of the can even now be seen underneath the that shade the ground a hill is erected near the entrance for the cemotery, and at the main entrance are der of tail pillars on which are names of generals of the late war. ‘THE TOMB OF LoGax. fi iH fee its 4 H ‘Alexandria, which Union ‘The Btery of T clined the worth adi that to his gaged in the of the town. out the steamers Collyer aud Gij meantime the troops that arriv taken porsessior of the railroad depot. When the zouave regiment was forming on the wharf Col. Ellsworth passed with two cor Fespondente and Chaplat Dodge. Some oue suggesting a guard a squad com; ot], Sergeant Maral ‘and four «men (including F. the several beautiful drives leading from the | *! promised Bevwent jading | of the hotel. There Se THE SOLDIERS’ HOME. and near which city on the hill overlooking | Hunting creek is a beautital tract of land used ‘45. national cemetery. this cemetery are hundreds of graves of soidicrs as well assome of the confed- erate dead. The grounds are beautifully laid out in drives aud footpaths end a number of monuments are within the inclo- sure. The ison the road leading from South Patrick ttrect, ‘snd being ‘situeted on Hunting creck, it is in view of the river steamers that pass to and fro on their way to Fort Monroe, Hampton, Mount Vernon and other places. —— BOW ELLSWORTH FELL. ‘Tragedies of the War. command of w of @ sparrow arpose even in the fall of one like ta ‘Lhe regiment embarked at 2 o’cloc id Mt. Vi v navy yard. DEMANDING THE CITY'S SURRENDER. The United States steamer Pawnee, Com-| . mander Rowan, bad been lying off Alexandria |#trects, laded by thousands of trees for several days,and as the Mt. Vernon and Bal- timore approached the town Lieut. Lowry was | & seut to Col. Territt to demand the surrender | oy Col. Territt asked till §u clock outes he desired. by wnell) followed. THE MARSHALL wovsE. ‘Thi nds. It is three miles north of | halted. to to prevent. Aftera momen: actors the street and entered the We was man of the First Thrilling IE NEW YORK FIRE ZOUAVES, UNDER the command of the lamented Ellsworth, baving quartered in the Capitol and cumped in ‘the Insane Asylum grounds, were in Ma: in their third location—encamped at Point (now known as City View). Col. Elle worth had made himself & name as the oom- mander of the Chicago Zounvos, who made a tour of the country the year before aud had come on with Mr. Lincuin and party before the inauguration. From that time to the 17th of May, when he resigned ® position in the War Department to raise the zouaves, having de- Zouaves (company E., W.L.L), which bad been kept open for him, he gave bis services as drill master to that command. Tt was on May 23 that orders went out to the commands then in and about the city to be in readiness to move at midnight and for some reavon the Fire Zouaves were not notifed. Col Elisworth went to the President aud asked that his segiment be included. At 11 o'clock at night the regiment was formed and Col. Elis- idressed his men, stating that a move- ment was to be made, and urged them to do nothing to shame the regiment; to treat all with kindness and use no vioieuce; to kill them with kindness, and, no matter wuut migh pen, not to fire a’ shot without orders. regiment was dismissed till 2 o'clock and during the interval Co. Ellsworth wrote two levers, ‘one to his parents and one te his affianced. In parents he says: “It may be my lot to be injured in some manner. Wi huppen cherish the consolation that 1 was eh formance of @ sacred duty, aud tonight, thinking of the probabilities of the morrow and the occurrences of periectly content to accept whatever my for- tune may be, confident that He who knoweth | even to the fall oP on the steamers Baltumore: of the Southern Mail line steamers seized by orders of Gen. Scott by com ton Light Infantry, on Ay come down from fl worth and Col. Wilcox, wlio ‘was to approach by land over the Long bridge, were to suznel en route and reach Alexandria simultancously. ‘They were to cut off communications by rail or telegraph with the interior, &c. 1861, esboro, t bap The i have some | on (two A, Washing- » Which had Col. Ells + In the | footprints of ‘They went up Cameron street, and when the rebel flag was seeti ou the Marshall House Col. Elisworth sent Sergeant Marshall to Capt. Coyle to bring his company (A) up as soon as possible. "says Capt. Brownell, “was the only thing that Elisworth seid to show that be bad noticed the fing. He kept up King street and f ‘nothing being said. | in their names for the trip are: Kev. Rob’t Spo d Elleworth | Johnson, representative to the encampment, nance of secession amd had gone to bed drank j at 2 o'clock in the morning. He bad sworn to | defend the flag and had boon awakened when Ellsworth went up after the tlag and bad taken his place at the landing. “I reloaded my gan,” sayt Capt. Brownell, “and the squad stood on the landing fora minute back to back in an- tictpation of anattack. People came out of the rooms and we made them stand ine row till we conld command the situation. The body was wrapped in « blanket and L secom- panied it Vack to the nats vard” The fect of the tragedy having taken place was carefully concealed from the mass of the regiment, and the body was brought up on one of the steamers tothe navy yerd and placed in the engine house. The following day st was placed ia the east room of the Executive Mansion, where the funeral services were held. aie GEN, ROSECRANS’ REASONR Why the Next Encampment of the G. A. Phould Come to Washington. Most of the great generais of the army who won the highest fame during the war of seces sion have bad their homes im Washington at some time, and the city amide from the fact of its being the capital of the uation has many st- tractions as a place for the reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic. On every hand are aseocia‘ions of the great leaders of those troubled times and memorials of events in which every member of the Grand Army was Vitally interested. Gen. Rosecrans, who is almost the last of the | great generals of the war, now has bis home here, and it will be an indacement lor many of his old comrades to come to Washington to shake hands, perhaps for the Jast time, with i one who was their commander. A Srax reporter called on Gen, Rosecrans last night to discuss the subject of the choice of Washington as the place for holding the en- campment. The general ## anxions to have the encampment here aiid lise coutributed liberally toward the fund the citizess have raised for that purpose, “There is every reason in the world” be said, “why the encampment should be held here. First of all it is the capital of the matic which they fought to preserve in ite entiret Then it has material ample accominodati cool ‘and beautiful buildings and rm parks: museums-—j Medical Museum. and in im and ite public icularly the the mary places about it. The “interest works which almost surround the city. All around us in Maryland and on the Virginia hilis in fight of the city sre the old earth forts which were the first federal defenses, EVERY SOLDIER Dr SDED THE CAPITAL ot a few soldiers only are interested as de- Every soldier in the his field of operation, fenders of the capital war, however remot was defending the seat of g the headquarters of whole army. | im response to a voice from the vast army came into existence as if by magic, and before that it was the scene of po- litieal intrigues that fiually culminated in he wa | “It was the scene of the great tragedy thet marked the close of the war. The old Capitol prison, the arsenal and the navy yard are Places’ of interesting sssocial ‘On 10th street stands the old tueater building where Lincoln was shot, aud across the street from at the house in which he died. In the mediesl Museum and the orduance Museum are interest~ | ing relics of the wer; in fact, in the White House, the Capitol and all the public buildings there is some association or thing of interent 10 Tepay the veterans for their Visit. But = few hours ride on the direction is Joka Brown stance in another directi all Run. In this rambliag name half there is to make Washington the most attractive place for the encampment, some of the most important 1h Over without mention. t number of | favor of Washington might be have mo doubt tunt the encampm it will be here, and it wili be Hke @ renewal of the grand review. Patriotism attracts them to the capital Of the nation.” es MORTON POST GOING. ‘The members of O. P. Morton Post, No. 6 G. A. R., of this department, with the ladies of their relief corps and friends, are preparing to attend the G.A-K national encampment af Detroit. ‘The officers of the post are making prepara- tions for # lively ume at Detromt and along the route Among those who bave already given ht ce Chas. B. Fikber, aid on the staff of the com- mander-in-chief; Charles R. Douglas, P. P. Gy, Alex. Oglesby, aid on the staff of the depart ment commander; L. H. lass, Nathaniel uo, Geo. M. Arnold, Nathaniel Bell, E. J. "oi athuniel Boston, 3. Layton, aid om the staff of the department commander, Issac | Hamilton, Wm. Ferguson, RK. L. Pendieton, T. J. Stewart, C.H. Shorter, Grobam. P. P. > W. Butcher, pe 8. of Et ? fen 5 | \ ‘h | le