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Pards,
While helping clean out a barn I came across the book Reveille in Washington, which I'm sure most of you have seen before. A newspaper clipping fell out of it in which it gave the story of why the Confederacy failed to take Washington in July 1864 as told by the late Gen. Lewis W. Baughman CSA.
I do not know the name of the newspaper except that the last word of its name is Record and judging from the help wanted ads it came out of Philadelphia or the surrounding area. I found the book in South Jersey so it would make sense. Here is the article for your reading pleasure:
Civil War Story
A new unwritten piece of history explaining why the Confederate army failed to take Washington on July 11, 1864, has just come to light through the family of the late Gen. Lewis W. Baughman, Confederate Veteran.
The story should interest the White House, because it involves the uncle of White House secretary Steve Early and the home of White House executive assistant Eugene Casey.
Gen. Baughman at that time, 1864, was a cavalry subaltern and chief scout to Gen. Jubal Early, ace Confederate raider. Gen. Early had defeated Ge. Lew Wallace. Union commander, at the battle of the Monocacy on July 8. On July 11, Confederate advance forces appeared before Ft. Stevens at Tennellytown, on the very outskirts of Washington. The capital was completely unprepared. Gen. Early had advanced so rapidly that Grant had not had time to move troops up to guard the city. Only untrained local militia were in Washington. President Lincoln, who had spent the night at his summer residence--the Soldiers' Home--was taken back to town, and a ship was assigned to carry him down the river. The War Department made frantic preparations to defend valuable stores of arms, ammunition, clothing and gold bullion.
Gen. Early's men, marching up 7th st. within sight of the Capitol dome, had cut the city off from Baltimore, Philadelphia and Northern help. They deployed in line of battle and exchanged artillery fire. But not knowing how strongly the city was fortified, they awaited the arrival of Gen. Early before launching a general advance.
Why the General Didn't Arrive
Gen. Early, however, did not arrive. Here is the story as told by Gen. Baughman to his son, Col. E. Austin Baughman, as to why he didn't.
Early was galloping down the road between Frederick and Washington, when he passed "Starmont," the residence now occupied by F.D.R's aide, Eugene Casey, but then occupied by a retired army officer, a Col. Walker, who was a close friend of Gen. Early. Scout Baughman, riding with Gen. Early, said: "General, your old friend Col. Walker lives in that big house on the hill to your left."
"We'll go up and call on him," Gen. Early is reported to have told Baughman. "Col. Walker makes a noble mint julep."
So up the lane the general and his staff swung. Col. Walker was home, and his mint bed was at the height of its fragrance. The two old friends sat on the front porch while a Negro butler served juleps. Couriers from the advancing troops galloped up to report to the general, according to Baughman.
"Union reinforcements are nearing Washington," they announced.
But Gen. Early did not hurry. When he finally moved on the outskirts of Washington later in the day, Gen. Sheridan had moved two divisions of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac up the river. Washington was saved, The North awakened.
[B]Note[B]
Gen. Early, a graduate of West Point, was strongly opposed to secession but felt it his duty to conform to the action of his State, Virginia. He was regarded as one of the ablest soldiers in the Confederate Army.
While helping clean out a barn I came across the book Reveille in Washington, which I'm sure most of you have seen before. A newspaper clipping fell out of it in which it gave the story of why the Confederacy failed to take Washington in July 1864 as told by the late Gen. Lewis W. Baughman CSA.
I do not know the name of the newspaper except that the last word of its name is Record and judging from the help wanted ads it came out of Philadelphia or the surrounding area. I found the book in South Jersey so it would make sense. Here is the article for your reading pleasure:
Civil War Story
A new unwritten piece of history explaining why the Confederate army failed to take Washington on July 11, 1864, has just come to light through the family of the late Gen. Lewis W. Baughman, Confederate Veteran.
The story should interest the White House, because it involves the uncle of White House secretary Steve Early and the home of White House executive assistant Eugene Casey.
Gen. Baughman at that time, 1864, was a cavalry subaltern and chief scout to Gen. Jubal Early, ace Confederate raider. Gen. Early had defeated Ge. Lew Wallace. Union commander, at the battle of the Monocacy on July 8. On July 11, Confederate advance forces appeared before Ft. Stevens at Tennellytown, on the very outskirts of Washington. The capital was completely unprepared. Gen. Early had advanced so rapidly that Grant had not had time to move troops up to guard the city. Only untrained local militia were in Washington. President Lincoln, who had spent the night at his summer residence--the Soldiers' Home--was taken back to town, and a ship was assigned to carry him down the river. The War Department made frantic preparations to defend valuable stores of arms, ammunition, clothing and gold bullion.
Gen. Early's men, marching up 7th st. within sight of the Capitol dome, had cut the city off from Baltimore, Philadelphia and Northern help. They deployed in line of battle and exchanged artillery fire. But not knowing how strongly the city was fortified, they awaited the arrival of Gen. Early before launching a general advance.
Why the General Didn't Arrive
Gen. Early, however, did not arrive. Here is the story as told by Gen. Baughman to his son, Col. E. Austin Baughman, as to why he didn't.
Early was galloping down the road between Frederick and Washington, when he passed "Starmont," the residence now occupied by F.D.R's aide, Eugene Casey, but then occupied by a retired army officer, a Col. Walker, who was a close friend of Gen. Early. Scout Baughman, riding with Gen. Early, said: "General, your old friend Col. Walker lives in that big house on the hill to your left."
"We'll go up and call on him," Gen. Early is reported to have told Baughman. "Col. Walker makes a noble mint julep."
So up the lane the general and his staff swung. Col. Walker was home, and his mint bed was at the height of its fragrance. The two old friends sat on the front porch while a Negro butler served juleps. Couriers from the advancing troops galloped up to report to the general, according to Baughman.
"Union reinforcements are nearing Washington," they announced.
But Gen. Early did not hurry. When he finally moved on the outskirts of Washington later in the day, Gen. Sheridan had moved two divisions of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac up the river. Washington was saved, The North awakened.
[B]Note[B]
Gen. Early, a graduate of West Point, was strongly opposed to secession but felt it his duty to conform to the action of his State, Virginia. He was regarded as one of the ablest soldiers in the Confederate Army.
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