USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Centennial history of the city of Washington, D. C. With full outline of the natural advantages, accounts of the Indian tribes, selection of the site, founding of the city to the present time > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
278
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
perhaps there could be found in history no more striking and sugges- tive instance of retribution than that of the corps of colored troops under General Weitzel being the first to enter Richmond after its fall, and the planting of the flag of freedom by them over the rebel capital. Four regiments of the Veteran Reserve Corps and two squadrons of cavalry, accompanied by a fine band of music, paraded the principal streets of the city. The northern portico of the War Department building was tastefully decorated with flags, and the Veteran Regiment band played patriotic airs at the Circle. A salute of eight hundred guns was fired near Franklin Square -five hundred for Richmond and three hundred for Petersburg, and the city in all directions was decorated with the Union banner. None rejoiced more sincerely than the sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals. Work was generally suspended in the departments, the clerks rushing into the streets to unite with their fellow-citizens in the general rejoicing. At the Navy Yard and the Arsenal the suspension of work was also universal, and the vessels all around the city were gaily decked with bunting. The colored population had perhaps a double reason for the demonstration of their joy, for not only had peace dawned upon the land, but the day of their deliverance had also dawned at the same time.
But the illumination of the city and the display of fireworks on the evening of April + surpassed in magnificence anything that had ever been seen in the Capital of the Nation. The Capitol building shone resplendent, the whole massive dome being most brilliantly illuminated with innumerable lights, possessing a most beautiful and imposing appearance. The National Conservatory exhibited one of the most beautiful features of the display. All the public buildings, the National Bank, the residences of the heads of departments, the Executive Mansion, the offices of all the subordinate officers of the Government, and most of the business houses and private residences in all parts of the city were illuminated, in expression of the general rejoicing. In Georgetown the illumination was equally universal; the customhouse, the post office, the Bank of Commerce, the police station, the Seminary Hospital, the Vigilant Engine House, the Union Hotel, the Ellis Hotel, and business houses and private residences generally ex- hibited the joyful emotions of the people at the prospective close of the war.
On Friday, April 7, it was rumored that General Lee and his entire army had surrendered. A salute of one hundred guns was fired, and a general jubilee prevailed. On the 10th of the month,
279
MILITARY HISTORY.
however, official news of the surrender of Lee was received, and a salute of two hundred guns was ordered to be fired at the headquar- ters of every department, and at every post and arsenal of the United States, in commemoration of the surrender. On this day the rejoicing and excitement in Washington were renewed with all the intensity of the former day. The President was visited, but declined to make more than a few remarks, in the course of which he said that the tune of "Dixie" was one of the best he had ever heard, and that he had insisted, the day before, that with the fall of Richmond the tune of "Dixie" likewise fell into our hands; that he had submitted the question to the Attorney-General, who had decided that the tune of "Dixie" was a lawful prize. At his request the tune of "Dixie" was then played by the band, as was also that of "Yankee Doodle," both of which tunes, therefore, should henceforth be considered national airs. Other demonstrations were made, and continued through the day and evening. But the formal celebration occurred on the evening of the 11th, on which occasion the President made a prepared speech, dealing with the question of reconstruction as it was then exhibited in the State of Louisiana. This address is invaluable to any and all who would be pleased to speculate upon what would have been, or at least what might have been, the President's plan of reconstructing the rebellious States, had he been permitted to live and attempt to reinstate those States in their proper relations to the Government of the United States. In accordance with resolutions adopted by both the city Councils, the city was brilliantly illuminated on the evening of April 13, the Capitol being illuminated even more fully and brilliantly than on the evening of the 4th. Probably no building in the world ever presented so gorgeous and beautiful a spectacle as did the Capitol on the evening of April 13. The entire city on the same occasion was " literally ablaze," which terms cover the ground better, perhaps, than any detailed description could.
But in the midst of this rejoicing came the terrible announcement of the brutal, cowardly, and extremely foolish assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln, as he sat in a box of Ford's Theater in the evening of April 14. During the third aet of the play, when there was a temporary pause, a sharp report of a pistol shot was heard, but which at first was supposed to be a part of the play. Immediately afterward, however, the assassin jumped upon the stage with a long dagger in his hand, and crying, "Sic semper tyrannis!" made his escape. The details of the assassination have so often been published that no more is done in this work than merely to refer to it, in passing, as to
280
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
its effect upon the publie mind at the time. The principal emotion in connection with it was that a great and good man had fallen, one who had the power and the disposition to a greater degree than any other man living, to heal the wounds of the war, to bring order out of chaos, and to reestablish the Union in the affections of the entire people, North and South. Considerations like these illustrate better, perhaps, than anything else, the enormity of the crime by which the President's life was brought to an untimely end.
The depression of spirits caused by this national calamity was, at least, equal to the elevation caused a few days before by the great victories of the armies in the field. The day after the death of the President was Sunday, and upon that day in all the churches the crime of the 14th gave tone to all the sermons, in which appropriate allu- sions were made to the distinguished and honored dead, and these allusions found ready appreciation, and were heartily responded to by the hearts of the people in the various congregations. The services in the churches were made none the less impressive by the fact that they were held on Easter Sunday.
The city Councils adopted a resolution appropriating $20,000 as a reward for the arrest of the assassin; the various corporation offices were closed until after the funeral, as well as the public schools. Ward II. Lamon, United States Marshal of the District of Columbia, had charge of the funeral arrangements and ceremonies, which were held on Wednesday, April 19, and were the most imposing pageant that had ever been witnessed in the Capital of the Nation. The remains of the President lay in state in the east room of the Executive Mansion, eight hours being allowed for visitors to pass and view the familiar features, but even then thousands were disappointed. The funeral address was delivered by Rev. Dr. Gurley, and a song was sung, composed for the occasion by Rev. T. N. Haskell, of Boston, Massachusetts. The citizens of every State, resident at the Capital, held meetings at which suitable resolutions were adopted.
On May 5, a notice was published to the citizens of the District of Columbia, signed by a large number of persons, one hundred and three of whose names were published with the notice, calling a mass meeting at the City Hall for the 9th of the month, for the purpose of consultation as to the best means of preventing such of those who, having been at the outbreak of the Rebellion citizens of the District, had entered the military service of the Confederate States, from returning to their former homes and enjoying the privileges enjoyed by loyal citizens. At this meeting, held in accordance with the call,
281
MILITARY HISTORY.
there were but few present, not more than enough to cover the central portico and steps of the City Hall. Hon. John Wilson was elected president of the meeting, and there were chosen twenty-three vice-pres- idents and six clerks. After a brief address by President Wilson, a committee on resolutions was appointed, consisting of W. A. Cook, J. W. Deeble, Z. D. Gilman, R. B. Clark, Lewis Clephane, Asbury Lloyd, D. S. M. MeKim, W. H. Terry, J. R. Elvans, and Z. Richards. Mr. Joseph F. Brown, one of the vice-presidents, made an address, in which he said that those who had sought to make their homes among rebels and traitors should be made to understand, at least, that their room was better than their company. The committee on resolutions then made a report of a series of resolutions, stating that those who organized the Rebellion had sought to accomplish their designs not only by the ordinary means of warfare, but also by the commission of every crime that distinguished the ferocity and degradation of bar- barism, and that, approving of its purpose, a considerable number of the citizens of the District of Columbia, at its inception and during its progress, voluntarily abandoned their homes and entered the mili- tary service of the Confederacy, and that some of these same persons had already returned to the District, and others proposed to return, and therefore it was resolved that it was the duty of citizens to protect themselves from physical and moral evil; that the citizens of the District earnestly resisted the settlement here of those who dur- ing the past four years had been directly connected with the Rebellion, and especially those who had formerly been residents of the District should not be allowed to return; that they approved of the opinion of the Attorney-General that the rebel officers included under the surrender to General Grant had no homes within the loyal States, and had no right to come to homes which were theirs before going into the Rebellion; that the same rule should apply to those who had entered the civil service of the Rebellion, and recalled to mind the fact that the President of the United States had not been mur- dered by the open and avowed enemies of the Government, but by secret and resident miscreants. The president of the meeting was requested to appoint a committee, composed of two members from each ward in Washington and Georgetown, to present the proceedings of the meet- ing to the proper authorities, and the resolutions quoted the words of President Johnson, that "mercy without justice was a crime." W. H. Terry, of Georgetown, then made a speech very strongly against permitting rebels and traitors to return to the District of Columbia. He said: "After loafing around this District last summer,
282
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
ready to come in and point out the homes of loyal men and have their dwellings burned and the owners hung-that you should be permitted to come here now and be received with honor, we say it shall not be." The city Councils expressed similar sentiments in the form of resolutions adopted in regular meeting, and called upon President Johnson to issue an order which would carry into effect the opinion of Attorney-General Speed.
May 23 and 24 were days ever to be remembered in the history of Washington. On those days occurred the grand review of the Union armies, the Army of the Potomac on the 23d, the armies of Georgia and Tennessee on the 24th. Thousands of interested and glad spectators crowded the streets, sidewalks, and roofs of houses on both days to witness the grandest spectacle that every occurred in the United States. The different corps, brigades, and other organiza- tions of the Army of the Potomac crossed the Potomac River during the early morning of the 23d, and arranged themselves on the various streets and avenues, ready to fall into line at the appointed time. These streets and avennes had been thoroughly sprinkled during the preceding night by the fire department, and barrels of water were placed along the sides thereof for the soldiers to drink as they passed along in the procession. The cavalry formed north of the Capitol, the line extending far beyond the city limits. The children of the public schools were tastefully arrayed, and arranged on the high ground north of the Capitol. Thousands of banners bore thousands of mottoes, expressive of joy and welcome to the victorious veterans of the army, one of which in particular may be repeated here: "The Only Debt We Can Never Pay is the Debt We Owe to the Victorious Union Soldiers." At the head of the victorious Army of the Potomac rode Major-General George G. Meade, accompanied by his staff. Then came the cavalry, immediately after the headquarters escort, in com- mand of Major-General Merritt. The Third Cavalry Division was in command of Major-General George A. Custer, and the entire cavalry force followed in brigades and divisions. Then came the Ninth Army Corps, in command of Major- General John G. Parke; the Fifth Corps, in command of Major-General Charles Griffin; and the Second Corps, in command of Major-General A. A. Humphreys. The procession began to move at 9:00 A. M., and the passage of troops continued until three o'clock in the afternoon.
On the 24th, the grand Army of Georgia and that of Tennessee were reviewed, the crowd upon the sidewalks, the streets, and the housetops being greater even than the day before. General Sherman
283
MILITARY HISTORY.
and his command were received with unbounded enthusiasm all along the route. The head of the column formed on A Street Northwest, and at the firing of the signal gun at nine o'clock the column began to move. General O. O. IIoward rode with Sherman, and they were followed by Major-General W. B. IIazen at the head of the Army of the Tennessee, of which Major-General John A. Logan was in command. The Seventh Army Corps came next, commanded by Major- General Francis P. Blair, and then, leading the Army of Georgia, came Major-General II. W. Slocum. This army was com- posed of the Twentieth and Fourteenth corps, the former commanded by Major-General J. A. Mower, the latter by Major-General Jeff. C. Davis. The review of the 24th was in every way as grand a spectacle and as great a success as was that of the day before. From this time the thousands of veterans dispersed to their homes to enter again the peaceful pursuits from which duty had called them four years before, and the War of the Rebellion was at an end.
The principal results accruing to the District of Columbia from the final and complete suppression of the Rebellion were, first, the abolition of slavery therein; and second, the improvement of the cities of Washington and Georgetown. The latter subject has already been discussed; while the former is briefly presented here, as it is more immediately connected with the war than either of the others. The act for the emancipation of the slaves in the District of Columbia was passed by Congress April 16, 1862, and provided that all persons loyal to the United States having claims to the service or labor of persons discharged therefrom by the act itself, might within ninety days from its passage, but not afterward, present to the commissioners to be appointed petitions for compensation not to exceed $300 for each slave; but no person who had borne arms against the Government should receive any pay for any slave. One million dollars was the maximum amount appropriated under the act for the purpose of paying for the slaves.
The commissioners appointed were Daniel R. Goodloe, Horatio King, and John M. Broadhead. These commissioners met at the City Hall, April 28, 1862, and chose William R. Woodward secretary, and by January 15, 1863, had reported favorably upon 999 entire peti- tions, and upon 21 petitions in part. They had rejected 36 petitions entirely. The whole number of slaves for whom compensation had been allowed was 2,989, and the whole number for whom compensa- tion had been withheld was 111, making a total of 3,100 included in 1,056 petitions. As regards loyalty there were but few instances
284
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
in which the evidence was of such a nature as to warrant the com- missioners in withholding compensation. Afterward, because of the impossibility of submitting proof of their loyalty by some of the resi- dents of the District in time to claim compensation under this law, the time was extended, and 28 more slaves were paid for, making the total number paid for 3,017.
After the close of the war and the consequent disbandment of the armies, there were still kept up, or organized, in the District of Columbia military organizations of various kinds; but to trace minutely the history of each would only add to the length and tediousness of this chapter. However, the present military establish- ment it is proper to give. A law was passed by Congress March 1, 1889, providing for the enrollment of the militia of the District of Columbia, every able-bodied male citizen resident in the District, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, being required to be enrolled. Under the law the President of the United States is commander-in-chief of the militia, and was required to appoint a commander of this militia, which consists of the National Guard of the District of Columbia, in part. This National Guard is composed of a brigade of two regiments, each having three four-company bat- talions, and one independent battalion of infantry, one battery of light artillery, one troop of cavalry, one engineer corps, and one ambulance corps, armed, uniformed, and equipped in conformity with the regu- lations of the United States army. Brigadier-General Albert Ordway was appointed commander of this militia, and under his assiduous and skillful training has attained a high state of discipline.
CHAPTER IX.
TRANSPORTATION.
The First Exploration of the Potomac River-The Potomac Company - The Chesa- peake and Ohio Canal Company-The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company -The Metropolitan Railroad Company -The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company - The Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company -The Washing- ton and Potomac Railroad Company -The Washington and Chesapeake Railroad Company - The First Bridge across Rock Creek -The Chain Bridge - The Long Bridge-The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company - The Metropolitan Railroad Company -The Columbia Railroad Company -The Anacostia and Poto- mac Railroad Company -The Capitol, North O Street, and South Washington Railroad Company -The Rock Creek Railroad Company-The Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railroad Company - The Georgetown and Tennallytown Railroad Company-The Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Company - The Mount Ver- non and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company - Other Steamboat Companies.
'N this chapter on "Transportation," an attempt will be made to 1 describe, somewhat in detail, the means and methods of transpor- tation, and the developments in these means and methods which have been employed and made from time to time, since the first historic exploration of the Potomac River, with the view of improving its navigability, by the great founder of the city of Washington, the District of Columbia, and, indeed, of the Nation itself. This explora- tion was of the river above tide water, as but little, if anything, was necessary to be done below the location of the District of Columbia, which, indeed, had not been decided upon at the time; but it is well known that the future President of the United States had, in his own mind, selected the present location even long before the exploration under consideration was made. It is also stated by numerous writers, doubtless on sufficient authority, that the present situation of the Capital of the United States was chosen, in part, because it is on a tidal river, the tide water of which penetrates farther into the heart of the country than any other, so that when communication should be necessary between the Atlantic seaboard and the interior of the country, it would, from this point, be the most easy and inexpensive. Of course, this means of communication was to be by the improved navigation of the Potomac River, or by means of a lateral canal, as railroads had not then been considered. Indeed, for many years after the practicability of this latter means of travel had been demonstrated,
285
286
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
many of the people could not be convinced that anything was superior to a canal.
But at the risk of repeating what has been stated so many times, we must introduce at the outset in this chapter a brief account of the famous exploration referred to above. It took place in 1783, and in a canoe, or pirogne, hollowed out of a large poplar tree, and was undertaken for the purpose of determining whether the Potomac River could be navigated above tide water at Georgetown. General Washington was the principal character engaged in this work, for which he was eminently qualified by his early education and practice as a surveyor. There were several other gentlemen in the exploration party with him in the pirogue, among whom was Governor Johnson, of Maryland, who had been a gallant soldier in the Revolutionary War. The humble bark, when ready for the water, was hauled to the banks of the Monocaey on a wagon, launched into the stream, and received its distinguished burden. It immediately started on its interesting and important reconnoisance. As night came on, the party would land and seek accommodations of the planters or farmers along the banks of the river, who were then, as now, far-famed for their genial hospitality. The work of the exploration was accomplished, and was followed, as a result, by the organization of a company for the improvement of the river. This company expended, in the attempt to render the river navigable, nearly a million of dollars, in a series of years, and at length gave way to a more extensive company working on a different and more feasible plan.
The company first referred to was called the Potomac Company. This company was incorporated by the legislatures of Maryland and Virginia in 1784. Its affairs were managed by a president and four directors, who were elected at a general meeting of the stockholders on the first Monday in August each year. The purpose for which the company was incorporated was to extend the navigation of the Potomac River from tide water to the highest practicable point on the North Branch. While a great deal of money was expended, yet. the object was but imperfectly accomplished on account of the natural obstacles in the way, and for want of experience in such matters in this country at that time. The fall in the river between Cumberland and tide water was as much as 578 feet, and the distance was one hundred and eighty-five miles; hence the difficulty of rendering the Potomac River navigable. The company did, however, execute great and beneficial works, as the locks at Little Falls, overcoming a fall of 37 feet; the canal and locks at Great Falls, overcoming a fall of
287
TRANSPORTATION.
77 feet; the long canal at Harper's Ferry, and several other small canals around falls in other parts of the river.
The locks at Great Falls were opened in 1800, and from that time to Angust, 1826, there were brought down 1,308,911 barrels of flour, 48,909 barrels of whisky, and other articles, the aggregate in value being $10,534,000.
At the Great Falls the canal was 1 mile long, 25 feet wide, and 6 feet deep; and the descent of 77 feet was made through 5 locks, each 100 feet long and 12 feet wide. The canal at Little Falls was of the same capacity, and 23 miles in length, furnished with 3 locks. These locks were constructed of wood, and were each 100 feet long and 18 feet in width. Of the five locks at Great Falls, two were cut in the solid rock, and the other three were made of wood and stone.
Besides these canals with locks, there were constructed 3 canals without locks. The first was below Harper's Ferry, at Shenandoah Falls, where the Potomac breaks through the Blue Ridge, and was 1 mile in length. The second, along the Seneca Falls, was 2 of a mile in length, and the third, at House's Falls, five miles above that at Shenandoah Falls, was 50 yards in length.
On the Shenandoah River there were 5 locks, each 100 feet long and 12 feet wide; and 6 canals, each 20 feet wide, 43 feet deep, and extending 2,400 yards. But navigation, in 1830, of the main or North Branch of the Potomac River, extended to Western Port, near its source, a distance of 219 miles above tide water.
The South Branch of the Potomac was navigable for 100 miles above its junction with the main branch, and the north fork about 60 miles.
The boats used for the navigation of the Potomac and the Shenan- doah were 75 feet long, 5 feet wide, and drew 18 inches of water. They carried 20 tons.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.