we will have some events there some coming sunday. i did want to point out that many of you all have gotten this kmem ra commemorative program. it's just not fort stephens. the attack on washington is all here. if you have an opportunity to come out and visit with us, please do so. as we've noted, just this week tomorrow, today and tomorrow, we've got a lot of great things going on. we just learned that cspan will be out tomorrow evening on fort stephens to cover of the historian's round table. we're looking at fort stephen's day which we've been hosting for the past three years. fort stephens on steroids with mr. lincoln, mrs. lincoln. we will be firing a canon from

fort stephens. the first time in 150 years a canon will be fired in a d.c. fort. you've got to come out and share with that. as i mentioned on sunday, we'll have the memorial program at the battleground national cemetery where we will pay respect to the 38 soldiers who are buried there and the others who have given their sacrifice for this country. we didn't have a lot of time but i do encourage you all to tell your friends about it. visit us on our website at www dot nps.gov. again, thank you all so very much. [ applause ] i think we have time for just one or two questions.

if people would like to come to either of the microphones if folks have questions. we will go ahead and take them in turn. hi, david, thank you for all three of you for your presentations. i'd like to ask a little bit more about the legislation. you alluded to it but i wonder if you could get into it a little bit deeper and maybe focus on how local owned virginia forts will be incorporated into that plan. >> thanks is this on? i take it you're from virginia. what we try to do is making rechb ne revenue neutral. it also provides for a cooperative agreements with the other locally owned forts so

that the one in virginia and airy land. also prief private owners. we'd like to get better signage. for example i went out with my husband and said there's a fort bennett. they have a lovely sign there that says fort bennett. there's a ravine on the side there. so we will study ways to have a place in washington to study and commemorate the entire civil war on both sides, confederacy and union. >> i'd like to ask about the compensation for folks land when we set up the forts.

i've talked to the ranger and she was saying she wasn't compensated. i'm interested to know how we got the land then to set up the forts and what practices were in place at that time. what law -- >> she alluded to the fact a free black woman by the name of elizabeth thomas who owned a little over 11 acres of land. that's what we considered today to be imminent domain. you can do that in time of war. that's exactly what happened. >> and all of those other forts, the same practice. >> this was called necessity in time of war.

yes. descendants have always said that president lincoln promised her a great reward and she never got one and the descend ants will say they never saw a reward and so forth. the property owners would receive it back if it was there land and the timbre remaining in the forts. the claims after the war in archives and many record groups is where you go to fine the records of what had happened. this was universally used in the south wherever the military had occupied land and destroyed property. fences, barns, everything else. that is kind of the story there.

f some of these forts were retained with garrisons and gradually the fears of any resergeants of the rebellion or the threat from the french in mexico or the british, the army realized they were taking up a lot of money keeping these things so they would get rid of them. fort washington even more recently was still an active post. >> sir, i think you'll be our last question. >> i was wondering if you were familiar with a question i've had for years and years. when earlie approached

washington cavalry patrols were sent out but the one that will always intrigue me was a cavalry regiment on the western side of washington who really were a little lost and didn't know where they were reported that they entered one of the forts, found it completely unmanned. went up top and could see the capitol and the white house in the distance. do you think there's any credibility to that report? there's three legends you've wrapped into one. john mcausilin's army came down the pike and were not sure why he deviates over to the 7th street road in georgia avenue.

you should go up there if for no other reason there's a match that's on display out of the library of congress dated april, 1864, it is obviously taken from a union corp of engineer map, et cetera but whether or not he had this and presented it to earlie so he could come and see where to get into washington, we don't know. it's a great mystery. mysteries are still surging. he had on his staff a man by the name of luffborro. live johnston a washington lawyer who had taken a diary of that family, he auftencibley ha

dinner at his family's place and they looked down on quote unquote the dome of the lights of the capitol. mcauslin was happy to tell this story to general grant when he was in the white house after the war. you can imagine him chopping on a cigar. no fears nobody believed it. the confederate soldiers claimed to have seen the dome of the capitol. there's no place you can see the dome of the capitol. you can see it is below where a visual would have gotten it out in silver spring. probably saw the lights georgetown. john b. gordon claims to have rode up on the lines in broad day light. no way of substantiating that.

again, old soldiers have vivid memorie memories. >> one more little comment, i was land surveyor in washington d.c. it was a cool set of maps. i think the library of congress has them. >> with that i'd like to again, thank the national archives for hosting this really wonderful event. our speakers, dr. frank cooling, neumann, kym elder. please join me one last time in a round of applause for them. thank you. [ applause ] >> with live coverage of the u.s. house on cspan and the senate on cspan 2 here on cspan

3 we compliment the coverage by showing you the most relevant public affair events. on weekends, we are the home to american history tv with programs that tell our nation's story, including six unique series. the civil wars o150th anniversary, touring museums and sites to discover what they mean about our past. the presidency looking at the policies and leg assies of our nation's commanders in chief. l lectures in history. our new series real america featuring archival government and education aal films from th 1930s through the 70s. watch us in hd. like us on facebook. follow us on twitter.>> american history tv airs every

weekend here on cspan 3.cess, this month we're featuring highlights of our history contn programming. tonight we continue our look at the civil war and the battle of fort stephens. coming up, officials from the national park service co commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle of lso fort stephensur as well as visi several surviving forts in the nation's capitol. now officials from the park nati service in washington d.c. km kmemorakme 150th orate the anniversary of the battle that took place in 1864 when confederate forces probed washington d.c.'s defenses before turning back.gnific speakersan discuss the battle significance. this is just over an hour.

good morning and welcome to fort stephens. name my name is kim elled er, i'd lir to thank each of you all for alo joining us thisr morning for tn anniversary of the , 150th batt of fort stephens. s please stand forin the and ntation of colors singing of national anthem by ms. fraiser.

march. hold. front. present. ♪ ♪ing?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ [ applause ] t you may take your seats. the invocation will be delivered by the senior pastor of saint lu luke's baptistke church, the reverend aubrey lewis. >> let your bow our heads. eternal father, this morning we

come to celebrate a historic nia occasion, one that was trendendous significance in the lives of african-americans and the life of washington d.c. we thank you for the opportunitn to be here.e, we ask our blessings during this gathering. we ask lord that you continue tg be with each of you as we go tg abous t doing the things we do a daily basis that continue to a allow us to be a shining beacon awe travel throughout the city of the bless this occasion and all of these who are apart of mr it. in jesus name we pray. amen. of. pleas >> please welcome rock creek

park superintendent ms. morrison. >> good morning everyone.iona on behalf of thel national parko service welcome to rock creek park and the historic fort stephens. we're pleased you've joined us. the national park service has been commemorating it since 201 with programs that have engagede and enlightened not only the na visitors but the national park service and our partners as ogrs well.er the programs hold over the last few months would not have been able without the hard work of me programr manager kim elder and our friends to defend.would they work together not only to interest and engage those not

only knowledgeable about the civil war but new themes that would appeal to a new audience. ensuring new opportunities for , audiences to become engaged in our nation's history.[ ap thank you for your hard work in continuing to create those opportunities. [ applause ] i'd also like to thank the national park employees and volunteers who are working today to execute the plan near weekend.uzer we'd love to thank ms. bowser who is insuring they are aware.s we're pleased to have with us cr gibs and ed bars.rs. both will discuss the battle of fort stephens. the only battle to take place in

the capitol and why it played ar vital role in our country's history. thank you. [ applause ] good morning. many i name is doug jimerson. i'm going to sing a very few significant period songs that remain wonderful songs in our american musical heritage. the first was called at the time red, white, blue. columbia, the gem of the ocean. >> columbia, the gem of the ocean, home of the brave and

free ♪ ♪ the shrine of each page holds devotion ♪ ♪ our world offers homage to thee ♪ ♪ mandates make things assembled ♪ ♪ thigh manners make tears only tremble when born by the red ♪ ♪ born by red, white, blue ♪ born by red, white, blue sn snek ♪ ♪ the wine cup, the wine cup bring hither ♪ ♪ and till fill it true till the

brim ♪ ♪ may the service unit us but they to our country prove true ♪ ♪ the army and navy forever ♪ three cheers for the red, white, blew ♪ ♪ three cheers for the red, white, blue ♪ ♪ the army and navy, three cheers for the red, white, blue ♪ [ applause ] >> thank you. there you go. i want you to participate. that's wonderful all right. this one, very inspiring

national hymn. please join me on the corous. the battle hymn of the republic. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ my eyes have seen the truth of the coming of the lord ♪ ♪ glory, glory, glory, hais truh is marching on ♪ ♪ i can read his righteous

senten sentence, his day is marching on ♪ ♪ glory glory glory ha, his day marching on ♪ ♪ he has lifted out the hearts of man before his judgment seeds our god marching on ♪ ♪ glory, glory, glory ♪ glory glory glory ♪ glory glory glory ♪ his truth is marring on

[ applause ] >> thank you very much. you know during civil war that tune was sung more any other. the glory, glory, glory, was from the original. that was in the original song. that was very interest. so i am going to make this a rather brief program. i'm going to do two more and. i think this next one is arguably our greatest patriotic song and the one least remembered unfortunately but it is a significant composition for

the civil war and when the union bands played this and the soldiers sang this, it just struck terrible fear in the hearts of the rebels. the battle cry of freedom. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ yes we'll rally around the rally fields ♪ ♪ we will rally before the hill side ♪ ♪ shouting the battle cry of freedom ♪ ♪ union brother, hurrah boys, hurrah ♪ ♪ while we rally once again, shouting the battle cry of freedom ♪ ♪ we're springing to the call

for 300,000 more ♪ ♪ we're still the vacant ranks of our brothers gone before shouting the cry of freedom ♪ ♪ hurrah boys, hurrah, while we found the flag boys rally once again ♪ ♪ shouting the battle cry of freedom ♪ [ applause ] >> hurrah. thank you. and then i've discovered in my research, all a music collegist and historian. what i've discovered is during

lincoln's presidency, the marine band was at any significant oak. usually they closed their program with yankee doodle so we'll close with that. ♪ ♪ there we saw the man and boys as thick as pudding ♪ ♪ yankee doodle danny ♪ and there was general washington on a snow white charger some said he looked much larger ♪ ♪ yankee doodle dandy, with the girls be handy.

>> yankee doobl went to town riding on a tony stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni ♪ ♪ yankee doodle dandy, with the girls be handy ♪ [ applause ] >> thank you. thank so much. enjoy your wonderful day hear at fort stephens. >> our first speaker is mr. cr gibs. kr g cr is also among the scholars

featured at the online acad my. he has also served as technical visitor on a team entitled american years. he has written books and his articles have appeared in numerous respected journals including the negro history bulletin and african-american inventors. please welcome mr. c.r. gibs [ applause ] >> good morning everyone. >> morning. >> i will leave it to my esteem colleague to describe the ebb and flow of battle that occurred here in july of 1864. what i want to do is offer some reflections on the contributions of african-americans to the

defense of washington. from all it ahappen our understanding of what happened was that we know about elizabeth thomas's house who was destroyed by lincoln. the story actually is much larger than that. i think perhaps the best way begin is by sharing with you a portion of a letter written on june the 7th, 1862. general, i have the honor to request a detail of contrabands for work on the fortifications on the maryland side of the patomic. as the government assist nt them. i could easily employ 250 and discharge the higher labors you

worki working. i propose to have it posted as follows. at forts franklin alexander and riply, massachusetts and slocam, 30, bunker hill and sara toga, 20, lincoln, myings, dupont and davis, goes on and on. the point here is that by june of 1862, only the most ardant racists were against fortifying the city. this same request would go not filled because the other authorities were reluctant to give up their contrabands to

work on forts north of the patom patomic. we know there was much greater use of labor made on the south side of the patomic. these self emancipated black folks who said they wouldn't wait for a president to give a proclamation in order to answer the call that beats in the hearts of all of us. the desire to be free. to be self-determining and to be independent. in fact when these labors came to many of the forts surrounding in the district, many of the folks were happy to see them. it was reported that men were working on the fortifications but at least 200 contrabands.

one soldier who had done duty in fort lincoln and here at fort stephens august freeman walker who served with several regiments said the time nor drafting has come -- speaking of fort stephens, etch around here were enrolled yesterday from fort lincoln in northeast d.c., walker road up will be to dig or help dig a rain of rightful forts though we here have 500 be here soon. it is important that you understand that black folks were not idol or passive spectators during the attack on washington d.c.

for this unit of colored troops on twelfth street we have no less authority than the daughter of josef henry. in addition to 500 troops, some 800 color men were called up adding these men will do no w k work. at 12:00 on the night of july eleventh, it was estimated that they were within the fortifications of washington, 60,000 men armed and equipped for fight. you must understand that this desire to be free, this desire to participate did not simply

occur at this front but all forts and camps that comprised the military offenses of washington. we're amazed the black men who were able to cross the patomic and went to battery kimball. this is part of the untold story of the importance of the offenses of washington. you see, installing as typify hope but not simply hope or freedom or security, they also 6 b -- symbolized opportunity. i recently retoll the story of a black man on a navy yard bridge trying to get into d.c. i told the troops he walked 60 miles just to come here.

he believed under the capital that there would be freedom as well as justice and department. if you want to talk with more, we'd probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of another camp. in that camp, whoa find in the book when crew war was over, the touching story of how this man was changed when he met a freedom seeking black man who met him, 17 years old. he was the only slave his master

had and his master will never get him again if i can help it. you must understand that this person to person connections between freedom seeking black folk and these soldiers in the union army forged bonds that would not be forgotten once the guns were over. we find out in fact that black folk in the defense of this city is nothing new. we knewweldeda eed axes to help guard the nation's capital. indeed when news of the war struck this city, when what had happened in charleston's harbor

reverted back to the district, a black diver, offers the services of 300 black men to protect the city. it's important that we also acknowledge members of the united states colored troops. we have evidence now not only of the 6th usct or the 28th or the wonderful job the 45th u.s. colored troops did as they helped to treep fort fibbirepai.

i have an article that also mentioned u.s. colored troops. this was after the war when he was not important. we find u.s. colored troops in places like lincoln and baker and stanton and carol according on 1875. these men freedom seeking black folks, self-emancipated contrabands had one thing in common. all willing warriors, workers and defenders of their national capital in times of crisis. thank you. [ applause ]

thank you mr. gibbs. please welcome d.c. council member muriel bowser. >> well, good morning everybody. welcome to the award for. i'm certainly delighted to be here with you to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the battle of fort stephens. there's really so much great history here in our capital city. i often am very proud to celebrate the part that went through in the history of our city and our nation. we're very proud of it. we know only the civil war battle to take place in the district of clum bof columbia t

here in fort stephens. we know that at the battle of fort stephens, the nation's capitol was saved from imminent attack. you may also know that they even when it was build to protect from confedder ra eerate soldie were very proud to recognize elizabeth thomas forever and ever here on this land by naming this street in her honor, the elizabeth thomas way. we know she was fully kpens yaepted for her la-- compensate her sacrifices.

fortunately we have a wonderful relationship with our partners. we want to acknowledge the hard work they've done to acknowledge this anniversary and build a great relationship with our community. our parks and national monuments are start of the people that you serve. i hope you will acknowledge really two great women who are leading. our superintendent tara morrison. give her a round of applause. in our park manager kim elder, give her a round of applause. they have been great ally and neighbors. i have great honor of representing a lot of national

pa parks in this area and we need to acknowledge their service.o i wanted to calm not only to represent the 75,000 people of ward four and the 20 great neighborhoods i have the privilege to serve, but also our city. i went to the council and there was unanimous decision to acknowledge today with the resolution. so superintendent morrison, may i present you with the following. i'll read a few of the statements here. this resolution says, whereas fort stevens originally named fort massachusetts from the home state of the soldiers who constructed it was built to defend the district of columbia against attacks from the confederate army from the north along seventh street pike now known as georgia avenue.

whereas fort massachusetts was renamed fort stevens after the death of general stevens at the battle of chantilly on september 1st, 1862. whereas in the summer of 1864 general grant moved most union troops to the south leaving only 9,000 troops to defend the district of columbia. whereas on july 11th and july 12th, 1864, the battle of fort stevens occurred and was the only civil war battle to take place in the district of columbia. whereas the union army's sixth corps brought reenforcements to fort stevens where president lincoln met them and became the only sitting president in our history to come under hostile attack. and whereas on the evening of july 12th, 1864, confederate troops began to withdraw from fort stevens and from the district of columbia. this victory saved the nation's

capital, helped ensure president lincoln's reelection and aided in the preservation of the union. following the battle of fort stevens, the military road school, one of the first schools in the district to educate african-american children was established on the grounds of fort stooeevens. whereas the military road school although closed in 1954 remains an essential part of the history of fort stevens and the civil war history of the district of columbia. fort stevens now serves as one of many civil war defenses operated and maintained by the national park service and the district of columbia as a place of enjoyment and a memorial to all those who served and saved our country. be it resolved by the council of the district of columbia that this resolution be cited the battle of the 150th anniversary recognition resolution of 2014.

[ applause ] >> thank you, council member. please welcome members of the 2014 civil war junior ranger campers. >> as i mentioned earlier, part of our responsibility is ensuring that we are engaging new audiences in sharing this history. so for the first year and in honor of the 150th anniversary

of the civil war, we conducted our first civil war junior rangers camp and we today would like to pin our three representatives here today, cooper, na veed, and nita. >> they are now officially

junior rangers. [ applause ] thank you, ladies. >> our next speaker today is mr. ed vars, he's a united states marine corps veteran of world war ii. in military historian and author known for his work on the american civil war and world war ii eras. he's especially known for his historic tours and extremely popular tour guide with historic battlefields for the smithsonian associat associates. he served as chief historian of the national park service from

1981 to 1994. please welcome mr. ed vars. [ applause ] >> first off, i want to thank my colleagues of the national park service and the people in the neighborhood for working so well together to commemorate the battle of fort stevens. an important milestone in the reyun any indication of our country and the emancipation of american blacks. let us turn back the clock to the last days of june 1864.

at that time it was not a given that the union will triumph in the civil war. in fact, things were not going well. the new general chief of the union army has in his campaign against general lee's army has lost over 100,000 men in a period between the third day of may and the 18th day of june. that is twice as many men as robert e. lee had in his army. and the first lady of the land

who referred to general grant as a butcherer. even worse than the disaster at pearl harbor had been the disaster that befell the union army on the 18th day of june at petersburg. at this time the president of the united states is confronted by a number of problems. his great army in the east are undoubtedly not accomplishing their mission, which is to give the union victory by the time of election day in november 1864. general sherman is not doing much better in georgia as the

union army is licking their wounds following the battle. so things were not going well on the military front. things were not going well on the political front. the president had felt well when the republican convention meeting in baltimore had renominated him for a second term. they had dumped maine who had been his vice president of first administration to replace him with governor johnson of tennessee. and the ticket that they will go

to the voters will be the union ticket, not the republican ticket. as the president and his family prepare to move from the white house to the sumger white house located about one mile from where we are on the grounds of the soldiers home the president is confronted with other problems politically. egotistical and o -- opinionated twice submitted his resignation and on the last day of the old congress, which it turns on the 4th day of july, he hands in his

resignati resignation. lincoln is going to take great courage because he has a revolt in a radical wing of the republican party, which is passed the wade davis bill that is taking the steps of reconstruction of the south out of the president's hands and transferring it to the congress and the president shows great courage as he vetoes the wade davis bill. things are not getting well in virginia. general lee has detached too early with the second corps, and they have dealt with general

hunter and lynchburg. early in his 15 to 16,000 men are now sweeping down the shenandoah valley. they well remember the valley of humiliation, the shenen do away valley from what happened there in 1862 and it had been the route that the confederate hs followed to their defeat in gettysburg in '63. it looks like a repeat as his men march through lexington on the 26th day of june. on the 1st day of july they march through winchester, virginia, and on the 5th day of july they will cross the potomac river.

is it going to be another repetition of what had happened in '62 and '63? general grant seemed to not be overly concerned about the threat to washington by the general's men. the president of the railroad is telling him it's a real threat and grant is going to move rather slowly. as the confederates will now move toward isolating the union troops, which evacuated harpers ferry on maryland heights and close in on frederick, maryland. on frederick, maryland, they have occupied it on the 8th day

of july. a union army has been assembled there on the banks of the river and on the 9th day of july at the battle, who would write the most popular novel written in the 19th century by american author ben purr. when evacuates and leaves the battlefield he falls back on baltimore leaving washington uncovered. many of the thousands of men who had been manning the washington forts, the '87 forts and

batteries had been called to fill the vacant ranks as we talked about in those wonderful songs we were led in as they are father abraham's call. and they are going to become instant infantrymen. many of them we have just heard from our lecturer, many by the black men and -- of what becomes originally fort massachusetts but is now fort stevens. so the day or the 10th day of july is an unseasonably hot day.

the men are wearing more uniforms and i'm an honorary member of company b of the mts regimen. the proudest things i have is attending some of their rallies. i'm glad to see they are here in full strength. [ applause ] the forts were e departure of the heavy ar till riss, one of them being fort massachusetts. heavy artillery which becomes a trivia pursuit question. you don't like to be. what union regiment lost more men in 15 minutes in the civil

war? it's the first massachusetts heavy artillery. one of these ones at the forts against lee's lines at peterburg. we'll lose 642 men out of a little over 850, losing more men in a single battle than any other unit in the civil war. that's a trivial pursuit question that you don't like to be one of the victims in it. so as they sweep down, they are tired and the confederates are going to reach rockville, just up the road from where we are wn the evening of the 11th. on the 5th day of the month, the

presidential family and their close advisers move from the white house into the soldier's home. on the night of the 10th, secondary staten, he's a rough customer. i heard the people weep about secretary rumsfeld. you don't know what a tough secretary of war staten is. if you wept about secretary rumsfeld, you'll commit harry caray over secretary staten, as he sends the message out, directing the president and his family to remove back to the white house. the guard, in company of the 150th pennsylvania, the buck tails, have left the soldier's

home and will be stationed in another fort. the president will be up early on the morning of the 11th. the confederates had paused at rockville and john mccauselin with his calvary sweeps down the georgetown pike, now wisconsin avenue, arriving at tenially circle while the rest of the confederate army moves cross-country on farm roads leading from rockville to turn in to the 7th avenue extended, now georgia avenue. and by noon, they are approaching silver spring. the president, i can imagine the

secret service. now, the secret service will not be responsible for the president's security until two other presidents have died at the hands of an assassin. not until the summer of 1902 does the secret service become responsible for the big man in the white house. you can imagine him on that day as the president goes out and visits fort stevens and other forts. yes, he is here at fort stevens on the afternoon around 1:00 on the 11th day of july. the confederates are in silver spring. men moved across into the district line, moving into

occupying ground now embraced by walter reid. and the president is going to be shot at, but this isn't the important one. the important one he gets shot at is going to be on the next day, as he circulates. he makes a stop down at -- there is no haines point at that time. where haines point is now, he watches the boats and ships arrive with the members of the 6th corps, two divisions of them under wright and detachments of the 19th corps that have come all the way from louisiana to

hampton road and have joined the troops up. and some of the troops could remember this tall man, seven foot tall when he has his top hat on, now if we knew we were going to have two 6'4" presidents, we would have had a better measurement of them. we have two 6'4" presidents, one is abraham lincoln, the other is lyndon baines johnson. you do not know which is the taller, because they don't go to have any such things as that. and they see the president nibbling on a piece of hard taft. they then move out throughout georgetown pike, out through georgetown, because the first reports the general received, the confederates are in the area of rockville.

but they are going to be detoured, turn in and move out 7th street extended georgia avenue. there's a lot of excitement in washington that night as the 6th corps arrive to help out with the militia, the 108 men, the imbi corps of the next day. the confederates are having a real ball up in silver spring. montgomery blair is going to lose his house, franklin, to the confederates, who show that they can burn houses pretty well, too. francis blair, adviser to all presidents from andrew jackson to abraham lincoln, he's not at home, but he has a good liquor

closet, and some of the confederates, particular jubal early, is a good drinking man, and they are consuming francis p. blair's liquor supply, and they are very delighted as they get more and more, because one of the confederates there is john c. breckenridge. who is the youngest man ever to be vice president of the united states. being vice president under james buchanan, and the confederates are feeling good. now, lincoln had kept construction going on the capitol dome. the dome has been completed. you can see it from the soldier's home, and they are debating, because breckenridge had been expelled from the senate in october 1861 as when he