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Originally Posted by samgrant That's all for now. I'll do a little more research on some of these other militia units, and continue this post. |
OK, getting closer.
Found a web site featuring an article by Stone titled "Washington on the Eve of the War", and relating directly to our question, without answering it specifically. (Nicolay and Hay quote from this and attribute it as: "General C. P. Stone, Washington on the Eve of the War. THE CENTURY, July, 1883.")
It does appear that it was not army regulars, but some local militia men who were on those rooftops.
Stone:
"I think that the country has never properly appreciated the services of those District of Columbia volunteers. ...
sixteen companies of these volunteers ... Moreover, these were the troops which insured the regular inauguration on the steps of the Capitol of the constitutionally elected President. I firmly believe that without them Mr. Lincoln would never have been inaugurated. I believe that tumults would have been created, during which he would have been killed, and that we should have found ourselves engaged in a struggle, without preparation, and without a recognized head at the capital. In this I may be mistaken, of course, as any other man may be mistaken; but it was then my opinion, when I had many sources of information at my command, and it remains my opinion now, when, after the lapse of many years and a somewhat large experience, I look back in cool blood upon those days of political madness. ...
On the afternoon of the 3d of March, General Scott held a conference at his headquarters, there being present his staff, General Sumner, and myself, and then was arranged the programme of the procession. President Buchanan was to drive to Willard’s hotel, and call upon the President-elect. The two were to ride in the same carriage, between double files of a squadron of the District of Columbia cavalry. The company of sappers and miners were to march in front of the presidential carriage, and the infantry and riflemen of the District of Columbia were to follow it. Riflemen in squads were to be placed on the roofs of certain commanding houses which I had selected, along Pennsylvania Avenue, with orders to watch the windows on the opposite side and to fire upon them in case any attempt should be made to fire from those windows on the presidential carriage. The small force of regular cavalry which had arrived was to guard the side-street crossings of Pennsylvania Avenue, and to move from one to another during the passage of the procession. A battalion of District of Columbia troops were to be placed near the steps of the Capitol, and riflemen in the windows of the wings of the Capitol. On the arrival of the presidential party at the Capitol, the troops were to be stationed so as to return in the same order after the ceremony.
To illustrate the state of uncertainty in which we were at that time concerning men, I may here state that the lieutenant-colonel, military secretary of the General-in-Chief, who that afternoon recorded the conclusions of the General in conference, and who afterwards wrote out for me the instructions regarding the disposition of troops, resigned his commission that very night, and departed for the South, where he joined the Confederate army.
During the night of the 3d of March, notice was brought me that an attempt would be made to blow up the platform on which the President would stand to take the oath of office. I immediately placed men under the steps, and at daybreak a trusted battalion of District troops (if I remember rightly, it was the National Guard, under Colonel Tait) formed in a semi-circle at the foot of the great stairway, and prevented all entrance from without. When the crowd began to assemble in front of the portico, a large number of policemen in plain clothes were scattered through the mass to observe closely, to place themselves near any person who might act suspiciously, and to strike down any hand which might raise a weapon.
At the appointed hour, Mr. Buchanan was escorted to Willard’s hotel, which he entered. There I found a number of mounted “marshals of the day,” and posted them around the carriage, within the cavalry guard. The two Presidents were saluted by the troops as they came out of the hotel and took their places in the carriage. The procession started. During the march to the Capitol I rode near the carriage, and by an apparently clumsy use of my spurs managed to keep the horses of the cavalry in an uneasy state, so that it would have been very difficult for even a good marksman to get an aim at one of the inmates of the carriage between the prancing horses.
After the inaugural ceremony, the President and the ex-President were escorted in the same order to the White House. Arrived there, Mr. Buchanan walked to the door with Mr. Lincoln, and there bade him welcome to the House and good-morning. The infantry escort formed in line from the gate of the White House to the house of Mr. Ould, whither Mr. Buchanan drove, and the cavalry escorted his carriage. The infantry line presented arms to the ex-President as he passed, and the cavalry escort saluted as he left the carriage and entered the house. Mr. Buchanan turned on the steps, and gracefully acknowledged the salute. The District of Columbia volunteers had given to President Lincoln his first military salute and to Mr. Buchanan his last."
-from
http://egypt.atomicmartinis.com/stone1.htm
Still, Stone does not specify any one unit of the sixteen companies as those designated as riflemen posted to the rooftops. This might suggest that perhaps the best riflemen from all of the units were selected for this duty, at least that would be a reasonable assumption.
Well I've found got a list of about 10-12 of those units from the two books mentioned above, so I'll start to look for info on each of these for more clues.
To be continued (if I find anything, otherwise not) .....
Looks like not.
Tho I did find intersting some of the names of these volunteer militias: Washington Light Infantry, Potomac Light Infantry, Crittenden Rifles, Metropolitan Rifles, Mechanics Union Rifles, Perseverance Fire Company, Layfayette Hose Company ....
without further inspiration, I'll have to put this quest on the way back burner.
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