Our Ancestor's Washington, DC

[JPK Huson 1863]

The hub of the Civil War can forgivably be said to have been Washington, D.C. . Not just home to all branches of National Government, in proximity to all branches of our armed forces but home to all the support staff of each of those. And their families. And support for those families. And the commerce which supported all of those swelling Washington's population and wider-flung armies, not to mention fortune seekers honest and swarmy whose fine and baser instincts brought them post-haste to claim their own piece of the coins dropping through government fingers. Maddeningly for many, ' Sesesh' citizens continued to maintain elegant households side-by-side with grim faced Unionists, parading traitors colors openly in muddy streets.

My own grgrgrandparents moved to DC in 1860 in support of a political brother, leaving again in 1866. They ran a hotel-turned hospital called ' Casparis', long since torn down as the Capitol Mall inched ever closer to the city. My grgrgrandfather's tax forms all come back to the same address, all those years, so we know they did not move and my grgrandmother was born there. It's made me incredibly interested in what a woman's life was in everyday Washington DC, through the war years, My grgrgrandmother, for instance, Mary Reed Huson, helped run a public house, would have had to turn into a nurse, support a brother-in-law's politics, mourn the loss of 3 brother in law's as they were taken by the war, was on the scene for the 1st and second inauguration, the NY troops stayed at Casparis on their call up, and who knows, may have begged her brother in law not to go out to the Bull Run battle. He was captured there, died a political prisoner as Seward's secretary. She would have watched the funeral, the Grand Review- who knows what in between. One thing which tickles the bejammers out of me is that Lincoln used to come to Casparis to bowl, of all things. Always wondered if she watched, laughing behind her hand as women do when men compete. Her husband was hugely tall, too, wonder if he was there, not a stretch. The reason they had this position was due to my grgrgrandfather's connection to his godfather, someone who he was named for, William Henry. Anyway, would have to think Mary Emma would have had a major kick, watching men bowl. OH my gosh I would have.

Women during the war. Mary Emma Reed Huson, 3 small children ( twin girls, ' 63 ), one woman, in Washington DC, 1860-1866. If anyone has any other photos or information on DC, what it was like from a citizen's perspective, please add. I foresee yet another thread I allow to lapse, which is fine because they're fun to go dig up again and add to.

"Reveille in Washington", Margaret Leech, super book on DC from a civilian's perspective
" All For the Union ", Elisha Hunt Rhodes spent time in DC, as a clerk, describes the street scenes and people there, albeit briefly. He still has a lot of talent while doing so and an awfully good eye.

I've read other books, will add them as I remember...

This is Caspari's, from the back/side- I ' think' 11th and E ?ME Wolf is unbelievably familiar with every, single tree, street, rock and stick in Washington. Bet this becomes recognized, even underneath the present building. Also, FYI, their Historical Society is THE single, best, friendliest and most helpful ( and most knowledgable ) I've ever encountered.

This is where Lincoln bowled, what a riot, and my grgrandmother was born. Was also a hospital, and a LOT of NY troops came here after the 1st call up. I think this was listed as late 1800's, then in another place listed as earlier.

Northeast View from Capitol ( Pretty sure it must be earlier than late 1800's, the front lawn is still littered with building materials )

Northeast

NW, Smith, Smithsonian ( distance, foggy, left )

another NW

The Casparis photo was clipped from this

The Old Capitol Prison, quite a spot for sight-seers and also Sesesh sympathizers.

Towards Capitol- is that a horse and buggy traffic jam?

I'm going to keep bringing ' Washington' photos and civilian information here, particularly where it pertains to our women.

 

[donna]

Annie great photos.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

There were an awful lot of landmarks, place where famous and infamous prisoner for instance were kept and which could daily attract a crowd. I'd have to guess my grgrgrandmother Mary Emma would not have participated in this kind of ' sight-seeing', or perhaps, and did not let anyone know! Rosie Greenhow was here, may have been tough to resist.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

View from Georgetown Heights

 

[AndyHall]

Wonderful pictures as always, Annie.

Here's a tool for exploring CW-era DC:

http://civilwardc.org/maps/flex/

 

[18thVirginia]

Fascinating photos, JPK. My dad lived in D.C. at several points just prior to and during WWII and I lived there for a few years at a later time. I've never had much of a sense of D.C. during the Civil War, so this should be interesting.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Darn it!! Thought this one was lost so did an entirely new one!

That is very kind, Andy, thank you!

Thanks very much, Donna- like I said, I thought this had disappeared! Rats.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Fascinating photos, JPK. My dad lived in D.C. at several points just prior yo and during WWII and I lived there for a few years at a later time. I've never had much of a sense of D.C. during the Civil War, so this should be interesting.

Thanks 18th- I thought the other post was gone- I'm asking the two to be merged sinc I have more in one thread- and posts in both. AND- haven't even taken any medication today! Gee whiz. Maybe I should.

 

[kholland]

This is Caspari's, from the back/side- I ' think' 11th and E ?ME Wolf is unbelievably familiar with every, single tree, street, rock and stick in Washington. Bet this becomes recognized, even underneath the present building. Also, FYI, their Historical Society is THE single, best, friendliest and most helpful ( and most knowledgable ) I've ever encountered.

This is where Lincoln bowled, what a riot, and my grgrandmother was born. Was also a hospital, and a LOT of NY troops came here after the 1st call up. I think this was listed as late 1800's, then in another place listed as earlier.

The site now is the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building
​

Annie, Margaret Leech's book is one of the best I've seen on the everyday life of DC during the war. I had it years ago in paperback and got it for my Kindle last year. Above is an ad for Casparis and below is a story about Lincoln's bowling there from a website with the link below the story.

While Lincoln was a congressman representing Illinois's 7th district, he lived on Capitol Hill (see previous Lost Capitol Hill column) and a number of stories from his time there remain. One of the most charming was written by a Dr. Samuel Busey, in which he describes Lincoln's attempts at bowling:

Congressman Lincoln was very fond of bowling, and would frequently join others of the mess, or meet other members in a match game, at the alley of James Casparis, which was near the boarding-house. He was a very awkward bowler, but played the game with great zest and spirit, solely for exercise and amusement, and greatly to the enjoyment and entertainment of the other players and bystanders by his criticisms and funny illustrations. He accepted success and defeat with like good nature and humor, and left the alley at the conclusion of the game without a sorrow or disappointment. When it was known that he was in the alley there would assemble numbers of people to witness the fun which was anticipated by those who knew of his fund of anecdotes and jokes. When in the alley, surrounded by a crowd of eager listeners, he indulged with great freedom in the sport of narrative, some of which were very broad. His witticisms seemed for the most part to be impromptu, but he always told the anecdotes and jokes as if he wished to convey the impression that he had heard them from some one; but they appeared very many times as if they had been made for the immediate occasion.

Casparis's saloon, which also contained the bowling alley, was on A Street, between 1st Street and New Jersey Avenue. It, like Lincoln's boarding house, was removed to make way for the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building.

(The above anecdote is from Dr. Samuel C Busey. Personal Reminiscences and Recollections of Forty-Six Years' Membership in the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and Residence in This City, Philadelphia: Dornan, Printer, 1895.)

http://www.thehillishome.com/2009/08/lost-capitol-hill-caspariss-saloon-2/#sthash.QVzKGggM.dpuf

 

[ErnieMac]

Washington is sometimes portrayed as little more than a swamp, but by 1860 it was the nation's 14th largest city with a population exceeding 61,000. That number did not include Georgetown which had another 8700 people.

 

[donna]

These are interesting photos. Thanks for posting.

 

[AndyHall]

Old Capitol Prison was located in front of where the Supreme Court is now, diagonally across from the East Front of the Capitol. The gallows where Henry Wirz stepped off was located roughly n the center of the plaza in front of the court steps.

Expired Image Removed

 

[Northern Light]

There were an awful lot of landmarks, place where famous and infamous prisoner for instance were kept and which could daily attract a crowd. I'd have to guess my grgrgrandmother Mary Emma would not have participated in this kind of ' sight-seeing', or perhaps, and did not let anyone know! Rosie Greenhow was here, may have been tough to resist.

View attachment 49582

Is there a reason the bottom of the building is painted white?

 

[Northern Light]

Old Capitol Prison was located in front of where the Supreme Court is now, diagonally across from the East Front of the Capitol. The gallows where Henry Wirz stepped off was located roughly n the center of the plaza in front of the court steps.

Expired Image Removed

The overlay is really interesting! Thanks for posting.

 

[Bryan_C]

During the Civil War (and most of the 19th Century), what we know as Washington, D.C. was known as Washington City, D.C. In those days, the District of Columbia was made up of three separate entities: Washington City, D.C.; Georgetown, D.C; and Washington County, D.C. which was rural farm country. This animated map shows the evolution of D.C., 1790-1871.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dcmapanimated.gif

 

[Littlestown]

Old Capitol Prison was located in front of where the Supreme Court is now, diagonally across from the East Front of the Capitol. The gallows where Henry Wirz stepped off was located roughly n the center of the plaza in front of the court steps.

Expired Image Removed

That's an amazing overlay Andy! I love maps, especially historical ones.

 

[War Horse]

Thanks JPK and Andy Amazing information.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, thanks very much! And yes, I'd heard the same thing about Washington being some insufferable swamp- little more. It was perhaps an odd spot for the nations capitol ( not geographically ) , little wet! Still, sure grew pretty determinedly.

This first, just wondered if the better informed members would know who was here- it's a group of men of the War Dept.- tried a Google myself, came up empty brained. ( shush )

7th St. Market

15th and Penn Ave, love this because it's a large cannon making that turn.

Jefferson Davis's house, when he and his family resided in Washington.

April 1865

Same, wish it said where

Same

This is amazing, Arlington House, 1864, does it say Sept.?

Bartlett's HQ

Chain Bridge

Both inaugerations

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Is there a reason the bottom of the building is painted white?

You know, I've wondered this forever and ever- you see other buildings, same thing. Wonder if it was ' whitewash' and not paint? Whitewash had lime in it ( I think- if I'm wrong please dear God someone correct me so I don't sound like a big idjit ), was some protection against creepy critters, maybe molds? That would make sense. Places like Libby Prison, same thing, used to be tobacco warehouses. You'd really want them to be proof against whatever would attack the drying leaves, be it molds or bugs.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

View attachment 49586

View attachment 49587

The site now is the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building
​

Annie, Margaret Leech's book is one of the best I've seen on the everyday life of DC during the war. I had it years ago in paperback and got it for my Kindle last year. Above is an ad for Casparis and below is a story about Lincoln's bowling there from a website with the link below the story.

While Lincoln was a congressman representing Illinois's 7th district, he lived on Capitol Hill (see previous Lost Capitol Hill column) and a number of stories from his time there remain. One of the most charming was written by a Dr. Samuel Busey, in which he describes Lincoln's attempts at bowling:

Congressman Lincoln was very fond of bowling, and would frequently join others of the mess, or meet other members in a match game, at the alley of James Casparis, which was near the boarding-house. He was a very awkward bowler, but played the game with great zest and spirit, solely for exercise and amusement, and greatly to the enjoyment and entertainment of the other players and bystanders by his criticisms and funny illustrations. He accepted success and defeat with like good nature and humor, and left the alley at the conclusion of the game without a sorrow or disappointment. When it was known that he was in the alley there would assemble numbers of people to witness the fun which was anticipated by those who knew of his fund of anecdotes and jokes. When in the alley, surrounded by a crowd of eager listeners, he indulged with great freedom in the sport of narrative, some of which were very broad. His witticisms seemed for the most part to be impromptu, but he always told the anecdotes and jokes as if he wished to convey the impression that he had heard them from some one; but they appeared very many times as if they had been made for the immediate occasion.

Casparis's saloon, which also contained the bowling alley, was on A Street, between 1st Street and New Jersey Avenue. It, like Lincoln's boarding house, was removed to make way for the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building.

(The above anecdote is from Dr. Samuel C Busey. Personal Reminiscences and Recollections of Forty-Six Years' Membership in the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and Residence in This City, Philadelphia: Dornan, Printer, 1895.)

http://www.thehillishome.com/2009/08/lost-capitol-hill-caspariss-saloon-2/#sthash.QVzKGggM.dpuf

OH MY GOSH thank you! I just clipped the entire thing to save, appreciate it very much! Yes, isn't that book wonderful, truly, lost a LOT of sleep reading that, not to mention seriously taking out the Kindle while in line at Target or Costco. The Jefferson Building! Ha! I knew it had been overwhelmed by the spread of building but not which one because me sense of maps is so poor, thanks SOOOO much again- I'd read a clip on Lincoln bowling at Caspari's but not that one, it was a mere mention somewhere. This whole thing is priceless to me, so thanks again! And now guess what, I'll be losing sleep reading her book again- it would be an amazing book anyway. I keep reading it thinking of my grgrgrandparents walking through those pages, gives me such a huge kick. Gosh!!

WISH I could find more. That my grgrgrandparents managed there we know- that Mr. Caspari owned it and oversaw it, was frequently a host at gatherings you see in newspapers. It changed management in 1860, there was a huge sale of furnishings, right when they came there. Another name showed up as someone involved, too,- yet there is just no doubt during those years my grgrgrandparents kept a public house at that address, named Casparis House- at one point it's called Casparis Hospital, funny, they recognized it officially? All their tax forms ( hysterical, he had to claim the pool table ) come there, legal forms, poor man, he had to pursue all the kooks who violated whatever drunken shenanigans they got up to.

Mary Emma Reed Huson, William Henry Huson

Somewhere is that paper trail, gosh, would love to find it.