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Siege of Washington, D.C., written expressly for little people by F. Colburn (Francis Colburn) Adams
page 82 of 91 (90%)
they placed their trust. They did not, however, reflect that these
forts, without proper garrisons, were only so many inert masses,
incapable of resisting for one hour the vigorous assault of an
enemy. But it was very different with the military authorities. As
the rattle of small arms and the booming of cannon increased during
Monday evening and night, they knew that the city was in peril, and
their anxiety for its safety increased. They knew that the forts
were not properly garrisoned. They knew that communication with the
North was cut off, that no reinforcements from that quarter could be
relied on. Further, that although reinforcements from General
Grant's army had been ordered up from the James River, they had not
had time to arrive.

Such was our situation on that memorable Monday night. Yes, my son,
such was the feeble condition of the defenses when General Early and
his rebel army came in sight of the dome of the Capitol. We all
looked confidently for an attack in force on Tuesday morning. Had it
been made by a column of ten thousand men, led by a bold and
determined commander, capable of infusing his own impulse into their
movements, they might, feebly garrisoned as the forts were at that
moment (with no support between or behind them), have treated our
defenses with contempt, and marched into the city.

Yes, my son, they could have marched almost unmolested between any
two of the forts, entered the city, seized the Arsenal, the Capitol,
the Treasury, and other public buildings, and enjoyed a bounteous
breakfast at the expense of our citizens. And when they had done
this, they might have enforced a legitimate surrender of the city,
together with the defenses on both sides of the river.

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