In 1861, the Anderson Rifles of Georgetown, Capt. Charles H. Rodier commanding, captured the first uniformed Confederate prisoners of the Civil War at Chain Bridge. Capt. Rodier is buried in Holy Rood Cemetery.
When South Carolina seceded from the Union (December 20, 1860), Maj. Anderson, holding out at Fort Sumter, became a Union hero.
Georgetown Military.––A new military company, called the Anderson Rifles, named after the gallant hero of Fort Sumter, was organized in Georgetown, on Monday evening, by election of the following officers: Charles H. Rodier, Captain; James Goddard, First Lieutenant; David Mason, second lieutenant; Edwin Krouse, Third lieutenant; W.A. Hutchins, Ensign; Richard Chick, Orderly Sergeant.
(National Republican, January 9, 1861, p.3.)
Just one year ago today I wrote you a long letter on the State of the country, but received no answer. At that time, as you are aware, my feelings were decidedly Southern (that is in contra distinction to extreme Northern abolitionism) and I was exceedingly desirous of offering such terms to the South as would pacify the people and so preserve the Union, but I was decidedly opposed to the doctrine of secession. Well, the bombardment of Sumter and the insult to the nation’s banner, and the reasons urged by the traitor Roger A. Pryor for that assault, completely dissipated all my feelings in favor of the South and on the 15th day of April I enlisted or was mustered into the service of the United States as a second Lieutenant. In the meantime I had resigned my situation as foreman of Wm. Reve’s office, and had accepted the position as Assistant Foreman of the Government Printing Office at a salary of $1,500 per year. So you may see that in serving my country I have made some considerable sacrifice.
(Capt. Phillip Louis Rodier, Contee’s Station, Maryland, “B. & O. R.R. (20 miles from Washington)”; to Julius Augustus Rodier, April 3, 1862.)
Charles Henry Rodier
Charles Henry Rodier was born about 1818.
Rodier’s business seems to have been in dry goods: the Georgetown firm of “Rodier and Brother” was paid for “draping the town house in mourning” when the Mayor of Georgetown died. (Georgetown Ordinances, September 18, 1852)
Charles H. Rodier’s son, John Rodier, born 1845, commanded a company of Young Zouaves. He appears later in the war as an officer of the Quartermaster Corps in Alexandria; and in the 1870 census: John P. Rodier, age 26, Bar Keeper, Alexandria, Virginia.
Drills.––Many of our military companies were out on drill last evening. We noticed the “Young Zouaves”, of Georgetown, under the command of Captain John Rodier, on the avenue in large numbers. The fine appearance and the creditable marching of these young soldiers would do infinite credit to much older organizations. (National Republican, February 20, 1861, p.3)
The Little Zouave and Rifle Companies.––The Young Zouaves, Captain Rodier, numbering twenty-six, and the Junior Potomac Rifles, Captain Libby, numbering sixteen in the ranks, both from Georgetown, also paraded in the morning. The Zouaves were equipped with musketoons, and the Junior rifles with little carbines. They made a fine appearance, manoeuvred exceedingly well, and elicited much praise from those who witnessed their movements. (National Republican, February 25, 1861, p.3.)
Georgetown Correspondence.––Georgetown, D.C., Feb. 28, 1861.––The military were out again today, or at least a portion of it. The battalion, composed of companies A and B, Anderson’s Rifles, after parading our streets, took up their line of march via the Aqueduct bridge to Analoston island. Here they refreshed themselves for a while by a rest on the pleasant grounds belonging to the establishment of Messrs. Powers, Thecker & Co., the worthy proprietors and hosts of that beautiful summer resort. (National Republican, March 1, 1861, p.3.)
The Anderson Rifles, Company A, Capt. C.H. Rodier, Lieuts. Mason, Krouse and Lipscomb, occupying the second post of honor. This is one of the new companies, and we understand there is about 120 men enrolled. They had 65 men out, and their correct marching and the military precision of their movements were admired by all who saw them. The uniform is a dark gray hunting coat with red trimmings, black pants with red stripe, and a handsome fatigue cap. (“Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln––The Order of Procession”, Star, March 4, 1861)
The uniform is a dark gray hunting coat with red trimmings, black pants with red stripe, and a handsome fatigue cap. (National Republican, March 5, 1861, p.3.)
Presentation of a Flag.––Company C, Anderson rifles, of Georgetown, were yesterday afternoon presented by the ladies of the fourth ward of that city with a handsome silk flag. The company met in large numbers at their armory in Forrest Hall, and accompanied by Withers’s Excelsior Band, marched to the residence of Richard H. Trunnell, Esq., where Mayor Addison, in an eloquent address, made the presentation on the part of the ladies. Captain C.H. Rodier received the flag on the part of the Rifles, and made a handsome speech in response. After saluting the flag and giving three cheers for Mayor Addison, and three times three for the ladies, the company marched out of our city. Notwithstanding the disagreeable state of the weather, the company presented a fine and soldierlike appearance, numbering some seventy uniforms. (National Republican, April 9, 1861, p.3.)
The Volunteer Movement.––“It is understood that the Anderson Rifles, Capt. Rodier, of Georgetown, are to be inspected to-day at their armory by Col. Stone, and to-morrow, or possibly this afternoon, mustered into the service for the same term as the other companies which have been called out.” (Star, April 12, 1861)
Further enlistment into the service of the United States took place on Saturday. The Anderson Rifles, from Georgetown, to the number of 52, mustered, and this makes the 10th company. (National Intelligencer, April 15, 1861)
By April 27, thirty-four companies had been sworn into United States service, and assigned to defend the city. Enlistments were for three months service.
Parade of the District Military.––Review by the President. (Anderson Rifles, Capt. C.H. Rodier, 87 men. National Republican, May 14, 1861, p.3; National Intelligencer, May 15, 1861)
The District of Columbia militia has 3300 men. The 1st Battalion, under Maj. J. M. Hollingsworth, is from Georgetown. Company A, Anderson Rifles, Capt. Rodier. Home Guards, Capt. Goddard. Potomac Light Guard, Capt Boyd. Andrew Johnson Guards, Capt. McBlair. (National Intelligencer, May 17, 1861)
During the night of May 23-4, 1861, the Anderson Rifles of Georgetown, under the command of Capt Charles H. Rodier, captured John T. Ball and G.F. Kirby, the first uniformed Confederate prisoners of the Civil War, at Chain Bridge. (Elden E. Billings, “Military Activities in Washington in 1861”; James H. Whyte, “Divided Loyalties in Washington during the Civil War”: Journal of the Columbia Historical Society 1960-1962; both quoting Washington DC 63rd Council, 1865-6.)
Arrest of Prisoners.––A picket guard of the Anderson Rifles on Thursday night arrested two members of the Fairfax Cavalry, Capt. M.D. Ball, named, respectively, Ball and Kirby. A man named Smidt, belonging to the same corps, was arrested by Lieut. Lipscomb, of the Rifles, a little later. (National Republican, May 25, 1861, p.3)
The Uniform of this corps, worn by the prisoners taken by the Anderson Rifles, consists of a lead-colored flannel jacket trimmed with black, and large white bone buttons, pants of the gray country cloth, with a yellow cord down the sides. (National Republican, May 25, 1861, p.3)
“Privates Joseph Davis and Thomas H. Good captured Messrs. Ball and Kirby, of the Fairfax Mounted Guard, who were on picket duty there. These men were THE FIRST UNIFORMED PRISONERS taken. They were delivered to Gen. Mansfield, who, according to the custom then in vogue, swore them and let them go.” (“Guarding the Capitol.––District Troops That Responded to President Lincoln’s First Call.––The Anderson Rifles in the Three Months’ Service”, Star, April 3, 1886, p.2)
Discharged.––John T. Ball and G.F. Kirby, the young men, members of the Fairfax Cavalry, who were captured by the picket guards at the chain bridge, the night before the taking of Alexandria, took the oath on Saturday, and were discharged from custody. (National Republican, June 10, 1861, p.3)
The Georgetown Boys On A Scout.––On Monday, forty of the Anderson Rifles, of Georgetown, Capt. Rodier, crossed the Potomac, about six miles above Little Falls, and took a circuit of several miles, going two miles beyond Langley, and within a short distance of Fairfax Court-House, returning by way of the Chain Bridge. (National Republican, June 19, 1861, p.3.)
In July of 1861, after the three-month enlistment of the company had been served, the Anderson Rifles were incorporated into the 1st D.C. Infantry, manning the defenses of Washington. (National Intelligencer, July 15, 1861)
The District Regiment.––The following officers have already been commissioned by the War Department for the first regiment District of Columbia volunteers: Colonel––James A. Tait. Lieutenant Colonel––Lemuel Towers. Major––J. McH. Hollingsworth. Captains––C.H. Rodier [and others]. First lieutenants––P. Louis Rodier [and others]. (National Republican, July 31, 1861, p.3)
“After being relieved by the 3d Michigan [the Anderson Rifles] were ordered to Washington, and were mustered out of service July 15, 1861. Capt. Rodier then entered the 1st regiment, District of Columbia volunteers, Col. James A. Tait [commanding].” (“Guarding the Capitol.––District Troops That Responded to President Lincoln’s First Call.––The Anderson Rifles in the Three Months’ Service”, Star, April 3, 1886, p.2)
1st District of Columbia Infantry Regiment:
July 23-October 25, 1861: Organized at Washington, D.C. under Colonel James A. Tait. October-November, 1861: Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C. attached to Provisional Brigade, Casey’s Division, Army of the Potomac. November,1861: Assigned to Robinson’s Brigade, Army of the Potomac. December, 1861: Railroad guard near Bladensburg, Md.
In December, 1861, the 1st D.C. regiment took up position at Contee’s Station (Laurel, Maryland) to guard the B&O Railroad between Washington and Baltimore; while encamped there Capt. Rodier was accidentally shot in the leg. He was confined to bed three months, and contracted pneumonia, but had recovered fully by April, 1862. (Capt. Phillip Louis Rodier, Contee’s Station, Maryland, “B. & O. R.R. (20 miles from Washington)”; to Julius Augustus Rodier, April 3, 1862.)
Death of a District officer.––We announce with regret the death, after a few days of illness, of Capt. Charles H. Rodier, of Georgetown, an officer in the 1st District regiment. The deceased, when Washington was threatened with invasion last summer, commanded the Anderson Rifles of Georgetown, and his company was one of the first to take the oath of allegiance and enlist as three months volunteers for the defense of the National Capital. They performed good service, being the first troops to cross the Potomac, which they did at Chain Bridge. Capt. Rodier was afterwards appointed in the 1st district regiment, where he has a brother serving as a lieutenant. He was accidentally shot in the leg at his camp some months ago, and suffered a great deal from the wound. He recovered so as to rejoin his regiment, but the ball was never extracted. He died yesterday afternoon. Deceased was 43 years old, and leaves a wife and a large family of children. (Star, April 4, 1862)
“Capt. Rodier… being accidentally wounded by a comrade, lingered for some time and died from the effects of his wound.” (“Guarding the Capitol.––District Troops That Responded to President Lincoln’s First Call.––The Anderson Rifles in the Three Months’ Service”, Star, April 3, 1886, p.2)
Charles H. Rodier, buried in Trinity Church Upper Grave Yard (later Holy Rood Cemetery), in section 15, lot 124, bought by Kengla and Hall, Grace Street, Georgetown. Trinity Church Death Register, p.111 (indexed, “Rodier, Charles A.”, p.79), Archives of Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown, D.C., Special Collections, Lauinger Library, Georgetown University.
Charles Rodier named among sale of lots in Georgetown for taxes due. (National Intelligencer, December 22, 1862)
Ann C. Rodier, widow, filed for pension, December 30, 1862; after her death, a minor filed for the pension, September 11, 1867.
Orphans Court of Washington County, DC: Personal estate of Charles H. Rodier, late of US Army, deceased.––Ann E. Rodier, administratrix. (National Intelligencer, June 10, 1862)
Orphans Court of Washington County, DC: case of Ann E. Rodier, administratrix of Charles H. Rodier, deceased, settlement on June 6. (National Intelligencer, May 13, 1863)
Capt. Phillip Louis Rodier, Contee’s Station, Maryland, “B. & O. R.R. (20 miles from Washington)”; to Julius Augustus Rodier, April 3, 1862. (Transcription courtesy of a descendant.)
Phillip Louis Rodier
Charles Henry Rodier’s brother Phillip was born in 1826.
Just one year ago today I wrote you a long letter on the State of the country, but received no answer. At that time, as you are aware, my feelings were decidedly Southern (that is in contra distinction to extreme Northern abolitionism) and I was exceedingly desirous of offering such terms to the South as would pacify the people and so preserve the Union, but I was decidedly opposed to the doctrine of secession. Well, the bombardment of Sumter and the insult to the nation’s banner, and the reasons urged by the traitor Roger A. Pryor for that assault, completely dissipated all my feelings in favor of the South and on the 15th day of April I enlisted or was mustered into the service of the United States as a second Lieutenant. In the meantime I had resigned my situation as foreman of Wm. Reve’s office, and had accepted the position as Assistant Foreman of the Government Printing Office at a salary of $1,500 per year. So you may see that in serving my country I have made some considerable sacrifice.
(Letter from Capt. Phillip LouisRodier to Julius Augustus Rodier, April 3, 1862)
Lt. Phillip L.Rodier served in 1st D.C. Infantry Regiment, and succeeded his brother as Captain in 1862. He survived the war.
1881, President, Honorary Corps, Wash Light Infantry Corps,
(associated with the Union Veteran Corps of Washington).
Pension filed for invalid, 1892; pension filed for widow, July 17, 1895.
Death of Capt. Rodier––Was Oldest Employee of the Government Printing Office.––Capt. P. Louis Rodier, one of the eldest inhabitants of the district died at his residence, 319 Twenty-Second Street N. W., at 6 am yesterday, after a long illness, which closed a life of charitable usefulness. He was a son of the eminent French civil engineer, Phillibert L. Rodier, one of the constructors of the Chesapeake & Ohio canal, the conceded engineering feat of the day.
Capt. Rodier was one of the best known printers of this city and the oldest employee of the Government Printing Office, having filled responsible positions therein from its inception until the beginning of his fatal illness, except for the period of four years spent in actual service as a soldier during the civil war.
He was a member of the Oldest Inhabitants Association, of the Grand Army, and of Hiram Lodge, FAAM. His funeral will take place Thursday afternoon at 3:30 under the Auspices of the Masonic fraternity from Union M. E. Church, 20th and H streets. The internment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
(Washington Post, April 10, 1895)
Phillip Rodier’s grave is in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Julius Augustus Rodier
Born in Georgetown, June 18, 1832.
In 1857 he married Miranda Fredora Bement in Titusville, Pennsylvania.
Sgt. Julius Augustus Rodier, 150th Pennsylvania Regt., guarded Washington.
1863, Medical discharge, malarial dysentery.
JULIUS A. RODIER, merchant, Centreville, was born June 18, 1832, at Georgetown, D.C., son of Col. Philiburt Louis Rodier, a topographical engineer under the First Napoleon, and who came from France to America in 1813. Here he married Mary Adelaide Jones, of Georgetown, D.C., where he died and his family still reside. He was an influential man, taking an active part in the improvements of his adopted country. He was topographical engineer of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and on its opening threw the first shovel of earth after the Master of Ceremonies, John Hancock. The success of this enterprise was mainly due to his energy and scientific skill. Our subject when eighteen years of age commenced life for himself, clerking in Baltimore till 1853, then took a trip across the mountains, roughing it for two years in a lumbering camp in Warren County, Penn.; then for one year carried on a tailoring establishment for S.A. Bennett, and clerked one year at Spartansburg, this county. Next clerked for the firm of Orange Noble & George B. Delamater, Townville, this county, until March 12, 1857, when he married Miranda, daughter of the pioneer Daniel Bement, by whom he has six children: Will P.L., married to Mary Edith Sessions; Mary A., Julius Henry D., Charles A., Millie Louisa and Jennie Gertrude. After his marriage Mr. Rodier engaged in a general merchandise store at Centreville with Samuel Post for two years. Then established himself alone in business. In 1864 admitted his brother-in-law, George Bement, which connection lasted until about 1873, since when he has been conducting the business alone. His stock consists of general merchandise and furniture in a separate establishment. During the war he took an active interest in recruiting men for the service, enlisting himself, August, 1862, in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. After six months’ active service he was honorably discharged on account of disabilities. Mr. Rodier and wife are members of the Congregational Church.
(Biographies, History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, 1885)
Julius Augustus Rodier died May 13, 1929 in Centerville, Pennsylvania.
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Carlton Fletcher
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