The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-06-27

Fgas seriously engaged. Uf the Sailors,
however, it-would be injustice not to
speak in the terms which their conduct
merits. They were employed as. gun
ners, and not only did they serve their
guns with quickness and precision which
astonished their assailants, but they stood
till some of them were actually bayon-
eted, with fusees in their hands; nor was
it till their leader was wounded and TAX
en-, and they saw themselves deserted on
all sides by the soldiers, that they quilted
the feld.-With respect to the British
army again, no line of distinction can be
drawn. All did their duty, and none
more calamity than the rest"
*** ~ $50
sour troops being worn down by ia
tigue, and of course as ignorant of the
country as the Americans were the re-
verse, the pursuit could not be continu-
ed TO any distance. Neither was it at.
tended with much slaughter. Div
ing into the recesses of the forest, and
covering themselves with rifemen, the
enemy were quickly beyond our reach;
and having no cavalry to scour, even
the high road, ten of the lightest of
their guns were carried off in the flight.
The defeat, however, was absolute; and
the army which had been collected for
the defence of WashingtoR was scat
tered beyond the possibility of at least
reunion and as the distance from
Bladensburgh TO that city does not ex-
coed four miles, there appeared to be
no further obstacle in the way, to pre-
vent its immediate capture.
6 As it was not the intention of the British
government to attempt permanent conquest
IN this part of America, and as the General
was well aware that, with handful of men,
he could not pretend to establish himself for
any length of time in the enemy's capital, he
determined to lay it under contribution, and
to return quietly to the shipping Nor was
there any thing unworthy of a British officer,
in this determination. By all the customs of
war, whatever pubick property may chance
to be in captured town, becomes confessedly
the just spoil of the conqueror; and in thus
proposing to accept certain sum of money in
lieu OF that property, he was showing mercy,
rather than severity, to the vanquished.-It
IS true that if they chose to reject his terms.
he and his army would be deprived of their
booty; because, without some more conve-
nient mode of transporting it than we possess
ed, even the portable part of the property it.
self could not be removed. But, ON the 9TH
er hand, there was no difficulty in destroying
it aud thus, though we should gain nothing,
the American government would lose proba-
bly, to much greater amount than if they
had agreed to purchase its preservation by the
money demanded.
:. Such being the intentions of General
Ross, he did not march the troops immedi-
ately into the city, but halted them upon
plain in its immediate vicinity, whilst flag
of truce was sent in with the terms. But
whatever his proposal might have been, it was
MOI - .-->>~i ~ l,aard- ~sy lr~d the.
party, bearing the flag, entered the street,
than they were fired upon from the windows
of the houses, and the horse of the General
himself, who accompanied them, was killed.
You will easily believe that conduct so unius.
Unable, so direct a breach of the law of ma
tlons, reused the indignation of every indiyid-
ual, from the General himself, down to the
private soldier. All thoughts of accommoda-
ton were instantly laid aside the troops adj
VaI1ced forthwith into the town, and having
first put to the sword all who were found in
the house where the shots were fired, and re-
ducedi to ashes, they proceeded without
moments delay, to burn and destroy every
thing IN the most distant degree connected
with government. In this general devastation.
were included the Senate House, the Presi-
dents palace, an extensive dock and arsenal.
barracks for two or three thousand men, sew
eral large store-houses filed with naval ard
military stores, some hundreds of cannon of
different descriptions, and nearly twenty
thousand stand of small-aIms. There were
also two or three publick rope walks which
shared the same fate, fine frigate pierced
for sixty guns, and just ready to be launch
ed, several gun-brigs and armed schooners.
with variety of gun-boats and small craft.
The powder magazines were of course set on
fire, and exploded with tremendous crash.
throwing down many houses in their vicinity.
partly by pieces Of the wall striking them,
and partly By the conclusion OF the air-while
quantities OF shot, shells, and hand grenades,
which could not otherwise be rendered use
less, were thrown into the river. In DESTROYS
ing the cannon, method was adopted which
had never before witnessed, and which. as
1t was both ehectual and expeditions, cam
not AVOID relating One gun, of rather a
small calibre, was pitched upon as the exc
cutioner OF the rest and being loaded with
ball and turned TO the muzzle of the others,
IT was fired, and thus beat out their breechne.
Many, however, not being mounted. could
not be thus dealt with--these were spiked.
and having their trunnlons knocked off, were
afterwards cast into the bed of the river.