Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-09


rents. and fash after fash ofyivid lightning dis
PLAYED not only the bivouac, but the streets, the
houses, nav the very windows in the town, with
degree Of minu,sness far greater than the
beams Of noon-day. sun would have produced.
The effect was magnificent beyond the power
Of language to Describe. Not even The drench-
ing. against which cioaks and blankets failed to
afford protection, could lead me to neglect the
occurrence e; for really do not recolect, at any
period of my life, to have been witness TO
spectacle SO imposing.
The thuuier-storms in Virginia, though rio-
len, to degree unknown in European countries,
are seldom Of very long continuance. In less
than an hour, the present bad died away, and
there was again nothing to break in upon the
qriet of the night, except an occasional roar as
magazine blew up, or crash, as wall or
roof fell to the ground. But these were already
familiar to US; they interfered intno respect with
our slumbers, which, being speedily renewed,
continued unbroken till the hour Of general mus
ter dispelled them.
AS soon as dawn appeared, the brigade NOV
ed from us bivouac upon the common, and
marched into the town Proceeding along
narrow street, which was crossed al right an
giles by two or three of a similar description,
We arrived at large open space, surrounded on
having its fourth imperfectly occupied by the
ruins OF the Senate House. II is slightly raised
above the level Of the rest Of the city, and is
crossed by paltry stream called, IN true gran
dioquence, the Tibcr, as the hill itself is called
the Capitol. Here the brigade halted, and pill
ing their arms in two close columns, the men
were permitted to lie down.
Whilst the corps continued thus, very glad
ly accompanied the surgeon into house hard
by, for the purpose Of having my wound pro-
perly examined and dressed. found the build
ing deserted by its owners but Of the domes-
tics some had ventured 10 stay behind; and from
one Of these in particular | received the kind
est treatment. She was an old negress; free
woman, however, as she took care to inform US,
and at the head Of the establishment. The
good na,ured creature not only produced the
contents of her masters larder, but conducted
me up stairs, took nice linen shirt from a
drawer, carefully aired it, and then begged that
would accept and wear it for her sake.
Now, know not whether an offer thus made
ought, according 10 the strict letter Of moral
proprety, to have been attended TO; the good
woman was certainly giving away that which
ives not hers to give. Yet let the truth be told
I had worn my shirt by night and by day, I'M
der broiling marches, and through rainy bivou-
that the opportunity Of exchanging ii for snow
white piece Of linen and cambria, was grea,
deal too tempting to be neglected. l gladly
took The American shirt, and saved my own
conscience, and the housekeeper's reputation,
by leaving an English one upon the dressing ia
bic in its room. i
II so happened, that neither my friend nor
myself were employed in perpe,rating any one
III the deeds Of violence BY which the visit OF
the English army to the Capitol Of the United
States was distinguished. Of the arsenal, pub
lie rope ak, armory, bridge and palace, we
accordingly saw nothing excep, the smoke and
fame which marked their destruction. Mel
Their was an opportunity afforded Of making
ourselves very intimately acquainted with the
general appearance Of the ruin. Having pro-
cured a horse, rode indeed through few of
what were called streets; that is to say, along
extensive lanes, paved only in part, and boast.
ing, in numerous instances, Of no more than five
or six houses on each side of the way, planted
AT distance Of some eighth part of a mile from
one another. But with such opportunities OF
gathering information, it would i'll become me
10 speak at large Of place, which has doubt
less changed its aspect greatly IN the course of
twelve years, and may be, for augh, know to
the contrary, as il might have been then, pos.
sessed Of a thousand sweet attractions, known
only TO its denizens. The feature, in its gene
raj aspect, which remains most prominently in
my recollection is, however, not quite in &C
cordance with our notion Of great capitol. l
perfectly recollect, that in the line Of several Of
its public thoroug hfares, as well as throughout
the range of its most fashionable quarters, rem
nants, and no inconsderable remnants, of the
ancien, forest were left standing.
NooL had past; when heavy columns fdust,
rising from certain high grounds on the oppo-
site bank Of the Potomac, attracted our atten-
ton. We were not left long in doub, as to the
cause from whence they proceeded, for the
glittering Of arms became instantly visible, and
a large American force showed itself. 1t took
up position Immediately before US, and pushed
forward pairole Of cavalry as Gar as the SUI
burbs Of Georgetown. There was not an indi-
vidual in the army TO whom these circumstances
communicated feeling at all akin TO surprise.
We had been led to expect an attack from the
hour of our advance into Washington, and we
were both ready and willing to meet it, let it
happen when it might But the elements in.
terfered TO Illustrate the designs Of the enemy
&c india 10 ineJ n