Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-03-26
MONDAY, MARCH a6, 1882.
From The London Metropolitan.
. SCENE IN THE LAST WAR.

Peter Parker took leave oil his wife at Bordeaux,
and we, with large convoy carrying troops.
made sail to the coast of America We arrived
in the Chesapeake at that time that the detesta-
bic war Of conHagration was al its height When
we entered the Potomac a, large riSer which emp
ties itself into the Chesapeake the fertile shores
of this beautiful, abode presented the sad effects
of the war, on each side houses were burning
with fearful rapidity, and. when night came on
they resembled the signal fires OF the lnd'ans'
blazing in all the horrors Of destruction. lhe next
day our marines accompanied the marines OF the
rest of the squadron in one Ut these eXpedl tons
W. were commanded by Sir q. COckburn IN per-
son and with him as an amateur, was the late
Gallant General Ross, who was afterwards Killed
n Baltimore. Our destination was up river
winch runs at the back of ST Georges Island;
and the object was to destroy factory when
was not only the abode OF innocent labor, but
likewise the resort of some few militia men, gull
Is Of the unnatural sin of protecting their own
country. We started in the morning, aud having
landed about five miles up the river, proceeded
alon. pretty fair road, hanked on each sid ny
large woods. which led 10 the 'acto =. General
Ross directed the movements OF our skiImisheIs,
and instructed our general IN some OF the
safeguards of land army. When we arrived
within two hundred yards of the town. SIR Pc
ter NaNe TIE Wriu TOT MS ulNlsion w
at full tot arrived at he factory. Our approach
had been long known; every one but the women
and childrcu had deserted the town, and had Ia
ken with them most of the implements of their
laLlr; we therefore most valiantly set fire to the
unprotected property, Notwithstanding the tears
and cries Of the women; and. like a parcel OF
savares as we we're, danced round the wreck OF
ruin 1t Is now of no use to dive into the rea-
son whv this savage mode of warfare was resort
ed To, II vas generally asserted to be merely re-
TAXATION in the South, for aggressiOns IN the North:
IN short, as the Americans burnt right and lett In
Canada, We did them the same compliment IN
the Chesapeake. thereby following an example
which greater barbarians than ourselves have shud
dered TO commit. BE it as it may, every house
which we could by ingenuity vote INTO the resi-
dence IF militia man was burnt; and, as almost
every man In America did belong to militia. we
had abundant opportunities OF becoming the most
scientific destroyers of all sorts and kinds at
prnperty. On our return from the factory, Ge-
neral Ross went on board the Admiral's ship,
whilst Sir G. Cockburn and Sir P. Parker. with
a sufficient force. landed on the shore immediate.
ly behind II Georges Island, and proceeded to
surround a dwelling house rear the beach. Ii
was nine o'clock in the evening; the sun had long
set. aud the moon threw clear pale light over
the landscape. Tie house was surrounded with
fir trees; and the inhabitants little drcam. IN So
calm and beautiful night, that the destroyer was
at hand All was hushcd and quiet. with the eX-
ception of the chirpng cricket. and the ripple ot
the water as II broke on the beach. Like mo
night murderers we cautiously approached the
house; the door was open. and we uneerer'onious'
ly intruded ourselves upon three young laoies SIT
tin, quietly at tea. occupying themselves with
their work, aud apparently expecting visit from
some persons With whom they we're better ac'
9uainted.
Sir G. Cockburn, Si Peter Parker, and my
selE. entered the room rather s1ddeniy, and 81
multaneous scream our welcome. sir y
Cockburn has naturally "a austere countenance:
but Sir Peter Parker, who was the Nandsomps
man I'm the navy, wore always a winning smile
and cheerful demeanor. The ladies' instantly
appealed to the latter. but he was good ofiC err,
and knew how to obev as ell as command. Sir
George asked for the colonel, their father. He
was out. and not expected home. " He provided
arms for some of the miiitla?'' continued Sir
George. There seemed slight acquiesceuce on
the part of the ladies, which was followed By
these wOrds-.s am sorry to be guilty OF an ap
narept in,ivility: but your father has manly as
s;sted in arming the militia. and | must now dc
NV duty In ten minutes time must set hire
to this house; therefore use that period IN remov-
inc your most valuable effects, for at the expira-
tinn of those ten minutes shall give orders to
burn the premises" Any one who knew Sir
Georue would have known that he never deyiated
from his word. and consequently would have be-
gun TO have packed up With all despatch. Not
SO the Young ladies'; they threw themselves on
their knees. begged. implored, urged, and pray
ed the Admiral to depart and leave them to their
home and their father:-" They never assisted
in the war, excepting to succor wounded enc
my'-s. They never urged their father to arm
the militia: they were. in fact, poor and unpro-
t.eted females" Five minutes had elapsed: in
vain thew implored Sir George 10 forego his inten.
tions. The Youngest. girl Of about sixteen. and
lovely beyond the general b'auty of those parts.
threw herself at Sir Peter Parker's knees and
praved him to interfere. The tears started from
ii. ewes in moment; and was so bewildered
at the affecting scene tina, appeared to see thro'
the thick mist. There stood Sir George. his
couotenance unchanged and Interchangeable; hts