The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-16


Inckient OF the Last War.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
In answer to my mic alton, published in tbs
Herald of the 3st uitmo in reply the called Mar
rstvs Of Important Incidsnt In the Last War with
Greet Beiain," there appears In the columns OF the
Ps,s 81 a bS two from sse
venerable Mrs. Madison, wn'e tue New O'ieans ID Ia
Of the 18th inst contains long aud characteristic let
ter signed Jacob Barker and addressed to upon
Il il d.-ply to bs regretted that the venerable Mrs
table; and is far from intention desire to enter
into controversy which may question the correctness
of the OF that Oh: nyuished and inimitabls
tion Did feel disposed. certainly her letter. dated
the 2si aud oath Of August 1914 would afford ample
opport unity to show that instead of sustaining the
Narrative" 1t most pslpaby con,roverts the alega.
tons OF Messrs De reyster and Barker in many par
ticulxYs.
In his letter of the 10th inst to the editors of the Er
press, Mr. De Peyster ssys: at appears that he Mr
Charles CarrolD had no sgenoy whatsoever in this mat
while the original narrative Of Mr.. Barker and which
Mr. De Peystcr abors to prove authentic states explicit
the vsnersbs Mr. carroll and in his recent letter to
the NeW Orleans Delta that gentleman says further
whether found your father (Mr. Charles Carroll)
there, whether he came In subsequently,, do not
know but do know that he assisted in taking down the
portrait OF Washington, aud left the house with the
President" Thus it appears hat the statements of MIR
Barker give full rsfutson to the assertions of Mr. De
Peys,er although confess 1t Is with some compuuo
toas that quote Mr. B. authority and only do so to
show tho discrepancies between the allegations OF MIR
De Psyster and the Narrative" Of his scoompioe
1t dicult perhaps at this late day. to deter
mine further with whom tn, IDEA OF the Of
the picture first origiuaed but it 10 true Mrs Msdi
shs has heard That Mr. Carrolps family be-
the paper which was to accompany your (Mr De Psy.
ster letter had net reschsd that distinguished lady
1t may have reminded her Of some slight incidents
that might have served to rehen her memory Is the
events day. and tended to enable her to throw
some additional light upon tbs matter.
should let this matter rest here did not the abu-
characteristic
Barker, OF the Sth inst published in the Delta call for
passing notice ignorance OF the fact that there
IT, and his in describing Charles Carroll, Of
Bellevue, Mr. Carroll, of Duidington, to distinguish
not the only inaccuracies which appear in his
two letters But would require more space than
reasonably expect will be accorded to me By the public
out will however, allude to one, as upon 1t MIR b.
dwsls at somo length. He says..' As soon as our
troops broke and rsreted tho President his
express his good lady o. her DANGER with direo
tons leave immediately This messenger must have
reached the White House by two o'clock and Mrs Ma
disoa M aud Mrs Cults and servant left Immediately
thereafter" This story Is told for the purpose show
Ing that it was impossible that my father had, as
had alleged, by invitation, dined en- famiile, with
Mrs. M. that day; and that they we're sitting
at table alone after dinner, when the Presidents
want, entering announced tho battle and the defeat
and upon this Mr. Barker goes on to speak Of the man
and customs of the times to show the improbabty
of the story as related by me- In answer to this have
O'Clock tho afternoon Of the day of the battle, In
which she says" Three oclook will You believe it. my
sister, we have had battle skirmish Bladens-
burg, and am within the sound Of the cannon :? Mr..
Madison comes not-msy God protect him. Two mes
sengers covered with dust, como to bid me fly, but
This will show that Mr.. ia inaccurate regards
the time he evidently is as regards more important
my story incorrect the groundwork OF his
While the concluding paragraph Of the letter Of
in the work Of preserving the picture she says Our
kind Mr. Carroll has come to hasten departure,
and Is in . very bad humor with me beceuss insist
waiting until the large picture Of Gen Washington
Is requires to be from the wall
This found to be tedious for these peril
Gus moments have ordered the frame to be broken,
and tho canvass taken out it is DONE" By whom!
say, By my father Mr. Barker says my father assisted
not be un.c1.wed from the wall, he took his kos and
separated the canvass from the frame Mr.. B admits
he found the portrait lying on the floor How came t
there Ny father out out and 1t fell there he laid
1t there; aud Mr. Barker and Mr. De Peysters agency
consisted in taking it away
letter Of the posboy who delivers the sealed letter.
tslng beautiful easons from poet of celebrity,
claiming share of the bsrds Ienown Is not unhappy
given OF the character In which Mr.. b. actsd-if he
acted at all the occasion alluded to-athough from
fiction mproba that If he had been psrse-
verug In counting the muses. az ne mas been III other
pursuits he might have acquired the celebrity ofsh'
In coming promptly to the rescue CT his friend Con-
Armstrong, whom he dssignates a. that merisorious
of story relative to the open and public denuuoA
ton by my father of Gen Armstrong, for his alleged
say that .n Armstrong was not hoI after
and to relate oth.r which ioduce
him to make the unqualified assertion that mo such
meeting" Is have described in my former letter
lever took place." To this l answer, that have
seen not only tbs unqualified testimony of officer
Of high standing, then in the United States army
and others who both heard and what took plAcs
the presence of President Madison and members Of his
cabinet. and Others assembled on Windmill Camp
xuha fat er
proered hand and In tones of patriotic ndsnaton de-
nounced him in the manner before but the
evidence also that General Armstrong was
on horseback at that time. And now for the proof
Having learned that this conclusive testimony was
probable will in his own time h.nd it together with
other matter connected with this alleged ncon over
to history. called upon him, and asked the privilege
to look ut IT. and seeing to be ad hominu In the
Enlistment my statement az convictng OF the same
time the reckless Mr. Barker Of utter disregard Of
iege ia the name Of truth and justice to use the
mony which was granted me 1t il as follows:-
to be- ut washington shortly after tbs
burg flair and lodging at Meals boarding house
The President and members of the had
returned with the exception of Gen Armstrong. Gen
Parker had made known to the witness that Gen. Arm
strong expected to arrive from Frcdericktown on
that he would on his return be subjected to personal
violence that dsrespsct would be shown him a.
he came through Georgetown. The witness ami the
other two officers offered to accompany Gen. Parker up
the Fredericktown road and meet and accompany Gen.
Armstrong to the city. They met him, In hack at
Terl.ytown Gen. Parker handed Gen. Armstrong a
note lstterwhoh the wnsss had reason afterwarde
to believe from Mr. Madison, and that it suggested
to Gen Armstrong to avoid Georgetown in his approach
to the city He did avoid It, by going into Warrington
by horse crossing Rock Creek at the paper mill
and reached tho Six Buildings. (ONeals boarding
house in the On aghtipg Gen Armstrong :nquir-
ed where the President could be ound Learned that
Mr. Monroe and rode in the direction OF Wind
mill Hill. A horse being provided for Gen Armstrong
all rode to that spot, Gnd found Mr. Madison with
porten OF his cabinet and several OF tho
trict amongst whom Mr.. Charles Carroll Of Belle
vue. Gen Armstrong spoke to Mr. Madison and Others
and then to MIR. Carroll who sat on horseback, some
eight or ten feet from him. Mr.. Carroll immediately
with considerable excitement threw out his hori
z,nally In front Of Gen. Armstrong; face. saying VI
don't know you, runti you clear up your character
| don't wish to have anything to say TO you" General
Armstrong made no reply whatever, and Mr. Msdieon
uoving from the sIot, he Gen A acconpanied him.