The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-08
MISCELLANEOUS.
scene. Of the Last War.

The following account of Mrs. Madson's flight from
Washington, and of the saving OF Stuarts portrait OF
Gen Washington, when the Capital was 'akeh by tne
En- dish during the late war. is from Mr T. j. lhgesos
forthcoming history
par, of Col C.rberry's regiment OF regulars quar-
Tered moi far from the Presidents House, IN the large hall
of which were stored munitions OF war. Two cannon
served BY four Bs es osoeos ne bos
papers some clothing and other important ARTICLES pack
In carriage and made ready for what always all aniic
pated-hight. DIR. Blake the mayor OF Washington,
twice called warn her of the peril of her situation and
urge her departure The four arterists fled, leaving her
alone in the house, with no attendants but servants ins
most intelligent and reliable OF whom one called
French John, Mr. John Siousa, native OF Paris, VINO
came this country seaman board the french
irsate, in 1904, COMMISSIONED to take back Jerome
Bonaparte whose marriage with beauuiui hmeIi'
wife gave umbrage TO his ambitious and nm I'M
perous, and soon TO be IMPERIAL brother Ialley-
rand addressed his master, the Emperor, when crown
ed, deplong the terrible degradation OF whole family
of American cousins y and then Mr.. Sousa, with seve-
raj others of the French Of the two frgales, de-
serted from all imperial navy to establish himself IN this
country. ard become the father OF SIXTEEN republican
children Living first in the service OF Mr. Merry, when
British Minister to the United States, and afterwards OF
Mr.. Elskne, from his family MIR, Siousa went to that OF
OF t the Msopos Bank Of Wilmington Ts long after
The Mayors second call Mrs Madison, pressing her
departure she still lingering for tdngs OF her husband
masters last note, in pencil, directing her TO fly at once
The horses, already harnessed to the carriages were or
dered to the door, and, with her female servants IN one
aud only little black girl in her own Mrs Madison
drove off,
The afternoon before, Mr. George w P. Custs, of
washington, grandson Of Mrs Gusts, Gen Washing
toms wife, in whose family he was brought up-a gen.
teman fond OF painting. and OF all memorials o. his
grandmoters husband particularly every variety OF por-
traits of Washingto at the Presidents TO save
fuength picture which has been the few orna-
ents of the presidential mansion during its ten incum
benches from that of the first Adams on the removal OF
the seat OF government in 1900, to the District OF Co
iumba. The picture, in 1914, hung on the wes! wall OF
the large dining groom, instead o. the east wall OF the
small paror, where it is now The President promised
Mr. GUSTS that it should be taken care OF, and Mrs
Madison deemed her duty not TO leave such trophy
for the captors 1t is one OF Washingtons kenesses
by Stuart stamped with his superiority portrait paint
sr, the head and face strongly resembling the original
the person OF Washington was LETT Tor another ar
list Wnsaney. 70 whom President Adamss SON. law,
ner of this parody that Washingion's tall gaunt per
his shape air, and attitude are much better gwen
by Trumbus representation of him in the several his,
tocal pictures which fill panels in the rotundo at the
Capitol Mrs Madison, with the carving knife IN her
hand stood by while French John and olhsrs sove to
detach the picture unnured from its heavy external guilt
Frame and preserve il whole the inner wooden work
BY which il was keP, dstended and screwed to the wall
Presidents family entered from The affair OF Bladensbug
while the French porter John Sousa and Irish gardener,
Thomas MGaw, were laboring with Ratchet to take
down the picture, and demonstrated against Mrs Madi
son rskng capture for such object which, Mr. Car
roll urged, ought not to delay her departure Her letter
%a se He hoss @
highly worthy of credit thinks she was gone before 1t
done, her letter expresses the accomplishment
The Irish gardener, to whose aid, in the midst OF the
work, Mr. Jacob Barker in according to Siousas
recollection, while he to bring an axe, got the
picture down from the wall and placed S the hands
ment, there other person except a black man,
whom Siousa took for Mr. Bakers servant. Carried
Georgetown, the picture deposited by MIR Barker in
aplace Of safety The presidential household god the
image of the Father of his CountIy-by whom its CHIEF
city fixed his home, and by whose it was
called-was thus snatched from the clutch or torch OF
the barbarian captos Such, as near as II can be ascer
ained is the truth Of Its rescue, which has been EN-
broied in newspaper polemcs by several claimants to
part Of the honor
Mrs Madison, driving to Georgetown, went first to
the residence OF the Secretary of the Navy then to Belle
vue, and, joined by the families Of Mr.. Jones and Mr.
Carroll returned to the town. insisting that her terrified
coachman should take her back towards the Presidents
the lower bridge, attended by Mr. Monroe and Mr.
she left il and stopped there few minutes Tor refresh
ments. Col. Laval, with some of his dragoons the regu
lars, and company or two OF volunteers also stopped
cts OF water and bottles OF wne set before the door fo
hurried draught during which short stay many things
were taken out of the house by Individuals most Of
them, probably, TO be secured and restored, some
were but not all for the Secretary Of the Treasurys fine
duellng pistols, which the President took from his ho
sters and laid a table, carried off, and
covered AS the executive and military fugves
disappeared. Sousa solitary and alone the house. who
and pistols OF the Algerine minister, which in
the Patent Office, carried the parrot to Col Tayoe resi-
dence and left il there, in charge of the French minister
cook and them returning shut all the doors and win
dows of the Presidents House, and taking away the key
with him, went for security to the residence OF Dasch
kof, the Russian minister, then at Philadelphia. The
British broke open the house and burned it, before
stated without discovering as believed, anything they
deemed worth preserving II they found feast there
sumed in the orgies of their filthy debauch
While the ladies of MIR. Jones and Mr. CAROLS fami-
lies fingered in Georgetown for Mrs. Madison she
companied her husband the bank Of the Potomac where
small boat was kept ready, OF the many others all
sunk removed but that one to transport the President
Mr. Monroe, Mr.. Rush, Mr. Mason and Mr.. Carroll to
the Virginia shore. The boat too small to carry all
once that several trips necessary the shades
of night set in upon them like departing spirits leaving
the world behind to be ferred inevitable Styx
President, secretary attorney, and commissary general
seemed condemned Immortality OF at least contempt
and maledic,ion in the world. About that time it must
have been, ever Mrs Madison is clear her recol
lection the time, that Cockburn's profeI
reached them of escort for her TO place of Safety for
was impossible till nghtalI, till when he did not enter
the city, imperfect remembrance OF which event may give
color TO General Armstrong; impression, derived from
DR. Thornton. that Ross and Cockburn rendered the