Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
rrs. Madison's flight from. vs. .,si,inston

The following accout Of Mrs. Madisons fight from
Washington, and Of the saving Of Stuart's portrait 81
Gen Washington, when the Capital was taken bv the
English during the late war is from Mr. O. j. In-ersols
forthcoming history
Part of Col Carberrvs reg nent of REGULARS was QUAR-
tered not far from the Presidents House in the larc
hall Of which were stored munitions Of war Two can
non served by four artlersts were planted before the
front door Mrs Madison gathered the most rrccious
cabinet papers, some clothing, and other important ar
tcleS packcd IN carriage. and made ready for what
almost al anticpated-tght. DR.. Backe the may
or Of Washington, twice called to warn Her of the peri
OF her situation and urge her departure The four ar
Interests led leaving her alone in the house with no at
endants but servants, the most intelligent and reliable
Of whom was one called French John Mr. John Siousa
native OF Paris, who came to this country as a sea
man On board the French lrigate Didon accompanied
by the Cybce. another frigate in 1904 commissioned
r. take hack Jerome Bonaparte, whose marriage with
g beautiful American wife gave umbrage to his amn-
tlouS lmpcrlouS, and soon to be imperial brother
IaIcyrand addressed his master tile Emperor when
crowned deporing the terrble degradation Of whole
family Of American cousins, and then Mr. Siuu-a with
several others Of the French crews of the two frratcs
deserted from an imperial navy to establish himself
III tins country, and become tile father Of Sixteen ~
publican children Living first III tile service IF MI
Merry, when the British Minister Of the United States
and afterwards fNlr. Erskine from his family Mr.
Slousa went to that Of Madison, as his porter and
IS yet LIVING, messenger Of the Metropolis Bank Of
Washington. Not long after the MAYORS second call
on Mrs Madison pressing her Departure Sic still lin
gered for tidngs Of her husband his faithful brave
young slave jim returned with his Masters last note
in pencil, directing her to fly at once The horses al
ready harnessed to the carriages were ordered to the
door, and with her female servants in one and onlv A
little black girl in her own, Mrs Madison drove off,
The afternoon before Mr. George w. T. Custis of
Nrhngton on the other side of the Potomac opposite
to Washington, grandson Of Mrs. Gusts, Gen Wash
ington's wife il whose family lie was brought up-a
gentleman fond Of painting ana Of all memorials Of lis
grandmOthcrs husband, particularly every variety of
portraits Of Westinghouse at the Presidents to
| save full length picture which has been among the
few ornament, Of the Presidential mansion dur;r it,
incumDencics from that If he tr>t Adams III the
removal Of the Of government in 1900 tn tie Dis
trlct Of Columbia. The picture in lSI4 hung on tic
west wall of the large dnaroom instead of fine east
wall Of the small parlor, whore il is noy-The Prosi
dent promised MI Gusts that Tx souIi be cara If
ana Mrs Madison deemed her duty not To leave such
a trophy for the captors 1t is one Of Washinoutn.s
likeness bv Stuart STAMPED with his sunerority ~ a
portrait painter the head and face STRONGLY IIino
the original Ncgli-cnt as Stuart was Of All I'M te
face Of his pictures Tie person Of WASHINGTON ,y, It
ror another artist Win,tnnIv "a ,vhor, prniIort III
ans son in law. VIM. SmitL stoo1 ror Ana Ity E,-Is
posturc and manner of tl,ie ,,orlr ca +L. lj- L;'
TOMS tall ruant nnrson his shonc al. and o++;t,J
are much better divap ~ rnoIiirIs ro,ra.ota+;, -
lin II ILL several hitrr;c.I ;tos ,t;L iii ,iI
4 thp rDtuplo oftl IVA N,
caryinr Lnif N In , .I III ~ i'a' '
otInrs s+r,,.o ~ l.i ~ o .f f '-i' g. ~
heavy ov tor,aI lii c n - :; ~ W
in,or ,,,nl AT ,r III ,,;I ~ " Y" II
Ana srrnyrnI u +Ia rii @P ii 4 li1oN
/ ! o,+Io ;t;. i, Ill: IN, - noh0' "
on fn az oslu0.lt i'''iS enter
,t W &C. VI 'i''e"'puts ""Hc 'he nrehch
NoC, on'a ''i,t an h1Ii 9"Ne noiliS
t III i"'oii',7 wv, " " ,aNc uo"li III
~ III 'ii9tiItcu against N1rs' -aulsoh risN-
~ ~ capture or Such an oOJect' which Mr Carol
not 10 uei"y her departure, Hcr letter t.
iiS " aSnfVoh states that the picture was
~ " Noi0 Ely ICY the mouse. MI olouS' VINO =
"o''ny u creuit' THINKS she was gone before It
MT Ioc' rs cr tettcr expresses the accomplishment
me HiSh gardener TO whose ana, IN the midst Vi the
"olk r jacob barker came IN, according to Slousas
Iecco!ectlen While he was gone to bring an axe, got
thc picture down from the wal, and placed It in the
hand. q Mr. Barker with whom according % Siousas
statement, there was no other person except black
man, whom Siousa took for Mr.. Bankers servant
earned OF, upheld whole IN the inner wooden frame,
beyond Georgetown, the picture was deposited by Mr.
Barker ~ place Of safety. The Presidential house,
hold god the image ofthe Father ofhis Country-by
whom its chet city fixed near his house, and by whose
name was called-was thus snatchcd from the clutch
or the torch OF the barbarian captors. Such,
as can be ascertained is the truth Of its rescue which
has been cmbroilcd in newspaper polemics by several
claimants in part Of the honor
Mrs Madison, driving to GEORGETOWN went first in
the residence of the Secretary Of the NAVY then to
Bellevue and Joined bv the families of Mr. Jones and
Mr. Carol returned to the town. insisting that her