New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-22
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An Incident In tho Lafe ofJacob Barker, Esa.,
After the battle of Bladensburg, when the
British army was advancing on Washington, at
the request of President, Madison lady, Jacob
Barker and Robert G. Z. Depeyster took. from
the Presidents house the original portrait, Of
Washington, by Stuart; with it in charge they
fell into the trail Of the American army, then
retreating past the house, continuing with it
until nightfall, when they turned off to q farm
house near the margin of the Tiber,.. where
they. passed the night and left the portrait for
safekeepings the American army encamped
two miles further on and early the following
day it proceeded to Montgomery Court -houss u
In the morning Barker and Depeyster seated
themselves on a fallen tree near hotel, about
which many persons were congregating Wish-
ing to proceed, Barker told passing black
boy if he would go to. q distant farm in view,
where there were several horses grazing, and
procure couple to take himself and his young
companion to the army, he would give him all
the money he had in his pocket, exhibiting it
and saying, shereare seven ahillings." Ahard
looking man, q butcher from Georgetown, ON
horseback, hearing g shillings' mentioned,
eyed the strangers, spoke to the landlord, and
drove off at full gallop. Shortly after this De-
peyster said, 81 am tired Of sitting here, let us
proceed on foot..s Barker reDlied, i sit still
we are prisoners; that man. pointing to, The
landlord, sis guarding u.s." Impossiblsl' y
said Depeyster; Mr.. Barker said be quiet
FORA few moments, and he would understand
! The whole matter. go
In about fifteen minutes the butcher, accom-
panied by an officer and six or eight armed
troopers all in uniform and on horseback, Came
galloping over the hill hating st the tree.
the officer politely en9uired of Barker and Dep
eystcr their names and residence their re-
plies were disputed by the butcher, who insisted
that they were English spies, that he had heard
Barker offer a black boy g shilings' to procure
horses, that if they had such currency as shil-
lings, they must be Enghshmen. This was toe
much for the proud youthful spirit'of Depeyster
who quickly rose from his seat giving the lie te
the, butcher Barker took him BY the arm
begged him to resume his seat and leave the
mat, ,er to him; hesdid so and Barker enquired
Of the officer what would be his course if they
were English, the officer replied it will be my
duty to send you to the army to be tried o.
spies. : Barker ,rejoined "a we have no proof b
hand to establish our nationality, the soone
you sem 7us oRlthe better Nhereupon the off
Ger dire, sted two of the troopers to dismount
they did so and Barker and Depsyster 500
occupied ii heir vacated seats on the saddles, til
party rode off for the army-out of sight Of til
butcher. I. he officer becoming satisfied VII,
these strange. rs were gave them permission t
proceed at a m, are rapid rate eunaecompanied b.
q single trooper. The weather was very threat
ening. Barker pro 'fted by this indulgence, pu
spnrs to his horse, while flepeyster feeling in
dignant at his ARE est preferreNd to go as q prl
soner to the army They arriy; in season 7
escape a violent gust of vino and rain
and had the homo r of dining vii Genera
Winder and Genera Armstrong Durinl
dinner the Golonels of two Virginia Eegi
ments came in and reported the arrival z
their regiments, adding that the heavens ha
broke loose; that they had no means of feeding
their men or sheltering them from the violence of
the storm then raging. The commanding Gem
eral replied, tell your men to go home to their
families. The whole material Of the army have
crossed the Potomac into Virginia, leaving US
without means Of pro viaing for our rarmy :" Mr.,
Barker, amazed at srtch stateof things, remon-
strated, asking the General if he would disband
1000 troops anxious to fight, leaving the capitol
of his country, not fifteen miles distant, in pos.
session of an enemy only $500 strong.
The General replie d, st troops are pouring in
from every direction, and We shall have before
night more men than we can feed'' Mr.
Barker said, ssthen send then On foraging par
ties in every direction, but for Gods sake d,
not release man. The.two gentlemen started
for Baltimore, where they purchased
all the hard bread to be found in the city, oh
tanned requisition for teams from the com
nanding officer of that city and sent five or eli
Pennsylvania cover ed wagons loaded with bis
'uit at the same mig ht for the arm y, each drawn
" five horses. The expense attending this pro-
'eeding was afterw&rds, promptly refunded by
government to Mr.. Barker, although. incurred
without authority.
The sudden tornado that occurred at this
ime was SO severe that it scattered the burning
fragments of the Navy yard in every direction,
ome of which fell into an old well in which the
Americans had thrown fifty kegs of powder,
when they abandoned the yard, which powder
EXPLODED, killing and rounding very many Of
he invaders, Their officers declared 1t to be
lamned Yankee trick, and, anticipating the ex-
'losion Of other mines at every step, they fed to
heir ships under cover of the night q. II y,