The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-12-04

town before the ships left the river. Mr..
Keys family were still in Georgetown
He would not, aud could not with honor
leave the place, while it was threatened
! by the enemy, for he was volunteer in
the. Light Infantry, commanded by Major
Peter, which was composed. of citizens Of
the District of Columbia, who had uni
| formed themselves and offered their servi-
ces to the government, and who had been
employed in active service from the time
the British fleet had appeared in the Pa
tuxcnt, preparatory to the movement upon
Washington. And Mrs. Key refused to
leave home while Mr.. Key was thus daily
exposed to danger. .... ID. m
Believing, as we did, that an attack
would probably be made on Georgetown,
we became very anxious about the situa-
ton of his family. For if the attack was
made, Mr. Key would be with the troops
engaged in the defense; and as it was i'm.
possible to forsee what would be the is.
sue Of the conflict, his family, by remain.
ing in. Georgetown, might be plYccd in
great and useless peril. When speak OF
,ce, mean Mr., Keys father and mother,
ard Mrs. Taney and myself But it was
agreed among US TINT should 90 to George,
town, and try to per uade Mrs. Key to
come away with their children, and stay
with me or with Mr.. Keys father until
the danger was over When reached
Georgetown, | found the English ships
still at Alexandria, and body of militia
encamped in Washington, which had been
assembled 10 defend the city. But it was
then believed, from information received,
that no attack would be made by the
enemy en- Washington or Georgetown;
and preparations were making on our part
to annoy them by batteries on the shore
when they descended the river. The knowl-
edge of these pre- separations probably hasten
I'd their departure, and on the second or
third day after my arrival the ships were
seen moving down the Potomac.
On the evening of the day that the
enemy disappeared, Mr. Richard West ar
rived at Mr.. Keys, and told him that af.
ter the British army passed through Upper
Marlborough, on their return to their ships;
and had encamped some miles below town,
a detachment was sent back which entered
DR.. Beanes' house about midnight compel
led him to rise from his bed, and hurried him
off to the British camp, hardly allowing him
time to put his clothes on; that he was treat
ed with great harshness, and closely gusrded;
and that as soon as friends were apprsed Of
his situation they hastencd to the head quar-
ters Of the English army TO solicit his release,
but it was peremptorily refused, and they
were not even permitted to see him; and that
he had been carried as prisoner on board
the fleet. And finding their own efforts una
ESaiIipg. and alarmed for his safety, his friends
in and about Marlborough thought it adVisa-
BILE that West should hasten to Georgetown
and request Mr.. Key to obtain the sanction
of the government to his going on board the
Admiral's ship, under a flag of truce, and en-
deavoring TO procure the release of DR..
Beanes before the feet sailed. 1t was then
lying at the mouth OF the Potomac, and its
destination was not at that time known with
certainty.
DR.. Beanes, as perhaps you know, was
the leading physician in Upper Marlborough,
and an accomplished scholar and gentlemen.
He was highly respected by III who knew
him, was the family physician of Mr. West,
and the intimate friend of Mr.. Key. He oc
cupied one ofthe best houses in Upper Mari
borough, and lived very handsomely; and
his house was selected for the quarters of
Admiral Cockburn and some of the prnci-
pal officers of the army when the British
troops encamped at Marlborough on their
march to Washington. These officers were
OF course, furnished with every thing that
the house could offer, and they, in return,
treated him with much courtesy, and guards
nround his ground and out houses to prevent
depredations by their troops. 1..-.j
But on the return of the army 10 the ships,
after the main body had passed through the
town, straggers WHO had LEFT the ranks for
| punder, or some other motives, made their
appearance from time to time, singly or in
small squads, and DR.. Beanes put. himself at
the head of small body OF citja&ns to pur-
sue ond make prisoners Of them. Informa,
ton Of this proceeding was, by some means
or other, conveyed to the English camp, and
the detachment Of hich have spoken was
sent back to release the prisoners and him, ,Gnd
! certainly did not treat him as Il. prisoner OF
war, but as one who had deceived and bro.
ken his faith with them. '." ..'
Mr, Key readily agreed to undertake the
mission in his favor, and the President
promptly gave his sanction to it, Orders
were Immediately issued to the vessel usually
| employed as a cartel in the communications
with the fleet in the Chesapeake to be made
ready without delay; and MI. John s. Skin.
ner, who was agent for the government for
flags Of truce and exchange of prisoners
and who was we'll known as such to the
officers of the fleet was directed to accompa.
ny Mr.. Key. And as soon as tho arran nge-
rnents were made he FASTENED to Baltimore,
where the vessel wasto embark; and MRS.