Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-05-15
The Invasion and Capture of Wash
ingtOn in 1914.

by the British forces, under Admirals
Ceckburn and Cochrane, will not be inap-
proprate; and as many of those strangers
now at the capital may feel interested to
mark the localities where the first gensr-
q! encounter occurred and Subsequent
events took place, these will be noted
briefly in the order in whicn they trans.
pired.
During the early portion Of the sum-
mer o. 1874, Cockburn's feet lay along
the coast of Virginia, Maryland and the
Chesapeake, when they were joined, on
the third OF August, by Cochrane's fleet,
direct from Bermuda, both numbering to-
gether twenty sail Our Government was
apprised OF hostile intententions upon
the capital, but General Armstrong, then
Secretary OF War, rrofessed disbelief in
the rumor', and the National IatellgcGcer,
proyerbially cautious then, as now, in its
conclusions, DOUBTED the probability OF
hostile intentions upon the capital.
President Madison, however. had taken
some precautionary steps, by ordering a
militia organization, which he deemed
sufficient tor the occasion, in addition to
a lotilla OF barges bearing guns, placed
under the command of Capt. Joshua Bar.
ney, and attended to check fleets in adj
vancing toward the capital. But after
sailing up the hay, the troops disembark-
tuxent river, on the Goth Of August On
the following day the army, consisting of
four thousand men, teok up their march
toward the infant city. They were with
out artillery or cavalry, and marched un-
der the heat Of a midsummer sun to Bla-
densburg, which they reached on the 24th
By adopting this route the hotilla attor-
ded nc protection 10 the city, and, to pre-
vent the guns OF boats from being taken
and used against the capital, they were
| blown up on the morning OF the 22d, by
order of VIM. Jones, the Secretary of the
Navy.
The approach Of The troops under Maj.
! Gen. Robert Ross and Admiral Cockbu.
was watched by President Madison in per-
son, who directed eight thousand inexpe~
rienced and undisciplined militia to Bla.
! densburg, under the command of Gen.
Winder, to oppose the four thousand
ritiSh soldiers. Capt Barney, having
destroyed the tlotlla, joined the military
force Of Gen Winder, with one hundred
seamen and his field pieces. On the af.
| terpoon of the 25th, the British opened
! fire, which was successfully returned by
| Barney's sailors, who maintained their po-
sltion nobly, while the raw recruits, un,
der Wmde kept at a r spectful distance,
who, rendering little or no service with
their musketS, soon broke ranks and
1 turned their backs to the foe. Barney's
seamen fought brayely, and their guns
proved terribly destructive to the enemy.
lie was overcome, however, after three
hours hard fighting. hanked by superior
numbers, and finally fell Sounded by the
side of eleven of his men who were killed
at their guns. He ordered Il retreat, and
gave himself up. His bravery contrasted
nobly with the disgraceful cowardice Of
the militia. The militia, without waiting
for the commander TO sound retreat,
took sudden leave Of the battlefield, and
made direct line for the woods. The
British experienced a severe loss in their
ranks, stated by the historian Gleig, of
the Sjth Royal regiment, as high as five
huhdrcd men killed, wounded, and mis-
sing Colonel Thornton, commander Of
tho light Brigade; Lieutenant Cole mel
Wood, commander of the Sjth regiment :;
and Major Brown, who led on the adj
vance troops, were severely wounded,
while General Ross had bo'se killed
under him. Tho loss was small on the
part Of Barney's men and the English
author referred to above admits tha. if
the militia had done their, duty the victo.
ry would undoubtedly have been on the
American side. Of Barney's hundred
sailors he speaks in the highest terms, re-
marking that rot only did they serve
their guns with q quickness and precision
which astonished their assailants, but
they stood till some OF them were actually
bayonetted with fuses in their hands ; nor
was it till their leader was wounded and
taken, and they saw themselves deserted
on all sides 10y the soldiers, that they quit
ted the field"
Gen. Ross led the third British Brigade
into the city, and up to the Capitol, on
approaching which his horse was shot
from under him by one of Barney's men,
who hal concealed himself in house for
that object. The house was Immediately
entered, the inmates put to the sword,
and the building and contents burued. A
volle, was fired into the windows of the
Capitol, When the troops entered G, ck>
burn took the Speakers chair, and asked
the question, "Shall this harbor of Yau-
kee Democracy he burned All for il
say ayew He reversed the question, pro-
nounced the motion carried, and ordered
the torch to be put to the building. 1t
was soon in flamos.
As q prudential step, the Secretary of
the Navy ordered Commodore Tingey to
fire the navy yard, which, with the sloop
of war Argus, ten guns, five armed barges,
two gun-boats. and all the naval stores,
was consigned to the flames.
The British troops then proceeded to
the Treasury and Pres ident's mansion,
both Of which they fired-the President
having retreated, with his Cabinet, on
horseback, across the Potamac. That
night, the army encamped on Capitol
Hill and were exposed to severe storm,
with heavy thunder, which added inten-
sity of awe to the dismal scenes which
had just been enacted. During the night
4.