Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-05-31
The Invasion and Capture of Washing
ton in 1914.

At this junciure in our history, briefref
ercnce to the Invasion and the circumstances
a;truding the capture of Washington, by The
British forces, Under AAmrals COckburn and
Cuchranc. will not he inappropriate; and as
mary Of those strangers now at the capital
may feel interested to mark the localities
whrre the first general eucuuntrr occurred and
subsequent events took pace, these viii Ike
no e.l briefly in the order i'll which they trans
pirel
During the cary portion of the summer Of
1914. Cuckburn's feet lay along the coast Of
Virginia. Maryland AID the Chesapeake, when
they were joined, on the third Of August, by
Cockrane's feet, direct from Bermuda, both
numbering together twenty sail. Onr Gov
clnmcnt was appraised of hustile intentions up
on the capital, but General Armstrong, then
secretary of War, professed disbelief in the
rumors, and the National Intelligenccr, pro-
verbally cautions then, as now, in its conclu
sions doubted the probability Of hostile inten-
tions upon the capital.
President Madison, however, had taken
some precautionary steps, by ordering q
militia organization, which he deemed su fl
cicnt for the occasion, in addition TO flOtil!a
of barges, beuring guns, placed urder the
command of Capt. Joshua Barney, and intend
el to check the fleets in advancing toward the
capital. But after sailing mp the bay, the
troops discmbarkcd al Benedct, on the banks
Of the Patuxent river, on the 20lh of August.
On the following day. the army, consisting Of
| four thousand men, tork up their march to.
| ward the infant city. They were without ar
uillcry or cavalry. and marched under the heat
| Of a midsummer sun to BladensbUTg. which
they reached on the oath. BY adopting This
route, the dOtila afforded no protection TO the
city, ard to prevent the guns or boats from
| beng used against the capital, they were
blown up on the E.ornipg of the 22,l. i'y order
! If Wm. Jones, the Secretary Of the Navy.
The approach Of tic irnnps under Major
General Robert Russ and Admiral Cnckburn,
WAS watched by President Madison in person
| who directed eight thousand inexperienced
and undsciplined miiliu to B!adetsbur@. un,
Ter the command OF General Wi'itl,r, TO or
pose the four thousand British soldiers. Capt
Barney having destroyed the Hotia, joined thu
military lnrce OF tien. W indcr, with on hun
red s,amrn and his field pieces. On the after
,"nn uf thu 24h. the British opened lire
which was successfully returned by Barnryt
s;ilors, who maintained their position nObly
while the raw recruits unler Windcr kept a
Il respectful distance, who, rendering little ol
no service with their muskets, soon brukt
ranks and turned their backs upon the enemy
Barney's seamcn fought bravely. and thei
.nnS proved terribly destructive 10 the enemy
lie was overcome, however, after three hours
| 6 IL,
md finally fell wounded by the side Of clever
f his men. who were killed at their guns
lie ordered retreat, and gave himself up
His bravery conirastcd nnhly with the dis
rr;iceiul cowurdice of the militia. "a larr
portion of the men were from Baltimore ant
i! tlieir sons of to-day possess no more of III
i, clements essential 10 successful warfare, the
, W Il do well 10 make terms of peace with tn
, Northern lads, who propose to march throng
heir city on their way 10 the caPial) Th
.nlitia without waiting for their commando
lu sound retreat, took sudden leave Of th
!, nattle field and made q direct line for I'll
=. woods. The British experienced IA severe los
/. in their ranks. stated by the historian Giei.
i nt the 85th Royal Regiment, as high as fV
, hundred men killed, wounded and missing.
j.. Colonel Thornton, commander Of the Ligt
J. Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Wood, cnu
o mandcr "f the SSH regiment; and Maj
/ Brown, who led on the advance troops, wei
u severely wounded, while General Ross had
% horse killed under him. The loss was smu
is on the part of Barneys men and the Englis
n author referred TO above admits that il Il
s militia had lone their duty, the victory won
q undoubtedly have been on the American sid
as OF Barney's hundred sailors, he speaks i'll Il
II, highest terms, remarking that mot Only d
We they serve their guns with a quickness al
IS precision that astonshed their assailants, b
L. they stood till some of them were actual
ri. hayoneted, with fuses in their hands nor W
"a il i'll thrir lralpr WAS rlndel anl TAX
II and ih.y saw themselves i $ rel pn ali sid
c by the snders, that they q tied tn f.!d. >
Ia Gen. R sS !ed the Third British Brigad'
to the city, and up to the Capitol, "n Il
nj preaching which his h.rs,. was shot from 1
d. dsI him 10y one Of BArn,y's men, who h
th concealed himself in house for ihe object.
in The house was Immediately eAIerAl, the
en- mates put to the sword, and the building a
as contents burned. A voil'.y was tifel into
on windows of the Capitol. when the 'ror Ups ent
", ed. Cockhurn took the Speakers chair. a
rur asked tue question, "Sbnil this harbOr OE "