Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-05-23
THE INVASION AND CAPTURE OF
WASHINGTON IN 1914,

Virginia, Maryland, and the Chesapeake, when
they were Joined, on the third Of August by
Cochran's fleet, direct from Bermuda, both num-
bering together twenty sails. Our government
was appraised Of hostile intentions upon the cap
ital, but General Armstrong, then Secretary of
War, protested disbelief in the rumors, and
the National Ha~teligencer doubted the proba-
bility Of hostile intentions upon the capital.
President Madison, however, had taken some
precautionary steps, by ordering a military or
ganization, which he deemed sufficient for the
occasion, in addition to q hotilla of barges, bear
ing guns, placed under the command of Capt.
Joshua Barney, and intended to check fleets in
advancing toward the capital. But after sailing
up the bay, the troops disembarked at Benedict,
on the banks of the Patuxent river, on the 10Th
of August. On the following day the army,
consisting of four thousand men, took up their
march toward the infant city. They were with
out artillery or cavalry, and marched under the
heat of a midsummer sun to Bladensburg, which
they reached on the "a h. By adopting this
route, the fiotilla afforded no protection to the
city, and, to prevent the guns or boats from be-
ing taken and used against the capital, they
were blown up on the morning of the 22d, by
order of VIM. Jones, Secretary of the Navy.
The approach of the troops under Major
Genera Ross and Admiral Cockburn was watch
ed by President Madison in person, who direct
ed eight thousand Inexperienced and undisci-
plined militia to Bladensburg, under the COM
mand of Gen. Winder, to oppose the four thou
sand British soldiers. Capt. Barney having
DESTROYED the hotilla, Joined the military forces
of Gen. Winder, with one hundred seainen and
his field pieces. On the afternoon of the Oath,
the British opened fire, which was successfully
returned by Barney's sailors, who maintained
their position nobly, while the raw recruits un-
der Winder, kept at a respectful distance, rem
dering little or no service with their muskets.
and soon broke ranks and turned their backs
upon the enemy. Barnev's seamen fought
b%ravely, and their guns proved terribly destruc-
tive to the enemy.
He was overcome, however. after three hours
hard fighting, thanked by superior numbers, and
finally fell wounded by the side. of eleven of his
men, who were killed at their guns. He order
ed a retreat, and gave himself up. His bravery
contrasted nobly with the disgraceful cowardice
of the mil tia. "a largo norton of the men
were from Baltimore; and, if their sons of to-
dav possess no more Of the element essential TO
successful warfare, they will do well to make
peace with the Northern lads who propose to
march through their city on their way to the
c%apital.) The militia, without waiting for their
commander TO sound a retreat, took sudden
leaves of the battlefield, and made a direct line
for the woods.
lit lIlllSN experienced II severe loss III lllblf
ranks, stated by the historian Glcig, of the Sjth
royal regiment, as high as five hundred men
killed, wounded and missing. Col. Thornton,
commander of the Light Brigade Lieut.. Col.
Wood, commander of the Eighty-filth Regi-
ment; and Major Brown, who led on the adj
vance troops, were severely wounded, while
Gen. Ross had a horse killed under him. The
loss was small on the part of Barney's men
and the English author referred to above adj
mitts that il the militia had done their duty the
victory would undoubtedly have been on the
American side. OF Barnev's one hundred sail
ors he speaks in the highest terms. remarkinp
that, mot only did they serve their guns with a
uuickness and precision which astonished their
assailants, but they stood till some of them
were actually hayonetted with fuses in their
hands nor was il till their leader was wounded
and taken. and they saw themselves deserted
on all sides by the soldiers. hat they Quilted
the field.
Gen. Ross led he 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 had concealed him.
self in a house for that object. The house was
Immediately entered. the inmates put to the
sword. and the building and | il contents huyn-
ed. A voley was frrl into tho rin1ows ot tLo
capitol. when the troops entered. Cockbnrn
took the Sneakers chair. and asked the ours.
ton, "Shail this harbor of Yankee Democracy
he burnedp All for it saw ayew He REVERSED
the question. pronounced the motion carried
and ordered tie torch TO be nut to the buiId.
ing. 1t was soon in flames.
As a prudential stem, the Secretary Of tbc
Navy ordered Commodore Tinocv IN fire n,
NAVY Yard. which, with the sloon-1f.wor Argn.
Uen guns,) five armed bargrs, two pmnboSts
and all the naval stores, was armed ba9rges' twr
gunboats, and all the naval stores. was con-.
signed to the flames. The British troons Then