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

now at the capital may feel interested to
mark the localities where the first gener.
nj 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 0! 1914, Cockburn's fleet lay along
the coast Of Virginia, Maryland and the
Cheapeake, 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
appristd of hostile intententions upon
the capital, but General Armstrong, then
Secretary OK War, profesSed = disbelief in
the rumOrg, and the National LateLAgcacer,
proverbially 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
tlotilla of barges, bearing guns, placed
under the command of Capt. Joshua Bar
ney, and intended to check fleets in adj
vancing toward the capital. But after
ed at Benedict, on the banks of the Pa
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 q midsummer sun TO B.a-
densburg, which they reached on the 24th
BY adopting this route, the iotilla atfor-
ded nc protection 10 the city, and, 10 pre-
vent the guns OF boats from being taken
and used against the capital, tuey were
blown up on the morning of the 22d, 10y
order Of VIM. Jones, the Secretary of the
Navy.
The approach Of the troops under Maj.
Gen. Robert Ross and Admiral Cockbu.n,
was watched by President Madison in per
son, who directed eight thousand ineXpe-
rlenced and undiscipliued militia to Bla.
densburg, under the command Of Gen.
Wiuder, TO oppose the four thousand
british soldiers. Capt. Barney, having
destroyed the fotllIa, joined the military
force Of Gen. Windcr, with one hundred
seamen and his field pieces. On the af-
ternoon OF the 18th, the British opened
fire, which was successfully returned by
Baruey's sailors, who maintained their TO,
sltion nobly, while The raw recruits, un:
der Wide kept at a speclful distance
who, rendering lItt!e or no service with
their muskcts, soon broke ranks and
turned their backs 10 the foe. Barney's
seamen fought brayely, and their gun.
proved terribly destructive to the enemy.
lie was overcome, however, after three
hours hard fighting. Aanked by superior
numbers, and finally fell Wounded 10y the
side Of eleven of his men who were killed
at their guns. lie ordered retreat, and
gave himself up. His bravery contrasted
nobly with the disgraceful cowardice Ot
the militia. The militia, without waiting
for the commander to sound a retreat,
took sudden leave Of the battlefield, and
made q direct line for the woods. The
British experienced a severe loss in their
ranks, stated by the historian Gleig, Of
the S5th Royal regiment, as high as five
hundred men killed, wounded, and mis-
sing. Colonel Thornton, commander of
the light Brigade; Lieutenant Colt mel
Wood, commander of the Sjth regiment ;
ami Major Brown, who led on the ad-
vance troops, were severely wounded,
while General Ross had a bose killed
under MIN. The loss vas small on the
part Of Barney's men; and the English
author referred to above admits tina: if
the militia had done their duty the victo.
ry wopld 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 a 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 by 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 had concealed himself in a house for
that object. The house was Immediately
entered, the inmates put to the sword,
and the building and contents burUed. A
volley was fired into the windows Of the
Capitol, When the troops entered c ck>
burn took the Speakers chair, ana asked
the question, Shall this harbor of Yam
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. II
was soon in flames.
As a prudential step, the Secretary OF
the Navy ordered Commodore Tingey TO
fire the navy yard, which, with the sloop
OF war Argus, te2 guns, five armed barges,
two gun-boats, and all the naval stores,
was consigned 10 the flames.
The British troops then proceeded TO
the treasury and Pres idents mansion,
both Of which they fred-the President
having retrea.ed, with his Cabinet, on
horseback, across the Potamac. That
nlgat, The army encamped on Capitol
hlll and were exposed to a severe storm.
with heavy thunder, which added inten-
sity Of ave to the dismal scenes which
had just been enacted. During the night
a granddaughter Of Geu Washington rash
lv attacked The gEutriaz and 1r,g -.