Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-06-07
THE INVASION AND CAPTURE OF WASH.
INGTON IN 1914.


reference to the invasion and circnmstan-
ces attending the capture of Washington,
by the British forces, under Admirals !
Cockburn and Cochrane, will not be inap-
propriate; and as many of those strangers
now at the Capitol may feel interested to
mark the localities where the first general
encounter occurred and subsequent events
took place, these will be noted briefly in
the order in which they transpired.
During the early part of the summer of
1914, Cockburn's feet lay along the coast
of Virginia, Maryland, and the Chesa-
peake, when they were joined, on the
third of August, by Cochrane's feet, di-
rect from Bermuda, both numbering to-
gether twenty sail. Our Government was
apprised of hostile intentions upon the
capitol, bat Gen. Armstrong, then Secre-
tary Of War, prefessed disbelief in the
rumors, and the National Iatelligencer,
proverbially cautious then, as now, in its
conclusions doubted the probability Of
hostile intentions upon the capitol
President Madison, however, had taken
some precautionary steps, by ordering
militia organization, which he deemed su-
ficient for the occasion, in addition to a
fotilla of barges bearing guns, placed un-
der the command of Capt. Joshua Barney,
and intended to check fleets in advancing
toward the capitol. But after sailing up
the bay, the troops disembarked at Benc-
dict, on the banks of the Patuxent river,
on the Goth Of August On the following
day the army, consisting of four thousand
men, took up their march towards the in
fant city. They were without artillery or
cavalry, and marched under the heat of a
midsummer sun to Bladensburgh, which
they reached on the 9th. By adopting
this route, the fotilla afforded no protec-
tion to the city, and to prevent the guns
or boats from being taken and used against
the capitol, they were blown up on the
morning of the 22d, by order of William
Jones, the Secretary of the Navy.
The approach of the troops under Maj
Gen. Robert Ross and Admiral Cockburn,
was watched by President Madison in per.
son, who directed eight thousand inexpc
rienced and undisciplined militia to Bla
densburgh, under the command of Gen
Winder to oppose the 1000 British sol
diers. Capt. Barney, having destroyed
the Aotilla, joined the military force O
General Winder, with one hundred sea
men and his feld-pieces. On the af,er
noon of the 9th the British opened fire
which was successfully returned by Bar
ney's sailors, who maintained their posi-
, tion nobly, while the raw recruits unde
Winder, kept at respectable distance
who rendering little or no service will
: their muskets, soon broke rauks and turn
ed their backs upon the enemy. Barney
, seamen fought bravely, and their gun
Q proved terrible to the enemy. He wa
! overcome, however, after three hours hare
D fighting, fanked by superior numbers. ant
finally fell wounded by the side of clever
of his men who were killed at their guns
He ordered retreat and gave himself up
His bravery contrasted nobly with tn
disgraceful cowardlce of the militia. q
large portion of the men were from Balti
more; and if their sons of o-day posses
no more of the elements essential to sue
r cessful warfare, they will do we'll to max
terms of peace with the Northern lads VIII
y propose to march through their city o.
Y the way to the capitol.) The militia
J. without waiting for their commander t
& sound a retreat, took sudden leave of tn
!. battlefield. and made direct line for tn
J, woods. The British experienced sever
,, loss in their ranks stated by the historic
n Gleig, of the s5th Royal regiment. as hig
!. as five hundred men killed, wounded an
n missing. Col. Thorington, commander
the Light Brigade; Lieut.. Col. WOOD
commander of the 85th regiment; an
&c Major Brown, who led on the advant
,r troops, were severely wounded, while Gel
k Ross had horse killed under him. III
t. loss was small on the part of Barney
a l.,aor, nd thn Ennliah officcr rnfefrnd