Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-07-06

waiting FOR their commander to sound q re-
treat, took sudden leave Of the battle field,
and made direct line for the woods.
The British experienced severe lose 10
their ranks, stated by the historian Gleig, Of
the S5tb Royal Regiment, as high as 500
men killed, wounded and missing. Colonel
Thornton, commander OF the Light Brigade |;
Lieutenant Colonel Wood, commander of the
S5th Regiment, and Major Brown, who led
on the advance troops, we're severely wound.
ed while General Ross had horse killed
under him. The loss was small on the part
OF Barney's men and the English author,
referred TO above, admits that if the militia
had done their duty the victory would un-
doubtedly have been on the American side.
OF Barney's hundred sailors, he speaks in
the highest terms, remarking that mot only
did they serve their guns with quickness
and precision that astonished their assalants,
but they stood till some Of them were actually
bayoneted with fuses in their hands nor was
it till their leader was wounded and taken,
and they saw themselves deserted on oil sides
by the soldiers, that they Quilted 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 10 house for that object.
The house was Immediately entered, the in.
mates put to the sword. and the building and
contents burned. A voley was fred into the
windows of the Capitol when the troops
entered Cockburn took the speakers chair,
and asked the question : "Shall this harbor
of Yankee Democracy be burned All for
it, say aye !" He reversed the question, pro.
nounced the motion carried. and ordered the
torch to be put to the building. 1t was soon
in flames.
As a prudential step, the Secretary of the
Navy ordered Commodore Tingey to fire the
Navy Yard, which, with the socp-o OF war
Argus, (ten guns,) FIVE armed barges, two
gan,boats, and ell the navy stores, was con.
signed to the flames.
The British troops then proceeded TO the
Treasury aud Presidents mansion, both of
which they fred-the President having re
treated, with his cabinet, on horseback, across
the Potomac. That night the army en-.
camped on Capitol Hill aud we're exposed to
u severe storm, with heavy thunder, which
added intensity of awe to the dismal scene
which had just been enacted. During the
night a granddaughter of General Washington
rashly attacked the sentres, and was shot
down. The long bridge was simultaneously
fired at each end by the opposing parties
eaCu upPTenensife ol an attack Oy tue otner.
Next morning the British burned the
buildings connected with the Navy and War
Departments destroyed the material in the
National Intelngencer office, end threw the
type out of the windows destroyed the re.
naming buildings about the Navy Yard and
Greenleaf's Point; threw torch into we'll
where large quantity of powder was cou.
cealed, which exploded, destroying nearly
one hundred Of the British troops, scattering 9
their mutilated remains in every direction.
A fright'rl tornado Immediately swept over
the city, destroying buildings and property as
if in completion of the general work of de-
struction. Very many of the enemy and Of
the inhabitants we're buried iu the ruins OF
buildings blown down. The enemy, alarmed
for their own safety, withdrew from the city
in the evening, and hurried toward the place
OF embarkalion.