Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-06-21
MISCELLANY Y.
The Invasion and Capture of Wash
ingtOn in 1911.

At this iuncture in our history, brief
reference to the invasion and circumstances
attending the capture of Washington, by
tho British forces, under Admirals Cock
burn and Cochrane, viii not be inappropri-
ate; and rs many Of those strangers now
at the Capitol may feel interested TO mark
the localities where the first general en-
counter 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-
of August, by Cochrane's fleet, direct from
Bermuda, both numbering together twenty
sail. Our Government was apprised Of
hostile intentions upon the capitol, but Gen.
Armstrong, then Secretary of War, pro-
fessed disbelief in the rumors, and the
Nationai LateHigeacer, proverbally cautions
then, as now, III its conclusions, doubted the
probability Of hostile intentions upon the
capitol.
President Madison, however had taken
some precautionary steps, by ordering a
militia organization, which he deemed saf.
ficient for the occasion, in addition TO flo
tilla OF barges, bearing guns, placed under
the command of Capt. Joshua Barney. and
intended to check fleets in advancing to-
ward the capitol. But after sailing up the
bay, the troops disembarked at Benedict,
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 infant city,
They were without artillery OF cavalry,
and marched under the heat Of a mdsum-
mer sun TO Bladensburgh, which they
reached on the oath. BY adopting this
route, the flotila afforded no protection to
the city, and to prevent the guns or boats
from being taken and used against the cap
itol, 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 K.j.
Gen. Robert Ross and Admiral Cock kburn,
was watched by President Madison in per-
son, who directed eight thousand inexperi-
enced and undisciplined militia to Biadens-
burgh, under the command of Gen. Winder
to oppose the 1000 British soldiers. Capt.
Barney having destroyed the flotlla, joined
the military force of General Winder, with
one hundred seamen and his feld-pieces.
On the afternoon of the 24Ih the British
opened fire, which was successfully return
ed by Barney's sailors, who maintained
their position nobly. while the raw recruits
under Winder, kept at a respectable dis
tance, who rendering little or no service
with their muskets, soon broke ranks and
turned their backs upon the enemy. Bar
neys seamen fought brayely, and their guns
proved terrible to the enemy. He was
overcome, however, after three hours hard
fighting, fanked by superior numbers, and
finally fell wounded by the side of eleven
of his men who were killed al their guns.
He ordered a retreat and gave himself up.
His bravery contrasted nob!y with the dis
graceful cowardice of the militia. A large
portion of the men were from Baltimore
and if their sons of to-day possess no more
of the elements essential to successful war
fare, they will do well TO make terms OF
peace with the Northern lads who propose
to march through their city on the way to
the capitol.) The militia, without waiting
for their commander to sound retreat,
took sudden leave of the battlefield, and
made direct line for the woods. The
British experienced a severe loss in their
ranks, stated by the historian Gleig. of the
S5ih Royal regiment, as high as five hun
dred men killed, wounded and missing. Col.
Thorington, commander of the Light Brig
ad. Lieut.. Col. Wood, commander of the
S5ih regiment; and Major Brown, who led
on the advance troops were severely wound
ed, while Gen. Ross had horse killed un-
der him. The loss was small on the part of
Barney's men and the English officer re-
ferred TO above admits that il the militia
had doue 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 not only
did they serve their guns with quickncss
and precision which astonished their as
saiIants, but they stood till some OF them
were actually bayoneted with the fuses in
their hands; nor was il till their leader
was wounded and taken, and they saw tl.eUi-
selves deserted on all sides by the soldiers,
that they quilted the field"
Gen. Ross led the Third British Brisade