The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.
Manuscripts of an Old Bachelcr.--No 8.
"REMINISCENCES OF ALEXANDRIA.
"Bella-horrida bella"
Wars--hOrrid wars"

with Great Britain, in 18l2-'15! 1t was an
eventful war for Alexandria--an the town
never recovered from the proceedings prior
and subsequent to its capture by the British.
"Retrocession" made a favorable change.
and hope it will now 60 on prospecting and
to presper.*
The other day was passing by the head
of the dock at the foot Of Prince street, and
suddenly it came to my remembrance, that
there occurred singular scene during the
occupation Of Alexandria by the British
and then, came trooping up before my
"mind's eye" the men and scenes of those
days Not, tn IT can write-'pars fui'-
but have "a cloudy and indistinct recollec-
ton of some Of the incidents-and have
been familiar and often conyersed with many
of the citizens who could tell ''all that they
saw, and part of which they were." At an
uncommonly carly age, DR.. johnson was
touched for the Kings Evil, by Queen Anne,
but he always affirmed when he was an old
man. in the reign Of George Ill. that he
chad a confused, but somehow a sort of SOL
emn recollection Of a lady in diamonds and
long black hood" There is kind of SOL
emnity mingled with my "reminiscences Of the
capture of Alexandria.
The British squadron reached A'exan-
dra on the evening of the 18th Of August,
1914 In the very interesting history Of the
invasion and capture of the City of Wash
ington, by Major John S. Williams, which
was published a few years ago, it is said.
"the naval force consisted Of two frisates,
one of 80, and the other Of &c guns; two
rocket ships of IL guns each; two bomb
ships Of 8 guns each, and schooner Of 2
guns. This force was arranged along the
town, a few hundred yards from the wharves,
so as to command the place from one ex-
tremity to the other, the houses being so
situated that they might nave been laid in
ashes in few minutes. There was No pos
rible means of defence or resistance; for
even If the old men, women, and children
who were left in the town, had wrought
themselves up to the use OF pitchforks,
tongs and brickbats against the enemy, all
these would have awaited nothing TO protec,
them from bomhardmsnt by IA naval force
The assertion, therefore, 50 often made, a.
the time, that, under these circumstances
the inhabitants least themselves" apon tn,
mercy Of tho victor is Il deliberate m'sstate
ment The inhabitants did not ''cast them
Selves" but were cast upon the mercy Of tn
victor, and not through any fault Or neg'ec
Of their own, but of those 10y whom the i'm
pugaton was originated"
The frigaes Sea Horse and Euryalu
were fine vessels, aod made most imposing
appearance on the water. The SOU ,drol
was commanded by Capt. j. A. Gordon, c
the, Sea IL He dictated the terms
c,pitulati n, which had to be acceded t
by the town authorities. The troops aa
citizens Of Alexandria, capable OF bsarin
arms, had been ordered rom the place. an
were nine cen miles off on the day ih
squadron came opposite the town; and tn
Fort below, where it was expected that th
passage up the river, of the British vessels
would have been, at least, disputed, Wa
abandoned by the U. S. forces, and blow
up The explosion reverberated through tn
streets of Alexandria, and announced to tn
town its fate as ID captured city. hav
thought. that, as it turned out, it woul
have been better to have deserted the tow
entirely, and made no surrender:-but i
that event no one knows what the enem
might have done.
To their credit, be it said, the British Of
served strictly, on their part, the terms
the capitulatiOn The inhabitants were De
sonally not moested in any manner wha
ever, nor their dwellings ever entered Thei
municipal and police authorities and reguls
tons were never disturbed nor interfere
with, in the slightest degree. DiscipIin
was enforced, without an exception, for sue
a Spectacle as drunken or disorderly Br
tih soldier, marine, or sailor was neve
seen in the streete-nor, is it believed, tina
one of them ever came up town farther tina
Washington street. The four and Tobacco
captured and seized, were removed to tn