Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-07-26
The Invasion and Capture of
Washington in 1914.

ces attending the capture of Washington,
by the British forces, under Admlrals
Cockburn and Cochrane, will not be map
propriate; and as many of those stran-
gers now at the Capitol may feel interest
ed 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 trans
pired,
During the early part Of the summer
of 1911, Cockburn's fleet lay along the
coast of Virginia, Maryland and the
Chesapeake, 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
apprised of hostile Intentions upon the
capitol, but Gen. Armstrong, then Secre-
tary Of War, protessed disbelief in the
rumors, and the National Mteliigencer,
proverbially cautious then, as now, in its
conclusions, doubted the probability Of
hostile intentions upon the capitol. Pres
ideHt Madison, however, had taken some
precautionary steps, by ordering militia
organization, which he deemed sufficient
for the occasion, in addition to tlotilla
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 disenbarkel at Benc-
dict, on the banks Of the Patuxent river,
on the 10Th of August On the following
day the army, consisting Of four thousand
men, took up their march toward the IN
FAINT city. They were without artillery
or cavalry, and marched under the heat
of a midsummer sun to BIadenoburgh,
which they reached on the 9TH. By
adopting this route, the fotiia afforded
no protection to the city, and to prevent
the guns or boats from being taken AMI
used against the capitol, they were blown
up on the morning OF the I'D, by order oI
" illian Jones the Secretary Of the Navy.
The approach of the troops under Maj.
Gen. Robert Ross and Admiral Gockburn
was watched by President Madison in per-
son, who directed eight thousand mcXPeri-
enced ana uniiseieliued militia to Ba-
densburgh, under the command OF Gen.
Winler to oppose the toar thousand Brit
i,h soldiers. Capt. Barney, having de-
,troyei tac tlotilla, joined the military
force Of General Wiuler, with one hun
drad selmen and his field pieces. On the
afternoon Of the 9TH, the British opened
fire which was successfully returned by
Barucy's sailors, who maintained their po-
sitIon nobIy, while the raw recruits under
Wintier, kept at respectful distance, e,who
rendering little or no service with their
muskets, soon broke ranks and turned
their backs upon the enemy. Barney's
seamen fought bravely, AMI their guns
proved terrible 70 the enemy lie was
overcome, however, after three hours
hard lighting, tiankcd by superior mum
bers, aud final ly fell wounIel by the side
Of eleven Of his men who were killed at
their guns. He ordered retreat aud
gave himself up His bravery contrasted
nobly with the di,5taeeill eowarDliee 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 warfare, 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 cap
itol). The militia, without waiting for
their commander to sound retreat, took
sudden leave of the battlefield, and made
a direct line for the woods. The British
experienced a severe loss in their ranks
stated by the historian Glcig, Of the s3th
ROYAL regiment, aS hsh as five huuarel
men killed, wouulcd and missing. Col.
Thorineton, commander OF the Light Bfl-
eade; Lieut.. Col Wood, commander of
the s5th regiment; and Major Brown,
who led on the advance troops, were Sc
vcrely wounded, while Gen. Ross had a
horse killed under him. The loss was
small on the part Of BArney's men and
the English officer referred to above, ad-
mits that if the militia hal done their du-
ty, the victory would undoubtedly have
been on the American side. OF Barney :
hundred sailors he speaks in the highest
terms remarking that 81 not only did they
serve their guns with qulckness anl pre-
cision which astonishel their ASSISTANTS,
but they stood till some of them were ac-
tually bayoncted with the fuses in their
hands nor was it till their leader was
wounded and taken, and they SAW them
selves deserted on all sides by the soldier,
that they quilted the field.
Gen. Ross led the Third British Brgi-
ale 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 burned. \
yoley was fired into the windows of the
capitol, when the troops entered. Cock
burn took the Speakers chair, and asked
the question: . Shall this harbor of Yam
kee Democracy be burned All for it
say aye" lie reversed the question,
pronounced the motion carried, and ORDER
ed the torch to be put to the building.
1t was soon in flames.
As prudential step, the Secretary OF
the Navy ordered Commodore Tingey to
fire the navy yard, which, with the sloop-
of-war Argus, (ten guns,) five armed bar
ges, two gunboats, and all the naval
stores, was consigned to the flames. The
British troops then proceeded to the Trea'
sury and Presidents mansion, both oi
which they fred--the President having
retreated, with his Cabinet, on horseback