The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1873-02-01
The War of 1914 at washington


A few years later Gin 1926 another
distinguished member Of Congress from
South Carolina, General Hamilton, told
me that the Republicans of that State.
finding the party greatly discredited
and in danger of disorganization under
the odium of the restrictive system.
sent these three gifted young men to
Congress in 1911 for the express pur-
pose of declaring war with England as
the only measure which would avert
the impending danger A policy of
this kind viii be very apt to prevail in
popular governments when a political
party is is danger of losing its ascen-
dency. We are at this moment, for a
similar cause, lowering on the verge OF
war with Spain. The capture of Wash
ingtOn and the destruction of the pub
lie buildings by a small hostile force
took place about three months before
my visit, and were still the general topic
of conversation. Nothing could be
more discreditable than the vandalism
of the act, unless it be the total absence
of resistance on our side. Great allow
ance should be made for the inefliciency
of all warlike operations on the part OF
militia hastily called from their homes
and wholly unused to active service.
There really seems, however, to be nc
reason why the British forces should
have been allowed to advance with Sc
little resistance, and to pursue then
hasty retreat from Washington unmo
Tested for a distance of fifty miles
through "A country thoroughly alarmed
Such was not theresult on a very similat
occasion, of which this day on which
write these sentences is the anniversary
Q9th. of APRIL at the opening of tn,
Revolutionary war.
A curious fact was stated in the re
port of the committee appointed to in
quire into the causes of the capture o
Washington. Colonel George Minor
with regiment of Virginia militia
seven hundred strong, arrived at tn
| city of Washington at twilight, in tn
evening of the 23d of August. He call
/ ed upon the President, who very pro
badly referred him to the Secretary o
| War for orders. The Secretary, Gen
eral Armstrong, told him that he coul,
not be furnished with arms that night
and directed him to apply to Colone
Carberry the next morning, who ha'
been charged by the commanding gen
/ eral, Winder, to superintend the deliv
cry of arms and ammunition. The en-
envy were at this time landed and o.
the march to Washington. Colone
Minor the next day, from early morning
] till late in the forenoon, sought Colone
Carberry diligently; but he could no
be found. He had gone to his countr
seat the night before. Colonel Mino
rode to headquarters to get some ne'
order from General Winder for arm
and ammunition. The arsenal was i
the care of young man, whose cautio
/ in dispensing the stores committed t
him was worthy of Balaklava. Althoug
the officers of the regiment, to expedit
! UldIitfS. COuubtcl Oib blit niutS tlCltNGI6l
to them, the youthful guardian of tn
ordnance insisted on counting them owe
again. BY this time Colonel Carberr
had arrived from his Tusculum, and de
tanned the regiment until the regula
receipts could be signed. Nothing su
perior to this has taken place in tn
Crimea. Perhaps it is wisely intende'
by Providence that free and constitu
tional government should throw un
usual obstacles in the way of war. ]
to the uncertainty, caprice, and part
Influences of popular government
should be added to the irresponsible
energy of despotic governments Their
would be no such thing as peace in tn
world.
The incident just mentioned is in tn
printed report of the committee of in
quiry. I heard many anecdotes from
witnesses and spectators which did no
find their way into that document bu
! f,~1,oo- ,zoc,.l H. =