The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-02-06
The War of 1914 at washington.

Z 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 diseredited
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 Will 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
sfi'saile- -~--..---, n--:--sy Al----s,s- ~
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 inefficiency
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 no
reason why the British forces should
have been allowed to advance with so
little resistance, and to pursue their
hasty retreat from Washington unmo-
Tested for q distance of fifty miles,
through country thoroughly alarmed.
Such was not the.result on very similar
occasion, of which this cay on which /
write these sentences is the anniversary,
Q9th, of April, at the opening of the
Revolutionary war.
A curious fact was stated in the re-
port of the committee appointed to In
quire into the causes of the capture OF
Washington. Colonel George Minor,
with a regiment of Virginia militia.
seven hundred strong, arrived at the
city of Washington at twilight, in the
evening of the 23d of August. He call
ed upon the President, who very pro-
badly referred him to the Secretary OF
War for orders. The Secretary, Gen
eral Armstrong, told him that he could
not be furnished with arms that night,
and directed him to apply to Colonel
Carberry the next morning, who had
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 OF
the march to Washington. Colone-
Minor the next day, from early morning
till late in the forenoon, sought Colone
CaTberry diligently; but he could not
be found. He had gone to his country
seat the night before. Colonel Minor
rode to headquarters to get some new
order from General Winder for arm
aud ammunition. The arsenal was il
the care of a young man, whose cautio,
In dispensing the stores committed t,
him was worthy of Balalxlava. Although
the officers Of the regiment, to expedit,
matters, counted out the fints delivere,
to them, the youthful guardian Of thu
ordnance insisted on counting them owe
again BY this time Colonel Carberr7
had arrived from his Tusculum, aud de
tanned the regiment until the regula
receipts could be signed. Nothing su
perior to this has taken place in th,
Crimea. Perhaps it is wisely intended
by Providence that free and eonstitu
tionGl government should throw IN
usual obstacles in the way of war. /
to the uncertainty. caprice, and part,
influences of popular governments
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. / heard many anecdotes from
witnesses and spectators which did no
find their way into that document bu
I Eorbear to record the ''fears of Tia
brave and follies Of the wise. as the
currently related. -Afr. Eccrctfs he
ali5isceaes.