National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-03

wtcktan Encsunter.
Correspondence Of the Inter.ocean
"# wsHisaror, June d.
Biz miles northeast of Washington, where
he eastern branch Of the Potomac river
,roescs to Prince Georges county, Maryland,
IA the little popt.town Of Bladensburg.
Founded about 1850 and named, most prob
ably, for Martin Biaden, one Of the lords
Of trades and plantations, II
grew In the old colonial days to be the ecu
ire of large agricultural population. Over
the pike road, which, passing through there.
connected Baltimore and Washington, the
rattling stagecoachcs came every day, and
many q Yankee Mr.. Weller has there In
dulged In his particular vanity" while for
more fastidious visitors the mineral springs
was fayoritc resort. But when the rcyolu-
ton came, driving roy lists from their homes,
calling rebels to the field, Bladcnsburg found
herself, II spared the horrors Of war, also
abandoned by her wealthy patrons, forsaken
by her farmers, avoided by her yisitors--in Q
word, killed by neglect.
In the summer Of 1914 this sleepy little
town was aroused suddenly by the thunder Of
war. Here was fought between English and
Americans what Ia recorded In history rs the
battle OF Bladensburg. The result OF this
battle was the capture Of Washington. That
this catastrophe was not inevitable seems APP
parent from various opinions reported on
the subject, the tenor Of which Il that the
Government, arguing syllogistlcally from the
enemy's repulsc at Norfolk that he would not
dare attack Washington, comfortcd itself
with this logic until Il was too late to make
any elaborate defense. When aroused to the
sense Of the danger by which the capital was
di.aanstnp. MI Al
jcalousles In the Cabinet took the place of
prompt and vigorous action. The offspring
Of this pickering was the appointment OF
General Winder, man brave enough, but In
experienced, to the position Of commanding
officer. The material placed at his disposal
was not Of the bcst--six thousand troops,
many OF them raw militia, oil OF them tired
have been on this occasion that supcrilulty Of
cooks which inevitably spells the broth. To
General Winder, struggling with these dill
cultics, was opposed Britlsh force Of foug
thousand five hundred wol-discipllncd, first
class men, led by General Ross and Rear Ad.
miral Lord George Cockburn, the man who a
year later commanded the BcIlcrophon on
her disgraceful GRAND to st. Helena, and
who, after this voyage, announced rs hir
score Of talent, was an ordinary character
When O'Meara repeated that TO Napoleon
he answered very quietly that the opinion
paid poor compliment ~ the disccrnmcnt u
the rest Of the world"
On the 2+lh day Of August, 1914, the Brit
ish marched into Bladcnsburg, on the Balti
more pike, met our troops, hurricdly mar
shaled, at the junction Of the Washington
and Georgetown roads, and after shor
| contest, well sustained, but fruitlcss on III,
American side, routed our forces completely
That Bladensbury was not entirely crushed
either by peace or war, seems apparent iron
an entry made In the delightful diary Of Mrs
William Winston Seaton, wife OF the edito
Of the National IHteltigencer, one Of the mos
charming women that has ever graced Wash
ingtou society. In May, 1915, she records
visit to Mr.. Calvert's, at Bladcusburg, for tn
purpose Of seeing some famous paintings
The host was q lneal descendant Of Lor,
Baltimore, living on a beautiful estate o
900 acres near Bladcnsburg, aud married l.
| a Miss Steers, Of Antwerp, q descendant o
Rubens. From the years 1905 until 1915 tn
galleries Of the Louvre protected, probably
tue most magnificent collection Of art treas
ures that ever was gathered in one museum
| Paintings from Rome covered Its walls; mar
blcs from Florence filled Its inches; even tn
bronze horses Of Venice, hitherto uncurbcd
had been driven TO Paris by an imperial, i'm
perious hand that had already stretched out &
grasp the relics Of Rubens and Titan In MI
steers possession; but he, foreseeing his Ina
bility to protect these, had sent them /,
America, and they were safe in his daughter
keeping,
/ grim sarcasm THE Holy, " had done Its plOu
work; 1916 saw reinstatcd, Mrs. Seaton says
without any danger Of reverse Of fortune,
the Bourbon dynasty, and Mr.. Steers felt
with perfect justice, that his paintings woul,
be entirely safe ut home. So, prior to thei
return, Mr.. Calvert invited his friends T.
come and take last look at them. All tn
nolghboring artists attended; Pealc cam
from Philadelphia. Mrs. Seaton tells US tina
licving Priest, by Titan, were the favorite,
THE LAST STROKE TO pLADESsBuRo's PROS
PERITY
was dealt In 1885. Then the railway, like
Juggernaut, trampled her, and she lies prom
yet. There Ia not even one remnant Of he
old Importance left. Not man alone has neg
lected her-she seems even by nature forpoi
ten. The river, over which boats laden wit
tobacco and fish used to sail, has dwindle
TO the very ghost of q stream, and makes Il
way languidly through the sedges, stopping
every now and then In dark, ugly, stagnan
pools. From the bridge dlvergc two streets
marked by crumbling, uneven houses, who's
sunken walls and broken panes shelter soil
tude. In the pathways and once fresh paI
terres tall weeds crowd, the thistle fiourishe
unmolested, and even the grass In the road
the moss on the crazy roof, Is faded-n0
fresh like moss and grass that spring froI
happier soil. There was only one bright spo
In the town-a little patch OF ground adjoir
Ing the doctors house, where tall white lille
and cabbage roses and many-colored lark
spurs and pctunias grew In that sweet cor
fusion which marks real old-fashioncd gar
den. At the end Of the longer street Is III
spa or chalybeatc spring, once quite note
for medicinal purposes, now only tasted b
inquisitiye tourists. Even mineral waters Z
out Of fashion. Some little ragged urchiI
(chieiy black crowd around with pals an
cups to wait on us and the horses; and =,
freshcd, we drove through the shady stree
the cynosure OF the scant population, I
whom Q pony phaeton Is marvel indeed.
About mile from this deserted village, o
the Washington pike, we crossed slna
bridge thrown over narrow rayinc, an
stopped to look at the scene on our left
Sheltered at the north by copsc Of maple
and willows, aud stretching along by tn
little stream Just crossed. Is q broad, lev,
meadow, grocner aud fresher than an
around 1t, and spangled with the bcautifi
stars Of the field daisy. There Is no phar
tom lurking near 1t II gives no hint Of an
dark secret; II bears no traces Of bloodshee
We should neyer guess that this qule
lovely little spst was once ''the field G
honor" the most famous dueling ground |
Maryland, Virginia or the District.
The cruclcst duel ever fought here wa
that between Decatur aud Barron, of whic
wrote some weeks ago. Here these tw
men faced each other the ed Of March, 1874
az hope" said Barron nervously, that "
shall DC better friends In the next world tina
In this" "Sir," answered Decatur, with pc
feet tranquility, ~ have never been yot
enemy" Here, too, when both lay wounde
side by side, were spoken few whlspere
words, the purport Of which none can tel
but Barron, writhing In agony Of body an
mind, gasped out, "Would TO God I La
known this yesterday"
In 1910 Gen. Armistead, 7, Mason, Unite
States Senator from Virginia, and his cousii
John McCarty, Of the same State, settled o
this ground quarrel begun In some politics
difference at the time Of Mason's election
Mason resigned his commission, which he Ia
earned In 1912 (there being law prohibitln
duels In the army for the special purpo,
Of fighting you" he writes to McCart,
Agree to any terms that he may propose
he instructs his second, 'and to any distauc
TO three feet, his pretended favorite distance
| or TO three inches, should his impetuous, ras
courage prefer 1t. To any species Of Or,
arms-pistols, muskets or riaes--agree
once" Resolved not TO be outdone by b
cousin, McCarty proposed they should ngl
on barrel Of powder with diTks, which Il
seconds, notwithstanding Mason's instru
tons, refused. They then agreed upon Inu