The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-26

In July, 1914, it was rumorcd that @
large force OF British soldiers had sailed
from the West Indies with the purpose of
landing On the shores of Chesapeake Bay
and destroying Baltimore and Washington.
No particular fears seem to have been en-
tertalned for the safety of the capital by
President Madison and his cabinet. Gen.
Winder was in command of the Fourth
Military District, which embraced the Dis
trict OF Columbia, and he had 1000 men,
scattered over quite large area OF country,
| under him. AS soon as the British, under
command OF Gen. Ross, who was after
wards killed at the battle of Stony Point,
| landed at Benedict, on the shore of the
Chesapeake, Gen. Wlnder became impressed
with the fact that Washington would be
assaulted. He communicated his fears TO
Ar. Madison, aud $4,000 militia from
Maryland, Virginia and the District of
Columbia were placed at his disposal
Commodore Barney came up tho the Poto-
mac to the Patuxcnt River with q schooner
| and thirteen armed barges, and sailed up
that stream to its head waters, where he
! thought lie was safe from pursuit, and
Joined his forces to those of Gen. Winder
Gen. Ross marched through Marlborough,
directly upon Washington. Mr.. Losing
says that Gen. Winder had 5000 effective
men. He probably had 1000 ineffective
militlamen besides. The number OF Com
modore Barney's men is not given. On the
night of the Odd of August, 1914 1t was
known In Washington that the British were
approaching The American troops were
stationed on the old Baltimore and Wash
ington turnpike, short distance west of
Bladensburg, village about six miles from
n intrfnT Hnn ,ot,: IL.
troops down the pike toward Washington.
At about eight o'clock on the morning of
the 24th the Cabinet met at the Executive
Mansion preparatory to visit to the battle
| field. About an hour later the party set
out Oh horseback, attended by small cs-
cort, for the scene of the fight. Upon their
arrival the camp was found to be in great
confusion and disorder. A panic seemed
to prevail among the mllltiamen. The
marines and sailors under Commodore
Barney preserved better order. Mr.. Mad
ison became convinced that the fight would
end disaslIously Tor the American troops.
lie diBmounted from his horse aud ordered
messenger to ride as rapidly as possible
to tho Executive Mansion and inform Mrs.
Madison to leave the city with all possible
speed. She packed. what articles of value
could be conveniently carried in carriage
and started for Mr. Madison's place at
Montpelier, Va. Before her departure she
directed two servants, John Lowri and
thomas McGrath, to remain IN the build
ing and, in case it was fired by the troops,
to save the famous portrait Of Washington,
by Stuart. Thcse t.omcstics, finding that
they could not save the picture with it's
frame, cut 1t out and secrcted it. 1t now
hangs in the White House. A vast amount
of gush has been written about the preser-
vation Of this picture. Even Mr.. Losing,
in one of his books, describes Mrs Madison
as saying to couple Of gentlemen syho in
formed her of the victory of the British :.
''Save that picture save or destroy it, but
do not lot It fall into the hands of the Brit
isll."
Tho battle began at about noon, and
Commodore Barney's men stood the blunt
of 1t for some time He was finally wound
ed. The militia proved worthless, and
Gen. Armstrong ordered retreat. The
men fled In all directions. throwing away
their arms and equipments, and dashing
their coats to the ground the better to facil.
itate flight. Most Of them came through
Washington, and dispersed toward different
points In Maryland and Virginia. Mr..
Madison followed his wife. Every able
bodied man in Washington, excepting the
Roman Catholic priest, had gone to Tic
front. When they returned most Of them
found that their families had already fled
from the city The British entered the
city about eight p. m. While marching
down Maryland avenue toward the Capitol
a shot was fired from private house owned
by a gentleman named Sewall ct Gen. Ross.
He was not hurt. His horse was killed,