The Evening critic., 1881-10-17
A VETERAN OF 1912,
Major william Bailey Tells nm In.
terestiug story Of Tint War-AIsO
Some Facts About I.afnycftc-s visit.

| Some Facts About Lafaycttc-s visit.
In quiet little cottage-like home on the
banks of the Eastern branch, near the Ana
costa bridge, an old veteran of the war of
1S12-Maior William Bailey--resides SUR
rounded by his family, consisting of a wife
and several devoted children. The Major,
although nearly ninety years old, is hale
and hearty, and tells joke with evident
relish. The Major is as full of valuable in
formation concerning past historical events
rs any living man, A Critic reporter
called upon him this morning, and found
| him sitting on his doOr-stoop intently gaZ-
ing upon the placid waters of the Potomac.
The scribe, by way of introducing himself,
said Major am n representative ofTHE
CRITIC, and came to have talk with you
concerning your past life"
! Well, said the Major "what do you
wish to know, young many'
Tell me something about your experience
in the war of 1919, and who you served
with"
i entered the service" said Major Bailey,
"at the beginning of the war of 1912, and
served with the gallant Commodore Bar
ney."
Where did you operator
eve were stationed in and about Norfolk
for several months, guarding that and other
ports, but the British, who outnumbered our
forces moro than ten TO one, and who had
superior ships, made IL too hot for us there,
and the brave and gallant Barney concluded
one day, on account of not having q sufli-
cient number of men to engage in contest
with the British, to blow up his notilla and
take his cannon on shore and make tracks
for Washington. We went up to the Patux-
ent River, and there destroyed our hotilla.
We got our cannon on shore. This proved
the wigpgt IN Wp tbau tnnly
up our long and weary march for Wash
ington, and arriving at the old bridge
(this bridge is situated only about half n
mile from Major Bailey's house, and the old
burnt piles can be plainly seen from thero)
crossed over to the Washington shore. We
were holly pursued by the British forces,
who were under command of General Ross
Commodore Barney, who was, in my estima-
ton, the greatest stratcgist the world ever
saw, burnt the old bridge to the waters
edge to keep the British from crossing, and
then marched with his handful of men to
Bladensburg where he knew the red coats
were bound to come, If they intended to
march on to Washington. Commodore Bar.
ncy planted his guns and threw up earth
works on the hill overlooking Clark Mills
farm, and awaited the arrival of the British.
We had not long to watt for in twenty-four
hours our antagonists came in sight, and
then bloody battle began. We repulsed
the enemy, and won n magnificent victory.
History tells the rest"
Major" said the reporter, "Did you
know that one or two old residents of this
city claim the exclusive honor of having
seen the Marquis De Lafayette on the &C.
cason of his visit to Washington"
Yes, have read something in the pa
pers about that, but it is not true. l. for
~, n &C, -, ,I,n,. k, ,,,1 Id.
came from Baltimore to this city, and, in
fact, at that time / was n member of Capt.
Bully's Volunteer Company, and our COM
mand escorted Lafayette through the city.
can remember Lafayette as well as any
little incident connected with my
life. When Lafayette left Washington,
he took a steamer for Mount Vernon.
He was escorted to that place by number
of distinguished men of this city and Balti-
more. Upon his arrival Mt Mount Vernon
he requested the gentlemen who accom-.
panied him to allow him to go to the tomb
of Washington alone. was there in COM
pany with several military men, and re-
member very well the words of Lafayette
when he landed at Mount Vernon. Said
he: God be blessed, | am on the sacred
soil where rests the remains of my
friend Washington Lafayette went to the
vault where Washington's remains were
deposited. He got down on his knees and
prayed aloud for at least twenty minutes.
lie arose. came up to our party, his face red
and his eyes filled with tears. He said to
us, Now, gentlemen, you can all go down;
| am through When we left the brave
Lafayette he gave us all an affectionate
goodbye"
Major Bailey has for the past sixty years
worked in the Navy-yard at his trade of
blacksmithing. He hardly ever misses a
day and is meyer late. 1t would seem that
after a man has served the Government
faithfully so many years he should be pen
stoned, but such is not the case A mechanic
may work for the Government a hundred
years and as soon as he becomes infirm he
is kicked out of the service. A military or
naval man after serving the Government a
stated number of years is retired on hand
some pension.