Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-24
SBxTY.NENE YEARS AGO. -
Thc Battle Of Bladensburg. August
24th. Isl

INTERPRETING "REMINISCENCES BIT AN OLD CITIZEN.
Written for The STAR by J ,hn e. Hardness.
While our young but intrepid navy was winning
splendid victories over the vauntad Mistress OF the
High Seas, and WAS being comp.imenied therefor
hy grand illuminations and significant proceS ions
Ia most OF the cities OF the Union, It discov-
cred, when too late to be remedied, that the
Nations Capital had been left VITA INADEQUATE
defcnse5, which allowed an Insignificant British
flre:, with little or no opposition, to TAKE pos
session OF fhc Potomac, TO the great detriment OF
ths residents OF tie District cities
Tie authorities at Washins ton lost no time in
the removal OF the valuable archives OF the gov
ernmeat 10 places OF safety The citizens not
mustered Into service and who had the means
N,.cat-L their homes and sought refuge In the
country, which gave TO the cities OF the strict the
sppeafanc: OF deserted villages. The enemy, after
toying with Us for two weeks and after making
generous additions 10 his commissary stores from
III, warehouses of Alexandria, weighed anchor
and dropped down the grand old river whose
lovin arms embraced th3 Capital City as IL to
forbid tue entrance upon It's sacred soil OF hostile
foot. hrdeI his troops ON the Maryland SHE, and
early On the morning OF the eth Of August, 1914,
confronted the command of General Winder at Bla-
Gensturg, seven miles northeast OF the city. After
al exchange OF few rounds OF canister Slot, with
thousands OF brave men present, luliy equipped
ana eager Tor the conflict, the order:
RETREAT TO THE CAPITAL"
was rapidly pasS,d along the line. Commodore
Barney and his 1otllla boys refused to obey the
order, and without aid held the foe at bay until
face to the Zoe. BY this time Gen. Winder's COM
m md had fallen into disorder. every man for him.
self, each making :or wcstern Maryland.
About noon OF the eventful Gay-memOrable
also for Its uneXamp1ed heat and duSt-a courier.
the body servant OF enc OF the generals, on foam
Ing seed, came dash.ns UP Pennsylvania avenue,
quite in advance Of the soliiery. He lighted for
few moments at small grocery-the little frame
house is sti!l standing, now known as No. 2U1s
mt
rated the sad intelligence OF the success OF the
British and the retreat OF cur army. His state
Pres ant as base fabrication The courier barely
escaped lynching. The sad news flew rapidly,
spreading gloom and discomfort everywhere. In
the hCfhing the citizens, although uneasy, were
buOyant With hope; now they were lett to the
tchief LltrCicS Oh rorei III foe.
FEvERSH DAY.
Soon the broad Avenue, from building line to
building line, was crowded with the retreating
solliery, augmented by numerous camp followers,
with none to command, all fleeing westward, none
Knew where. For more than two hours the surg
lag tile OF perturbed humanity swept on until
concealed from the View OF the observer by inter-
yen1ng hills.
With the defenders of the capital rout' d and de-
moraliz'd, the enquiry "What neXt?' swelled up
from the thrObbing hearts OF the few Old men and
helpless women who were left to share the for
TUNES OF the devoted city! Their anxiety was in
creased by what was supposed to be the actual
presence or the dreaded foe. It. proved, however,
TO be second nstallment of our own men. They
looked In every respect, diverse from their prede-
cessOrs, and were set down as the advance guard
OF the British; but they proved to be Il remnant
OF Barney'S command. They, too, pushed on
westward
A hummer AT WORK.
Near the close Of this eventful day there came
by our modest home tall, raw-boned man, in
plain attire, bending under heavy load He
paused to rest at the base of an Old-tlme tower
hhay.seae, which occupied part of the space
streets northwest. Mr.. William O'Neale ana the
writer's father interviewed him. He replied:
Ater our men had all passed on. entered the
helped myself to selections OF gold and silver
service tied them up in this tablecloth, you see
gentlemen. and am making Tor the Virginia
shore" His intcVviewsrS demonstrated with him.
and expressed some doubts as to his loyalty He
reJoined. Have not q much better right to the
hours time viii gut the mansion and apply the
torch to it?" The stranger WAS allowed to proceed
!; ms MS Incident, having been witnessed by the
stated that all such valuable property had been
previous 10 the entrance OF the British, taken 10
place OF security!
THE BRITISH IN WASHINGTON
Following hard upon this incident the presence
of the enemy was demonstrated by the application
OF the consuming torch to the public property
With Incredible celebrity the navy yard, the north
ana south wings or the Capitol, the center build
that time been built the State and Treasury build
ing with six two-stOry brick tenements for their
po5lte To the Freedman S bank site. the war and
navy building and the U. s arsenal were in full
blaze. The angry pillows OF flame illumtned the
horizon through the entire night.
The few CitlZans who remained, choosing to
share the fortune of their devoted city, now i'm
prisOned in their own homes watched and waited
with intense solicitude for the revelations of the
tardy morn. 1t at length dawned serenely upon
the dismani1ed walls and charred remains of the
then at the corner OF and 9Th streets, OF about
5oxlOo designed Tor Blodget's hotel, at the time
occupied by the general and city post offices and
the Patent office was, at the solicitations of Dr.
Thornton. Rev. Obedah Brown, of the First Bap-
fist church; Peter Force and q few other citizens
been universally protected This further fact was
also made known that no violence or bloodshed
had been INDUCED IN, with one solitary exception
"a drunken dragon OF Col. LOvall's regiment re.
turned late at night on his steed and dashed
within the picket lines at the war and navy build
ing and nred with murderous intent upon the
guard. AS he wheeled to retire the guard, with
fatal effect, returned the fire. Also at the U S.
arsenal. by the ignorance OF the British. maya
own men were killed.
During the first night British officer Of SEEM
ing rank called aJ the little frame house, No 2O1S
heng Sheltered for the time, remnants OF four Iam-
lies On politely asking for a drink OF water he
Was as kindly servei by the writer's mother. She
inquired OF the officer whether TIL. families were
exposed TO danger. He replied, Keep your lights
burning and the Shutters open, and not a hair OF
your head VIII be toucLe. l." and politely returning
you. madam" he wheeled on his charger and In a
moment disappeared.
TEMPEST FOLLOWS THE FIRE 80
On the third day OF the occupancy OF the capital
city by the British, between 3 and a O'clock In the
there came down upon this vicinity
cyclone OF unprecedented violence for this local
lily, Which cut roadwayS through the forests, dis
mdntled many buildings, sc. With the retire
ment OF the storm, It was discovered that the
enemy had retired also. Some weeks later tho
scattered fragments OF the subdivisions OF the late
army were ordered to report and encamp on
" Camp HILL" where, for number OF weeks, they
had good time generally.
In short time the SOut beast corner house OF the
" Seven BuiidingS"-l9th street and PENNSYLVANIA
aVenue-waS put In good repair and occupied by
President Madison and his family until tue EX-
ecutiye Mansion was reconstructed. The State
department found accommodations in Gen. Lears
large house, on the south side of 6 street. near
18TH street northwest. In like manner provision
was made for the other departments.
For the accommodation Of Congress number OF
patriotic citizens, by private enterprise, built at
the corner OF 1st and streets northeast the large
building generally referred to during the late cv
war as The Old Capitol Prison." Here Congress
met, and during the session made provision for the
RECONSTRUCTION OF the public buildings.
SINGLE-SPEECH RAY.
AS was to he expected, those Representatives and
others who had through the years past nursed
their hostility to the location adopted by Congress
for the seat OF government, would now renew