The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-09-01
Corre'pondenc. baltimore C,rHiy Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

wASnINGroN. d. C.. August aSth. ISs;;.
Ei'prs iH'"H lat Friday was the anniver.
sary oi the battle Of Bladens burg and the sackny
Of this city by the British in IslI. How different
the peaceiulncss and quiet that existed from the
disorder. fear and excitement of the same ,lay
sixiy-nine years before The British had been
operating IN Chesapeake bay and at the
mouth. Of the several creeks estuaries and rivers
all summer. and had given the inhabitants living
near their shores great trouble. often landing and
carrying oil their cattle. tobacco and other pro.
ducis Of their plantations. But il was not until
the middle Of August that they appeared in great
force in the Chesapeake and entered the mouth
and sailed up the Patuxent in about ify vessels.
Their force consisted Of about 1000 men, which
they landed on the morning Of the 9Th, at point
Ia Prince Gcorge's county, called Benedict, and
under the command OF Ieneral Ross and Admiral
Cockburn they commenced their march up what
was known A. the 'Riyer Road" They reached
the vicinity of Bladensburg about o'clock in the
afternoon, where they found the American force,
also about 1900 strong. in line Of battle But the
most Of these were inexperienced militia. BIa-
densburg j. about i've miles from this city. The
fight had scarcely begun when some Of these mill.
TIA broke and run. and in less than two hours the
remaining troops. being unable 10 resist the steady
advance of the British, a general stampede took
place, which has given the name Of this fight the
williamsburg Race instead Of battle. However,
all the American troops did not behave so dis.
ground maniully against the ovcrpowering British
force until ordered by their commanding officers
20 retreat, for which they deserve grea, credit.
II IL said that the men under Com. barney fought
until the British reached the very muEIles % their
guns. Both Com. Barney and Col. Hag.n were
wounded and fell into the hands Of the enemy the
latter while trying to rally his men who had fed
so disgraeefully.
The fight did not last but few hours when the
British, 1.-THE American force being seatterd,l be.
gan their march towards Washington. They took
a efcuitous route and entered the city from the
west, by the way Of Gcorgetown Heights, which
would have been n very stragetic point 20 turn
their batteries upon the capital had they met with
any further resistance. Immediately on entering
the city they proceeded 60 burn the public build.
inss including the capitol, the White House. the
treasury building, and even some private houses.
With the public buildings the National library
was destroyed aud Admiral CocSburn, In person,
attended the destruction 81 the Office of the Ma.
bsaai i.iSi,g.acsr. President Madison says ia
his proclamation; They wantonly destroyed the
pubic edihees. having no relation In their struc.
turc to operations Of war, nor used at any time
for military annoyance; some Of these edidcss be.
ing also costly monuments of taste and Uf the arts
AMI others the Isp"sitsFiss of the public archives
not only precious to the Nation as the memorials
Of its origin and Its early transactions, but in
teresting 10 all Nations as contributions to the
general stock of historical and political
science. The navy yard. with all the shipping
and stores, including a new friga,e and sioop Of
war, were destroyed previous Go tho entrance Of
the city by the British. "Tho British army re-
tired" says the historian. "in the night of the
18th, in prudent hurry aud with studied silence.
leaving several Of their wounded behind aud some
Of their deaf unburied.' but why they should
have done "in prudent hurry" 3c.. Is not
easily perceived. The Americans killed in the
battle of Bladensburg. aecosding to Gen. winder's
account, was between 30 aud 30, the wounded from
so TO Go, and about 1870 taken prisoners; "uhiie
The saysl from the best n,eli gence there remains
but little doubt that the enemy lost at least 800
killed aud wounded, and Of these very unusual
portion killed."
There l. no doubt but that the sympathies Of
the public generally vas with the late strike Of
the ielegraphers. On last Saturday afternoon the
zone egged and some armed" men Of the District
played a game u baseball NJ Athletic Park. this
city. for the benefit Of the strikers here who arc
"lefi out in the cold" and said 90 be 10 want.
Al Washington seemingly turned out last night
on pennsylEania avenue 20 welcome home the
Light Infantry from Cape May. The scene and
crowd we're very suggestive Of an Inauguration oe.
casion, cannon firing. bands playing. and rockets.
which made the avenue = bright glare, sent up IS
they, escorted BY the other military companies %
the District, paFaded the street. They Afterwards
had banquet rendered them at their arm0ry.