Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-15
MORE ABOUT THE SACKING OF
WASHINGTON,


Another Leaf from History.
HOW THE STATE DEPARTMENT ARCUIvEs WE'RE
ALL sAvED-AN IMPORTANT LETTER OF ME-.
g. PLEAsONToN, WHO REMOVED THEM TO LEES
BURG, VA.
The Renaissance Of Mr.. John.C. HARNESS.
published in THE STAR of August s4th, and crit
icsed by 81. T." in the issue of September 7th
| Is correct in the statement that ''the archives
were carried away to place of safety" at the
invasion OF Washington in the war of 1S12-14
The proclamation Of President Madison, issued
at the time, does not state that the archives
were destroyed, as u. T." infers, but that the
depOsitOsies Of the archives were wantonly
burned. In 1913 Mr.. Pieasonton, who
was an official Of the State department at
the time the archives were removed, wrote q
letter to VIM. H. Winder. Of Philadelphia, giving
detailed and very interesting account of the
removal of the valuable documents. which in
Guided the original copy Of the Declaration of
Independence and George Washington's original
commission from Congress as commander-in-
chief ofthe army. A copy Of this letter has been
kindly furnished THE STAR by his estimable
daughter. who resides here.
The letter is as follows:
WASHINGTON CITY, August Z, 1S48.
SIR: 1 have had the honor to receive your let
ter OF the 5th instant requesting to be informed
of the reasons fof, and the circumstances attend
ing the removal of the books and papers of the
Department Of State to a place of security in
August. 1914, whilst q British fleet and army,
then in the Chesapeake bay, were menacing an
attack on this city.
After lapse of "a years may not be perfectly
accurate in my recollections Of all the circum-
stances attending the transaction referred to,
but will, with great pleasure, state them as
they now occur to nay memory. / have no
knowledge OF information having been received
by the government from Messrs Bayard and
Galiatin, then ministers in Europe. for adjusting
peace with Great Britain OF a proposed at
tack on Washington city by the British forces;
but 1 remember to have seen in some of the
British newspapers received from Mr.. Beasely.
the c0mmlSsary OF prisoners OF war in London,
who was in the habit of forwarding to the de-
partmeBt London newspapers by the cartels,
statement that the feet and transports were
receiving troops on board at Bordeaux, in France,
with the view of operating against Washington
and Baltimore. and that it was their intention
to retaliate the eutrages alleged to have been
committed by our forces under Gen. Dearborn
at York, TN Upper Canada some time previous
iy. This allegation was denied and refuted by
Gen. Dearborn, as will appear by reference to
Nstes' Register. vol tx, p. $50.
Soon after learning that the British feet were
in the Chesapeake we learned also that they
were ascending the Patuxenf evidently with
the view OF attacking this city. Upon receiving
this information, which was about aweek before
the enemy entered Washington, Col Monroe,
then Secretary Of State, mounted his horse and
proceeded to Benedict, small village on the
Patuxent, where the British forces were being
landed. From an emInence within quarter Of
mile OF the village Col. Monroe could distinctly
see the number and kind of troops of which
their army was composed; and reeellecting the
threats held out in the British papers. and be-
lleylng that we had no force which could sue
cessfuly resist them. he sent note. either to
Mr.. Jonn Graham, the chief clerk of the Office.
or myself Ct do not remember which), by vi
dette, advising us to take the best care of the
books and papers Of the office which might be
in our power WhereupOn | proceeded to pur-
chase coarse linen, and caused it to be made into
bags OF convenient size. in which the gentlemen
OF the Office, assisted by ME, placed the books
and other papers. after which 1 obtained carts
and had them conveyed to grist mill. then un-
occupied. belonging to Mr.. Edgar Patterson,
situated short distance on the Virginia side of
the Potomac, beyond the Chain bridge so-called
two miles above Georgetown.
whist engaged In the passage way of the
Quilting with the papers. the Department OF
State being on one side and the War depart
ment on the other side of the passage Gen.
Armstrong, then Secretary of War. OIL his way
to his own room, stopped q short time and OBJ
served to me that he thought we were under
unnecessary alarm, as he did not think the
British were serious in their intentions Of COM
ing to Washington 1 replied that we were
under different belief, and let their intentions
be what they might, it was the part of pru-
dence to preserve the valuable papers OF the
Revolutionary government. comprising the Dec
laratiOn of Independence, the laws, the secret
Journals OF Congress, then not published. the
correspondence of Gen. Washington, his COM
mission resigned at the close Of the war, the
correspondence Of Gen. Greene and other sen-
erals, as well as all the laws. treaties and cor
the adoption OF the Constitution down to that
time.
Considering the papers unsafe at the min, as,
/ II the British forces got to Washington, they
would probably detach a force for the purpose
of destroying foundry for cannon and shot in
its neighborhood. and would be led BY some
evil disposed person to destroy the mill and
papers also, proceeded to some farm honses in
Virginia and procured wagons, in which the
books and papers were deposited, and pro-
ceeded with them to the town Of Leesburg q
distance of IS miles, at which place an empty
house was procured, in which the papers were
safely placed, the doors locked and the Keys
given to the Rev. Mr.. Littlejohn, who was
then or had been one Of the collectors Of inter-
nal revenue.
Being fatigued with the ride and securing the
papers l retired early to bed and was informed
next morning by the people Of the hotel where
stad that they had seen the preceding night,
being the 9th Of August, large fire in the
light from the public buildings the enemy had
set on fire ana burned them to the ground.
On the 26th of August 1 returned to Wash
fn@ten and found the Presidents House and
public offices still burning. and learned that the
British army had evacuated the city the pre-
ceding evening, in the belief that our forces
were again assembling in their rear for the
purpose of cutting Off their retreat. However
this may be, they made forced march and
left, 1T was reported a considerable number Of
their men on the road, who were captured BY a
troop OF horse from Frederick, in Maryland
As part of the British feet soon afterwards
assembled the Potomac and plundered Alexan-
dria Of a large quantity of -four and tobacco.
threatening Washington at the same time with
second invasion, 1t was not considered safe to
bring the papers of the State department back
for some weeks; not. indeed. until the British
feet generally had left the waters of the Chesa-
peake. In the meantime it was found neces-
sary for me to proceed to Leesburg OCCASION
ally for particular papers to which the Secretary
or State had occasion to refer in the course OF
his correspondence.
have the honor to be. very respectfully, sir,
Your Obedient servant.
(Signedo s. PLEAsONTON.
VIM IL Winder. Esq. Philadelphia, Penn