Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-04

O0 the Z4I0 OF August, lol4, tue
battle of Bladensburg was won by
the British. The capital. thus rem
icred defenseless. was then sacked
by British troops. Yes. SIR" said
Edward Sims, one Of the few men
living who took part in that battle.
speaking to . reporter, :" cap never
think Of that day, without feeling
Of disgust for the conduct OF Gen.
Winder and Gen. Armstrong. We
could have whipped the British; we
were determined to fight them; We
were aware that they were coming to
town to sack our homes. We were
pretty we'll ril.ed; my company was
especially well drilled"
"Do you remember much about
the battIes" asked the reporter.
"Oh, yes" said Mr.. Sims, "our
lines extended from my company
which was ON the right, around the
nights of Blsdensburg. nearly to the
road to Baltimore. When our CON-
pany came under fire We received
three volleys which did no damage.
Then we began to fire by platoon.
and with good effect. Then, to our
great surprise and disgust. The order
to retire came. We could have
whipped them easily, sir, and caused
them great loss. Capt. Johns was
commanding our company, and Maj.
King was In command Of the battal-
lion to which we belonged. Johns
was 40 old bachelor, and belonged to
the aristocracy Of Georgetown and
Maryland. When the fight cOmmenc-
ed, Johns was on the extreme right
He was scared at the first fire, and
away he went to the rear a. II the
very devil was after him. Mai King
vas ON horseback. Capt Johns
mounted behind the major, and
away both Of them went fleeing for q
place Of safety. Our company got
together and elected Capt. MoultOn
to the command. Capt. Moulton
died afterward Ia the United States
service. But, TO return to the battle.
We were ordered TO retire to the east
Of the capital, but the order was not
carried out, and the men scattered
/ remained In the city the whole Of
tina. night. ! saw the capitol and the
presidents house and the arsenal
burned. or all the sights I ever saw
In my life the one ! saw that night
remains most wildly IL my memory.
The principal portion Of the British
army was stationed east OF the capital.
A detachment was sent out to burn
the public building, and they burn
ed tho presidents house and the cap
tol first. Sometime afterward the
detachment went down TO burn the
arsenal. There was . considerable
quantity OF powder In the arsenal,
and we had removed over fifty kegs
into . dry well TO hide Il from the
British. In removing Il to the we'll
there Was waste, and the powder fell
ON the ground. This scattered pow
der caught fire, and running along
the ground, the fire communicated
with the powder IN the well, causing
the whole TO explode with terrific Ell.
feet. Kegs were blown hundreds Of
feet into the air and exploded In mid
cir, making grand spectacle. About
thirty of the British soldiers were
killed. The rest If the detachmen,
withdrew to the east of the capital.
The next day | Joined my company
again Ut Tcnnallytown. aud proceed
ed by orders to march 10 Baltimore
to meet the English troops. there.
We, however, got only 20 far ~ Eli
colt City, when We received the news
that, IN approaching Baltimore from
Fell's Point. Gen. Ross WAS killed.
His death threw the British army in
to great consuslon. The Baltimore
troeps fired upon them and made
them flee 10 their vessels"