Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-30
THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
The Closing Session at Columbian Col
lege Last Evening.

| The Closing Session at Columbian Col.
Iege Last Evening.
| OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR ELEcTED-wAsHING-
| ToNIANS CHOSEN AS MEMBERs-AN INTEREST.
ING PAPER ON THE CAPTURE OF WASHING
| TON In 1914
At the closing session OF the American His.
torical association at the Columbian College
| hall last evening the committee appointed Ia
| walt upon President Cleveland and request his
cooperation in securing proper commemora-
| ton in 1892 of the 400ta anniversary of the
discovery of America by Columbus reported
| that the President assured the committee that
he felt deep interest in the matter and In
| timated that he would take pleasure in bring
| ing it to the attention of Congress in his next
| annual message. He did not think it likely
that Congress, at its present session, would be
able to give the subject the consideration it de-
served.
DR.. George E. Ellis, president of the Massa-
society," read
Jameson. Johns Hopkins University, read a
paper on William Usselinxm, Founder OF the
The last paper OF the meeting was by Rev. DIR.
| Edward Everett Hale, Franklin in
the retiring president, Hon. George Bancroft,
| for services rendered the association by mis-
presence and sympathetic interest
| OFFICERS ELECTED.
|
the association for the coming year: President,
Justin Winsor, librarian Harvard university.
Vice presidents, Charles Kendall Adams presi.
| dent Cornell university; VIM. +. Poole of
Chicago Public library. Secretary, Herbert b.
ADAMS, Johns Hopkins university. Treasurer
| Clarence Winthrop Bowen, New York.
| Executive council, in addition to the above
OF Wisconsin; Charles Dean, Cambridge, Mass;
Prof Franklin b. Dexter, Yale College, and
Hon Ion VIM. Writ Henry, Richmond, Va.
| mann cd aia tod ,lsarc
OF the association: Chief Justice Waite. Sena-
tor VIM. NJ. Evarts, senator Joseph r. Hawiey,
/ Senator Orvtlle II. Plat, senator John A.
Logan, Hon. VIM. Henry smith, general mana
ger OF the Associated Press; Commodore George
ingpen: pr w. " Goddns DRs5 M Rear
Admiral Thornton A. Jenkins u. s. N: Hon.
Horatio King, Washington; Hon. ]. K. Upton,
| bury, Mass.
| THE CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON IN 1914.
Among the papers read at the session yester-
day was one by Major Gen. George w. Cullum,
U. s. A, upon "Tbe capture OF Washington city
in 1914"
This paper was largely copied from one of the
| authors campaign sketches OF the war OF
1928 against Great Britain. written some
years ago. Notwithstanding repeated WARM
ings that England was preparing, after Napo-
Icons Punishment to Eliza, 10 transport many
of hei Peninsula veterans TO our shores, the
writer said nothing was done for the defense of
the Capitol till the enemy was almost at our
gates. linen requisitlOns for vast array of
100000 militia were made but, through OFF,
cial apathy or incompetence, defective state
appointed commanding general, two weeks
after the enemy had appeared in heavy force in
the chesapeake, was unable to muster more
than 5000 raw troops, without organization,
drill, discipline staff or engineers. With only
part OF thus motley mass to oppose them, the
rapaclous British Admiral Cockburn and the
dashing Irish General Ross landed with 4,5O0
efficient soldiers and marines at Benedict,
the Patuxent within fifty miles of Washington.
Ra avS
hotilla near Pio's Point, was burned by order
Of our panic stricken Secretary OF the Navy, and
destination. Winder, instead Of concentrating
his forces and lighting u battle II "Long Old
Fields" an admirable strategic position, COW
ering a direct advance on Washington and its
Hank approaches, made
A DIsoRDERLY RETREAT
across the Eastern Branch of the Potomac
which was the death blow to our cause. Terror
now regned supreme in Washington and all
steadily upon Bladensburg. where our 5000
weary, undisciplined aud demoralized troops
had TO contend against nearly equal num-
and accustomed to victory. The battle began
about noon and at p. m. ended in pellmell
heroic defenders, which were chiefly limited 70
Barney's seamen and Peters regulars.
Ross having secured an easy victory marched
stroyed all the public buildings Except the post
office, the printing establishment OF the M
tiomat Intet!'gencer and some private property.
The wild Russian Cossacks, who had sacrs.
feed their own sacred Moscow in 1912 as an
act of patriotism, had spared Paris when their
hour Tor vengeance had struck In 1874; but it
remained for civilized Britons, 1.-THE paragons OF
perfect men" as sung by their own Spencer in
the nineteenth Christian century, TO commit
an act OF vandalism against the children of
their own lOins worthy OF the barbarous ages OF
Alaric or Danish Vikings.
Ross and Cockburn having fulfilled their in. |
famous mission, and fearing that the hand OF
retribution might cut OF their retreat, secretly
stole away, alter terrific tempest in the dark |
unburied and their wounded to our humanity |
safely reached Benedict ON the 29th aud en-. |
barked on shfpboard with their booty on the |
3Oth, thus completing their ten days cam |
paign, Decameron OF most unfragrant history. |
THE oovERNxExr's MrsrAKE.
After narrating these operations the author |
INDUCED in some criticisms upon the omission |
of the government to provide timely defense |
for the capital. Not battery was built not q |
gun was mounted nor q regiment mustered |
into service for the security Of Washington till
six weeks before the destruction OF the city, |
notice of ITS coming danger, and not less than |
six OF its impending peril. Not till July 1, |
sleep OF security, and then only 70 raise raise an |
Gully worthless. But nctxithstandine these these |
not blameess, for, with all OF his advantages OF
q knowledge of the banks Of the Patuxent, not |
q bridge was burned. no ROAD obstructed, no
rear of the enemy, and not the slightest oppo-
sition was offered 70 the passage OF Q stream or
ravine. How different Yves the course Of Schuy-
Ter when Burgoyne, invading our territory,
came down the valley OF the upper Hudson In
1777.
Winder's fatal error In not fighting at Long
Old Fields on the 22d OF August, the anniver-
sary OF Bosworth Field, was the kneii Of our
safety and the signal 70 embolden the British |
corsair to carry out his nendish purposes In
destroying. says President Madison, 1.-The pub |
lie edifceS, having no relation In their struc-
ture TO operations OF war, nor used NJ the time
for military annoyance; some Of these odf6ces
being also costly monuments Of taste and OF
the arts. and Others deposttortes OF the public 1
memorials Of its origin and tts early transac-
lions. but interesting 70 ell nesjons contFfbu-
aons to the general stock a Historical Iustruc.
tion and political science" WHAT would Eng
land have aaid Of . like destruction OF her
the British muoe0m1
isabey, the noted French aFs1st who paintsd
the Temptation ct T. Anthony" = 0ssd, aged /
81 years -