Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-17
BRITISH INVASION
Graphic Account of the Burning of
the Public Buildings Here.
WIDESPREAD PANIC AMONG CITIZENS
The Paper Read Before the His
toricaI Society by M. I.WeIIer.
THE BRITISH COMMANDERS

The invasion of this city by the British
| in 1914 and the destruction of the public
| buildings by fire constitute one Of the most
dramatic episodes in the history of Wash
-ington. Although so years have elapsea
sine e the disaster of that August day, the
historical interest in the event has not
abated as was demonstrated at the last
meeting of the Columbia Historical Society,
when a paper on that subject was read by
| Mr.. M. 1. Weller. Not only were interest
ing and but little known Incidents brought
out by the paper but in the discussion fol-
lowing the reading, which was participated
in generally by the members, the fact was
| developed that a great deal of attention
| has been paid by those interested in the
| early history Of the city to this particular
| event.
Mr.. Weller in his paper spoke Of the in
| tense Indignation which filled the country
| at that time and said that immedia tely
| party differences vanished the national
| honor being at stake, and every one rallied
| to the support of the government, anxious
to efrace the disgrace heaped upon the coun-
try, and avenge the vandalism committed
by the enemy. American manhood re-
sponded at once to the call, soon redeemng
the disaster of that fatal nAugust day by
the brilliant victories of September 10, 1914.
at Baltimore, and January 3, 1915, before
New Orleans"
The acts of the British soldiery in this
city were, said the writer, condemned by
the whole civilized world. He added that
this wantonness of the torch can never be
forgotten nor condoned, and 1t ever remains
a stigma on England's fame. lie referred
to the account of the capture of the city
as published by Edward d. Ingraham In
1S49, by John s. Williams in 1856, and by
Lieut.. George r. Gleig in 1876. He said
that with these standard histories every
one was quite familiar but the graphic re-
cital by DIR. James Ewell at that period
Mr. Weller stated, the leading physician
of Washington. of the British occupation OF
our city is probably unknown, he said, to
the majority OF the citizens.
Gen. Ross Headquarters.
Mr.. Weller then read extracts taken from
DR.. Ewels account. He said that DR..
Ewell possessed ample facilities to acquire
a knowledge of the facts that were men,
toned. owing to the fact that his house, at
the northeast corner of LIST and A streets
southeast Chs site is now included in the
grounds of the new Congressional Library
buildng), was selected by the commander
of the British forces Gen. Robert Ross
his headquarters.
DR.. Ewelrs residence was the corner enc
in the block of five houses known as Car
news that the British squadron was in the
Chesapeake bay and had landed a small
army at Benedict, on the river PatuXent.
He believed that the British had no other
object in view than the destruction of the
American flotilla, which had been pursued
some weeks before up the Patuxcnt 1t was
furthest from his thoughts that an attack
was intended on Washington, which was
located fifty miles from the encmy's ship
ping. DR.. Ewell speaks of the change in the
situation when. on the evening of the I'D,
Gen. Winder retreated precipltately to this
city. On the same evening, Col. Miner, with
his regiment from Virginia, arrived in the
city.
The doctor accompanied Col. Miner at the
latter's request to see the President, ard
subsequently,, at the Presidents suggestion,
visited Gen. Armstrong, the Secretary Of
War. On returning from these visits to his
home with Col Miner, the latter expressed
the fear that, owing to the Indifference of
the authorities, the city woui1 be sacrificed.
On account of the delay in equipping the
regiment OF Col Col Miner win arms Dr.
the army before the retreat.
Panic in This City.
He speaks Of the movements of the forces
under the command of Gen. Winder, and
gives an account of the battle at BlaIens-
burg. The report of the firing during the
engagement was, of course, plainly heard by
the citizens Of Washington, and they were
naturally in a state of great apprehension.
The flight of our troops into the city was
followed by = general movement on the part
of the citizens to secure places Of safety for
their families and their property.
DR.. Ewell was unable to obtain even a cart
20 remove his family to the country, as he
wished to do and so he took his wife and
two daughters. leaving his house and prop
erty in the hands of servants, to the resi-
dence of Mrs. Orr, a neighbor, who lived
about a hundred yards from his house. As
Mrs. Orr was then confined to her bed by
sickness the doctor concluded from that
fact that 1t would be sale place for his
family, and also Mrs Orr was anxious to
have him there, as her husband was away
from home and some of her servants had
run off with the frightened multitude. He
states that the enemy made mis- appearance
in the city about twilight.
He speaks of the burning of the house of
Mr.. Sewall from which the British had
been fired upon, killing two men, woundlnG
several and killing the horse of MAJ Gen.
Ross. He then states that the navy yard
and the Capitol and the Presidents House
and the war office were set on fire. the con-
Migration being seen for a long distance.
The treasury building was burned the next
morning. He believes that the defeat at
Badensburg was largely due to the fact
that the troops had not been prepared for
the conflict as they had been brought to-
gether hurredly and Were poorly armed, as
well as being wearied by long marching. and
exhausted from lack of food.
POlitencss of Gen. Ross.
While the buildings were burning, DR..
Ewell states that five or six British soldiers
presented themselves at the residence Of
Mrs. Orr and asked very politely 70: some
thing to eat. Their request was granted,
and DR.. Ewell adds that they conducted
themselves with the utmost good behavior.
Seeing lights IN every room of his own
house, and fearing that II, too, had been set
on fire, he asked the aid of the soldiers,
who promised to help him in every way.
Soon one of his servants arrived, who in
formed him that his house had been plum
dered by the British soldiers. He then gives
an account of his introduction to Admiral
CockbUrn by Rev. Mr.. Mccormick. He also
met Gen. Ross at the same time.
He told these officers of his fears In re-
gard to the safety of his residence, and
they 10th assured him that private property
was to be held sacred, and that If necessary,
they would place their soldiers in charge of
his house. The doctor said that the CONVEX
sation took place in front Of his own resi-
dence, and he informed Gen. Ross that 1t
was his house. The latter told him that
they had just decided to occupy that house
rs their headquarters, but he added that he
would rot think of tresspaSsing on a private
family, and would at once order the removal
of his baggage.
Ii.