Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-13

! ment on W ashington TOOK shape In August.
| 1914
Commodore Barney's fotilla had engaged
the enemy as early as June TO- at Saint
| Leonard's creek on the lower Patuxent.
| From his operations there he had retired up
| that stream to Nottingham, and again on
| the approach of the enemy had gone up as
far as Pigs Point, about four miles from
Marlborough. Here on the 22d of August
Cockburn's vessels approached the Ameri-
| cans, and the latter thereupon set fire to
| their vessels and retreated, and sixteen out
Of seventeen of the gun boats blew up with
| in a few minutes.
| On the same day Ross had occupied the
I village with the land forces, and on the next
! day, August %. Cockburn Joined him. 1t
| was then that this buccaneer of the Chesa-
peake suggested the expedition to Washing
ton. Up to this point their operations seem
| to have contemplated only the capture or
| destruction of Barneys hotilla.
| That accomplished, and finding them
selves within sixteen miles of the capital
they would scarcely do less than attempt
| its capture. The government" declared
| Cockburn, will ransom their public build
| ings and homes, and we shall be enriched by
| contributions" Ross, II seems, had just ar
rived with his troops from France, where
| they had taken part against Bonaparte, and
Cockburn being familiar with the topo-
graphy of the country would naturally be-
come the leading spirit.
They concerted their plans that day in
Marlborough, and in the afternoon moved
out and bivouacked at place three or four
| miles on the road toward Washington, call
ed Melwood.
The Battle of BIadensburg.
The next day came the unfortunate battle
of Bladensburg. For three-quarters of a
| century Americans have blushed for that
day. and they will probably have to go on
SO to the end of the chapter. We will prob
ably never have an opportunity now to pay
England the debt We have owed her all
| al
episode The burning of our Capitol and our
infant library was fit finale to two seasons
| spent along the shores of the Chesapeake,
| making war upon non-combatants, burning
| farm houses, robbing tobacco barns and
| pillaging churches.
The Dr. Beanes Episode.
This brings us to another chapter of
Marlboroughs history-a chapter growing
| Immediately out of these events, and yet
| owing its national interest to a subsequent
and entirely Independent fact. Marlbor-
ough was the home Of the man who caused
the writing of the Star spanglei Banner"
that immortal song which has made Fran
els Scott Key forever famous.
D.. Beanes was one of the leading citi-
zens of the community at the time of the
! invasion. 1t was in his house that Gen.
Ross made his headquarters during his
stay In the village. and 1t was in his house
that Cockburn joined the general on the
23d. and they thereupon determined on the
expedition to Washington.
AS to what next occurred between Dr.
Beanes and the British army, 1t is not so
easy to determine.
A writer who with the army during
the whole expedition says: THE inhab-
itants of that village marlborough, insti-
gated by a medical practitioner named
Beanes had risen in arms as soon as We
were defeated, and falling upon such in
dividuals as strayed from the column. put
some of them to death and made others
prisoners. A soldier who had escaped gave
this information, and they Immediately re-
turned pulled him out of bed at midnight
and made him a prisoner"
This seems too monstrous for belief and
yet there is some mystery about the affair
that has never been explained.
Chief Justice fancy, who was KEYS
brother-in-law, published an account of the
circumstances by way of preface to a col
lection of Keys poems, Ia which he states
In substance that DIR. Beanes~ took part in
arresting certain stragglers of the British
army who were committing depredations.
Whatever may have been the full nature
| OF his onense. all the accounts agree that
he was hurried of to the British fleet where
| he was treated with the greatest harsh
ness and severity
Key, IL seems was DIR. Beanes' nephew
and at once undertook to secure his release
| He had Just taken part in the battle at
Biadensburgh, and was withal of good
deal OF prominence. and the country at
large has always supposed that he accom-
plished his purpose and procured the pri.-
oner's release Immediately after the fall
ure OF the attack on Baltimore Such is
not the understanding in Marlborough town.
Carried n PrisOner to Halifax.
Tarey expressly states that he secured
the promise of Beanes' release as soon as
the expedition should be determined, and
| leaves the clear implication that he was
| released. but the statement Is made by Mr..
Wilson. editor Of the Marlboro Gazette. and
| who for many years has studied the history
of the village. that the doctor was carried
TO Halifax. Nova Scotia. and did not re-
turn for about year. He refers to old
| citizens, still living. and to letters written
by others who had actual knowledge OF the
| facts. 1t would seem that the local version
is entitled to great weight, when we con-
slider that the doctor did not die until ISIS,
at the age Of eighty years He was more
| than sixty when the British carried him of.
| 1t must be remembered also that all the
published versions of the story have been
written from a Star Spangled Banner"
standpoint. In our hero worship for Key and
oIr enthusiasm over his great lyric. the
man who caused II all Is TO some extent
| lost sight Of
The Old Assembly Hail.
Who would think of this drowsy little
/ hamlet that never in it's paimiest days had
| over 800 Inhabitants as being one of the
| best theatrical stands I'm the United States
That's just what IL was a century ago.
| and II probably continued such for a good
many years during the first half of tn.
present century. The Maryland planter of
| the colonial period thoroughly believed in
| enjoying himself. and there was nothing
| that afforded himself and his family more
pleasure than a horse race, a play or a ball
| 1t was but natural that the new and rich
| county below the Patuxent, and the chosen
| home of the tobacco plant. should early in
| Its history adopt these features Of metro
poliian life, and IL not long before
| the entertainments given here rivaled those
\ Of the capital itself
| Twice year. in the spring and fall the
races were held here, and some one of the
| leading players then before the American
| public always made it a point to have a
/ date here.
The old ball room and theater stood lust
l at the foot of the little mill not more than
Il stones throw from the lonely graves of
DIR. Beanes and his wife 1t Is said to have
been an immense queer. barn-like old struc-
| ture, but every vestige of II has disap-
| Feared.
Il