The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
old CAPITAL DEFENCES
The Nations Former Military
Strength on the Potomac.
Fort WashinGton's Capture by n
British Fleet in the Second War
with Observation-Disclosures to the
l;ncmy by Mistnkc-Cruise of His
Mujcsty's Vessels i'm the River.

many years ago, the gordon of forts that
crowned the hills around the Capital. Now
that word means the impregnabie fort
resses that would make three miles OF the
Potomac River sea of fire to an invader.
The oldest fort in this neighborhood after
the Indian stockades was Fort Columbia,
which was built during the Revolutionary
War and armed with guns which Braddock
had left behind at Alexandria as too heavy
to carry on his expedition to Fort Du
Quesne. Fort Columbia stood at the END
of Jones' Point, at the junction OF Hunting
Creek with the Potomac, and was not dis
mantled until after the war with France
in 1859. The heavy stones that made the
battery still lie at the end of me Point
and some of the guns which made Its
armament are stuck up as posts at corners
along the river front. Just before this tort
was demolished-for it was in 1I9i only
ruin-Congress determined to build an
other one on the Potomac.
John Vermonnet was appointed by Gen
eral Knox, Secretary of War. in May, 1884,
to take control and direction of the new
fort, etc. to be built upon the Potomac
River General Washington selected the
site for the new fort. a riverside Knoll
nearly opposite Mount Vernon, and part OF
the old manor of Warburton, in Mary
land. Charles Digges had purchased this
land before 174o, and naming it manor
affected lordly manners. He had his
river barge built like Venetian gondola,
and it was manned with negro slaves
wearing the costume of gondoliers. His
daughter, Jane Digges, married Col. John
Fitzgerald. one of Washington's aides in
the Revolution, and afterward Mayor
of Alexandria. The land was bought OF
Thomas A. Digges in 1908 for $4,000, and
the new fort was begun in 1909
= The circumstances of its capture in 1914
by the British are, it is believed, unpar-
aIleled in naval history. They are related
in contribution by one of the officers OF
the British fleet, to the ''Gs ntlemans
Magazine" of London. The narrative
has never before been published on this
side of the Atlantic. The author says:
I'VE arrived in the Chesapeake with
the greater part of the squadron. The
frigates Euryalus, Sea Horse, the mortar
vessels Devastation. Meteor. and Etebcs,
with the Anna Maria or Fairy, as ten
der, were put under the orders of Cap
tain Gordon, of the Sea Horse, with the
following instructions:
You are TO proceed up the Potomac
River as high as you may find it prac-
ticable without endangerirg the ships, for
the purpose of keeping the country Dor
dering on the river in a state of alarm
and to lombard and destroy, if possible,
such Notifications as the enemy may have
for the prQfpc,iOn of its naviga-
ton.
In pursuance Of this order Captain Cor
don's fleet harried the riverside. and about
the 10th of August. 1914, arrived at the
Kettle Bottoms. The narrative of the
British officer is especially interesting by
showing how nature fought against the
British without any assistance from man.
II is a record of the utter incompetency
of defence. which terminated in the sur
render of the fort which had been built
to protect the Capital of the country from
an attack by water: a surrender, however.
which may find its parallel in the land
fight and flight at Bladensburg. The writer
continues:
i, >. 1.-THE evening of the second Gay brought
the little squadron. without any accident,
TO the entrance Of the Kettle Bottoms. We
were fully aware of the difficulties we had
to encounter, and were determined to con-
-quer them If possible. The Sea Horse
keeping the Virginia shore on board, led
the Euryalus and the rest Of the squadron.
The wind was light and several boats were
ahead sounding. As long as the soundings
were good no apprehension was enter
tanned. not being aware of the smallness
of the distractions. and ii appeared almost
impossible, If the ships ahead found pas
sage. that those Immediately astern should
be brought up. We were, however mis-
taken. The Euryalus opened the ball and
struck. or rather was suddenly brought up
for nothing was felt. and the lead gave us
plenty OF water. The signal was made to
anchor and boats and hawsers were sent to
assist in getting her off. No one could
tell where she hung. There was abundance
Of water eahed, astern. and all around. and
yet the ship was immovable- a diver went
down and found. to the establishment of all
on board that an oyster bank not much
bigger than boat was under her bilge.
The boats had missed it with the lead,
and the Sea Horse had passed perhaps by
few feet on one side.
After some hard heaving We floated and
the squadron weighed. We proceeded with
great caution. having several boats ahead
of each other with leads going. ahead of
the ship; but Notwithstanding all this care
the Sea Horse grounded on small bank.
out Tightening. but in vain; the tide ap-
peared flowing and no difficulty was an
ticipated, but she was immovabIe. A strict
examination showed that although the tide
was apparently running up the water was
actually diminishing and not until ii had
flowed several hours was there any in
crease in the depth. Her water was start
ed, great part Of her provisions and eight
or ten guns were hoisted out before she
loated. Several Of the other ships were
also on shore. but were gotten off with
more ease. Next day was employed in get
ting in her provisions and guns, sounding
the channel. and preparing to warp in the
event Of a foul wind
''On the morning of the 29d we were
beating up Maryland Beach in about the
same water the frigates drew but the bot
tom was soft and we dragged through it,
when the sky became suddenly overcast
and everything portended one of those Sc
we're northwest squalls. We had heard
much of the violence of these gusts. but
always concluded them exaggerated and
were not quite so cautious as We ought to
have been. We, however. took in her top
gallant sail, mainsail. jib. and spanker
The squail thickened, at short distance
sounding in q most awful manner and ap-
pearing like a tremendous surf No time
was TO be lost. Everything was clewed
UP at the moment it reached US. Never
theless we were nearly on our beam end
A couple Of anchors we're let go, and as
we swung TO the wind the bowsprit rose
right up. This slackened the stays and
away went the heads of all three top
masts; this saved the foremost which in
another moment would have fallen. The
bowsprit being righted sunk back TO its
place. but broke completely through.
1.-THE Sea Horse sprung her mizzenmast,
and all the squadron suffered more or less.