The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-02
AN INITIATORY BATTLE
A Skirmish Between Americans and
British in Their Second War.
Episodes in the Contest Carried
on in Defence of Free Trade
md Sailors RiGhfs-The stai'Nart
bravery of an English Sergeant of
Marincs-The Gallant Miiitiame:s.

and sailors rights" The Revolutionary
war was the throes of a nation that led to
the existence of the city, and the French
war of 1889 was a sea war. Its militia
companies were. however, soon organized,
and in the face of the coming danger Of
war with Great Britain brought into be-
ing several companies of volunteers
These united with the troops of Alexan-
dria and Georgetown, and in June, 1914,
had their first baptism OF fire in Skin
msh near Benedict on the Patuxent River,
about forty miles southeast OF Washing
ton. The British feet had been marrying
the farms on the Potomac and Patuxent
rivers, and it was known that they in
tened to make a landing on the Patuxent
at Benedict and march on Washington.
In late June news came that preliminary
landing had been made. and then followed
the events narrated in the following let
ter published about seventy-fve years
ago.
In the month of June 1914, 1 was on a
visit to Alexandria when the arrival of
British force in the waters of the Patuxent
was announced, accorl panied by an order
for the immediate calling out of the mill
single man and having two horses | i'm
mediately volunteered my services to Capt.
William ]. Thornton, OF the Alexandria
Dragons. The troop turned out to a man
that is. every man who could by any
means procure horse. Amocg the num-
Der unable to procure one was my friend,
Mr.. Robert Conway. to whom l loaned my
extra horse. We left about o'clock in
the morning and proceeded forthwith to
Washington en- route for Benedict. On our
arrival in Washington We were joined by
the Washington troops, commanded by
Capt. Elias Is. Caldwell, and the George
town troops, Capt. --; the whole I'M
der command of Major Peters, of George
town.
Having formed, We again proceeded.
After crossing the bridge over the Eastern
Branch halt was called and We fed our
horses. We resumed our march and ar
rived in the evening at Aquasco Mills. a
few miles from Benedict; here we encamp-
ed for the night. On the following morn
ing party was despatched to Benedict to
recOnnoitre and report the movements of
the enemy. At about u o'clock of this
day Mr. Francis Wise who had not been
able to procure horse. arrived. He was
not member of the troop, but like my
self. had volunteered his services. He
was by profession a sailor and is remem-
bered in Alexandria as having been among
the best sailors. He was in every sense
of the word a complete seaman. alike re-
| CARELESS of danger and its consequences,
and although more accustomed to mount.
| ing deck than mounting horse, our tar
| soldier as well as the horse, which he had
| borrowed, showed that he had been crowd
| ing on every inch Of canvas in order to
| come up with US. Had he been asking the
loan of a horse to 20 to a wedding he
| could not have been more oyerjoyed when
he got one-his very eyes sparkled with
J delight.
Just at the time OF Wise's arrival We
were about preparing our dinner. He had
not been there more than fifteen minutes
! when the trumpets sounded to horse. to
/ horsei Saddle up for march, resound
| ed through the camp. Poor fellow! Wise,
| although he had ridden so hard that day
| to oyortake US, was among the first to obey
| the summons. Little did he dream that
/ this was his last day on earth: In a few
minutes we were al ready and we imme-
| diately commenced our march for Benedict
81 must explain. Benedict Is situated at
the foot of a hill which is nearly mile
| from its summit to the bottom. from
| which we had full view of the town and
/ neighborhood, Upon our arrival at the
summit we were Joined by several volun-
| teer companies of infantry: among which
| | recollect Captain Stull's elegant company
| tainly never beheld finer looking set of
men than they were. At this iuncture who
should ride UP but the well-known old
/ veteran. Gen. Philip Stuart. He, of
| course. assumed the command. At this
! moment it was discovered that a small
| body of the British were engaged with
| their swords in cutting down the green
| corn in large field at the foot Of the hill,
! while others were employed in carrying it
| to the beach, for the purpose, we after
| ward ascertained. of feeding their live
/ stock on board the slOop of war which was
| lying Immediately OFF the town and but
/ few yards from the shore.
"a consultation now took place between
4 Major Peters and General Stuart as to
/ the possibility of capturing the maraud-
| ers the former assuring the latter that,
! if he would allow him. he would take
/ every man prisoner: the latter thought it
| impossible. but finally the word was given
| TO Charge The valiant old champion
| dashed ahead. next the Alexandria troop
then the Washington, and then the
| Georgetown troop: we went off at a full
! S-tter down the hill. When about half
way down our sailor-soldier, Wise, put
| spurs TO his horse and passed ahead OF
| the whole troop and the next moment
| himself and General Stuart were seen
| riding a fair race. striving who should be
| first upon the spot. In the meantime the
| enemy having discovered his approach en-
| deavored to effect their escape TO thick
track of woods or swamp lying between
the town and the field of corn.
I'm this endeayor they were successful
except about four or five, who were made
prisoners, and one man who was killed
/ under the following circumstances: Wise,
| as / have stated had dashed ahead Of the
| whole squadron, and having succeeded in
| outriding General Stuart, leaped a fence
at the foot of the hill about fifty yards
from which he came up with British SER
| geant, whom he ordered to surrender. One
| prisoner, however, was no. enough for the
sailor, and he rode on rapidly in order to
| arrest the fight Of some others. This he
soon saw was hopeless aHa the reply Of
the British sergeant having been by no
means satisfactory to Wise u was to this
| effect that he would never surrender to a
| d-n Yankee) Wise wal induced to rein up
his horse and return to the man. The
| sergeant, seeing this Immediately squatted
| upon the ground, and taking deliberate aim
| fred at Wise when within about fifteen
steps of him. The fire took effect. the ball
| striking Wise near the heart and carrying
! off with it one Of the buttons of his coat.
| 1t appears to me at this moment that Wise
leaped from his saddle some twelve or
eighteen inches above It, and without touch
| ing 1t again fell upon the ground. He in
| stantly threw himself on his back, crossed
| his arms over his breast, and expired
| without a struggle or groan. | marked
| his action, and have no doubt that he was
| fully sensible his wound was mortal and
| under this conviction proceeded to lay him
| self outfit | may be allowed the term-for
had his friends wished they certainly could