The National tribune., 1900-05-17

CODVlCtlOn 1lSlb lle capture OF hdSiliii5
ton was the avowed object of the British
General On the British Army marched,
until noon of the 24th. when a heavy
cloud of dust, apparently not more than
two or three miles distant, attracted their
attention. Gleig, British officer with the
army. in his Narrative says: From whence
1t Originated there was little difficulty in
guessing, nor did many minutes expire
before strmise was changed into certainty,
for on turning sudden angle in the road,
and passing a small plantation which OBJ
structed the vision toward the left, the
British and American armies became Wis
ible to one another.
'sThe position occupied by the latter was
one of great strength and commanding
altitude. They were drawn up in three
lines on the brow of a hill, having their
front and flank covered by branch OF
the Potomac eastern Branchl and their
right resting upon thick wood and deep
ravine.
This river, which may be about the
breadth of the Isis at Oxford, flowed be-
tween the nights occupied by the Ameri-
can forces and the town of Bladensburg.
Across this stream was thrown narrow
bridge"
All accounts seem TO agree as to the
main facts of the contest. The British
moved up the Eastern Branch parallel to
the position of our troops. 1t seems that
the President and Attorney-General Rich
ard Rush were briskly riding toward Bla-
densburg just before the battle began,
without knowing the British Were SO near,
and suddenly found themselves in great
danger of being captured. They joined
the Secretaries Of State and War in an
orchard among our troops, and where con-
sternation reigned supreme.
The contest was maintained with great
effect until the Americans were overpow
cred by numbers. Commodore Barney,
who had left his feet smoking in the Pa
tuxent and joined the army, made the most
stubborn resistance with his brave marines.
The British officer, Gleig, says: The
sailors not only served their guns with
quickness and precision, which astonished
their assailants, but they stood till some
of them We're actually bayoneted with
fuses in their hands, nor did they waver
until Commodore Barney was wounded and
taken prisoner, and they saw themselves
deserted on all sides by the soldiers, when
they quilted the field"
The battle was ended. Gen. Winder was
unable to rally his troops and make an
other stand near the Capital. He retired
through Georgetown, with the advice of the
Secretary of War and Secretary of State,
and took post on the nights at Tennally-
town.
The President and heads of Depart
ments had made their escape in advance
of the retreating troops, and terror reigned
fn Washington and Georgetown.
II is said that after the President crossed
over into Virginia, in his hasty departure
from the city, he ordered the wooden
bridge destroyed, thereby compelling the
frenzied people to remain on this side,
whether they would or no.
The first building set on fire by the
British was the Capitol. The column in
its march to the eastern front deployed
into line and fired volley of muske.ry at
the building, and took formal possession
in the name of the King. The doors We're
forcibly entered. Books, papers and every
thing inflammable were piled into heaps
and the torch applied.
Some parts of the building escaped the
fire. Among these was the vestibule of
the Supreme Court Law Library, where is
found the only American Architecture of
tiful and unique columns representing In
dian corn in the ear.
They then marched down Pennsylvania
Avenue, headed by Gen. Ross and Admi-
gal Cockburn.
1t has been related many times that
when Gen. Ross entered the Capital, a halt
gas called at the open square and a flag
OF truce sent in. If so, it was never received,
,l,o
der him while passing the house where
Mr.. Gallatin resided (the house of Mrs.
Seweln some hundred yards from the
Capitol. Undoubtedly the shot was in
tended for Gen. Ross, but killed the bay
mare he rode.
They set fire to the Presidents House
Ind the Treasury Building. Mr.. Gleig's
statement Of finding dinner table set for
% covers, and all the appointments for
carrying it out in readiness, is pure fabr-
Cation.
|. The President had been with the army
in the field most Of the time for three days
The greatest alarm prevailed at the White
House and throughout the city. Had a
dinner at hand been found the British
would have been too cowardly to eat it,
for fear of poison. In fact, Mrs Madi-
bOu OWH letleTS ciillteIy Ielute Sucn q
story.
There is n letter extant from Mrs. Madi-
Son, written to the mother of the Hon. j.
II. b. Latrobe, in which she says: Two
hours before the enemy entered the city |
left the house where Mr. Latrobe's elegant
taste had been so justly admired, and
where you and / had so often wandered
together, and on that very day / sent out
the silver (ncarly ali, the velvet curtains,
Gen. WashingtoE's picture. the Cabinet
papers, few books, and the small clock.
left everything else belonging 20 the pub
lie, our own valuable stores OF every kind.
part of my clothes, etc. / con.
fess that l was 50 uniomininc as to be free
from fear. and willing 10 remain in the
castle. II l could have had a cannon
through every window; but, alas, those
who should have placed them there fed
before me, and my whole heart mourned
over my country. remained nearly three
days out Of town, but / cannot tell you
what felt on re-entering. Such desiruc
ton, such confusion; the feet in full view
in the act Of robbing Alexandria; the cit
liens expecting another visit and at ,ioht