The National tribune., 1900-05-10

where, finding it impossible to save his
gUnboats or prevent their falling into the
hands of the enemy, he blew them up and
proceeded to join Gen. Winder.
1t is often asserted by British subalterns
and others that the object Of the armaments
under Admiral Cochran was the destruction
Of the American feet, but that it was the
destruction of the Capital is subtantiated
by the following: admiral Cochran Com
mander-in-Chief of the British, under date
of August 18, addressed letter to Sec
retary Monroe informing him that he had
received instruction from his Government
to destroy and lay waste such towns and
districts on the coast as may be found as
sailable." II that were true that the Ad-
miral's purpose was destruction OF the
navy, why did they not retire after know
ing the fleet was destroyed, instead of
taking up the march toward Washington?
When the army arrived at Nottingham,
| village containing at that time from 900
| TO 800 inhabitants. they found it entirely
deserted, like st. Benedict. Not a person
was to be seen on the street or remained
IN their houses. In some cases the bread
was left in the oven, showing that it must
have been deserted in great haste.
When reaching Nottingham and finding
Commodore Barney had taken his feet
higher up the stream, it seems they hesi-
tated whether to follow the gunboats or
return to their shipping But at last it
was decided TO proceed up the river to
Marlborough, another village 10 miles
away. AS they entered the village the
rear guard of a column Of infantry was
evacuating Marlborough. On the march
| they heard loud explosions They soon
found that it was the destruction of the
very squadron Of which they were in DUP
suit. They remained in Marlborough all
night, and until past noon the next day.
MIR. Gleig, subaltern in the British
| Army in America, says:
The only lnhabitant whom we found
abiding in his house was DIR. Bean. a
medical practitioner and the proprietor of
valuable farm in the neighborhood."
The subaltern says the Doctor was a
Scotchman, who had migrated some 20
years ago from some district in North
Britain, and still retained his native dia-
lect IN all It's Doric richness. The subaI-
| tern also adds that he protested to retain
the leeimgs as well as the language of his
boyhood. He was Federalist. In other
words he was hostile to the war with Eng
land. which he still persisted in calling his
Mother Country" The subaltern adds.
"As he seemed to want to treat us as
frien1s j believe what he said. He made
us welcome to his home, and we partook
Of provisions. forage, and even horses. He
offered me al his house contained. | took
little tea, some sugar, and milk, and I
did not insult him by offering to compen
safe him"
l have entered into some OF the particu-
lars OF the subaltern's statement, as / shall
have occasion to refer TO DIR. Bean again.
While enjoying the courtesies of the
Scotchman, the troops were ordered to fall
IN, and at 2 o'clock p. m. they were march
ing toward Washington. 1t now became
known to the troops for the first time that
the capture Of Washington was the avowed
| object OF the invasion, but to deceive the
American forces, one part of the army took
the road to Washington, the other half the
road which led to Alexandria. After the
deception had worked its purpose. the
march from Marlborough commenced on
the afternoon of August %. Their oh
Jectlve point was Washington, by way of
Bladensburg.
In the mean time what measures of de-
fense had been planned by the President
and the American forces? Fifteen tbou-
sand OF the neighboring militia were Or
dered In for the protection of the City of
Washington, and we have already heard
OF Commodore Barney and his fotilla of
gunboats, and what became Of them.