The times., 1901-05-12

site side of the stream. Artillery had been
stationed at advantageous points and as
soon q : the British troops appeared in the
streets of Biadensburg fire was opened
/ The caunonade was we'll directed and the
English soldiers were directed to shell
ter themselves as wei 3S+p0sSiblc behind
the houses. The commander of the Brit
ASA iCTccS tren carefully considered what
plan OF attack might be best to pursue.
The depth OF the river was tried but no
place sufficiently shallow whore the banks
were not too steep was found in which
the army could cross. To bridge seemed
to be the only way to gain the opposite
SIDE of the stream and it was felt that
this would entail severe loss of life. " lille
the column was halted a large number of
the weary straEglCrs who had fallen be-
mind came uD and took their place. The
order TO attack was given and as the col
umn moved through the BladcnSbufS
streets the American forces opened the
firc which had been discontinued. When
the bridge was reached tWo-gin battery
placed ON the road 10y the Americans
opened fire. At the first vOlleT nearly an
entire company was swept down. From
the wooded banks of the stream a ter
rifle fire was maintained by the American
troops there concealed It was not with
out tramDlIng on many of their dead and
wounded comrades that the first brigade
crossed the bridge. once across the stream
the plan of action was easier. Wheeling
to the right and to the left the British
charged into the thiclzet bordering the
stream. The American troops who were
stationed there fed precipitately before
the assault. The British dld not IlIe Il
1T. The tWC-gua battery on the Bladens-
burg Road fel into their hands.
Then the light brigade extended It's or
der The soldiers threw away the knap-
sacks and haNcTSackS and extended their
order so that they presented an equal
front with the enemy and advanced to-
ward the second line. The Americans,
however. were not deceived and seeing
the weakness of the British line they
stood firm The British line wavered and
then retreated as the Americans advanced
in turn. The British were driven to the
thcket at the rivers edge recently occu-
pied by American troops and there they
halted and maintained their position with
obstinacy. They repelled all attempts to
dislOdge them and frequently charged
such portions Of the American line as
gave way. This state of action continued
until the second brigade Of the British
army crossed the stream. The Forty
fourth Regiment debouched on the Amer
leans left flank, drove in the skirmishers,
and completely routed the raw militia
which had been considered the least as
sailable. on the right flank, however, the
Americans maintained their position with
much resolution. Not until the arrival of
the Fourth Regiment on the right side Of
the stream was ii that the American line
began to waVer In the meantime the
FOrty-fourth Regiment was striving to
gain the rear. Owing to this fact, coupled
with the view Of the left flank in fun
fight, they lost all order and dispersed
leaving large bodies of rifemen behind to
cover their retreat. The rout was now
general The reserve. which should have
supported the first and second lines join
ed in the flight The cavalry should also
have charged, but the cavalrymen turned
their horses heads and galloped off. The
soldiers, citizens, and farmers who made
up the American army disappeared in the
followed.
The most determined resistance of the
American troops was that presented by
q deJa chment of the Marine Corps, under
command OF Colonel Miller and detach-
ment of sailors from the fiotilla recently
destroyed, under command of Command
er Barney. They served the guns with
such speed and accuracy that the British
were astounded and dismayed. Many of
them were hayonetted rather than leave
their guns
The loss on the part of the British was
severe. There was only about twO-thirds
Of the entire army in the engagement, and
ol lnlS number nearly 5UJ were either kill !
ga or wounded. The loss was rendered
1oubly severe by the fact that among the
IS Wouuded were several officers Of distinc-
ION Colonel thornton, who commanded /
lne Ll&hI BriEade, lieutenant colonel !
i-lShty-iIth Regiment, and Major Brown,
VINO led the advance guard, were all Sc
Fereiy wounded. General Ross had a
horse shot under him. The Americans
loss was far less severe. owing to the fact /
that their position was less exposed.
~ Ith the American forces scattered I
beyond all possibility of reunion the Brit
lsh column reformed and marched into /
the city. When they reached the out /
skirts Of Washington the advance guard |
was fired uoon from house General |
ttoSS. when ne learned OF the matter, I
few into q rage and swore the city should /
be burned. However the burning was I
confined TO a few Of the public buildings.
including the Capitol. The public officials /
few from the city upon the advent of the /
British The detachment which was sent Z
J0 burn President Madisons house found /
the rooms deserted. A dinner already set /
)n a large white covered table denoted /
the suddenness Of the departure The |
sight Of the repast was pleasant one to |
.he British ofiiceTs,> who Immediately /
disposed of all the viauds in sight and |
1artook freely Of the abundant stock of |
wines, being waited on by President Madi- /
son s own servants. After having con- |
,luded their dinner they finished up mat
.ers by setting fire to the house which |
had so literally entertained them"