The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-12


The old Bladensburg dueling ground is
the centre of many stirring ante-bellunl
tale. both true and mythical The little
plot Of ground where so many men promi-
nent in national affairs faced each other
dueling pistol in hand, was dedicated
to mortal combat It was here that
was waged the hottest of the battle which
preceded the taking and the burning OF
Washington in the war of 1872 by the
British commander General Ross on
the south side Of the stream, almost al
ways dry at this season of the year, the
trained British veterans charged the lines
of the American army Of citizens and
farmers and few soldiers hastily gath
cred together to protect the Capital.
Much has been written about the expe-
dition, which resulted in the capture OF
Washington by the British. and. naturally
enough, it was almost all from an Ameri-
can standpoint A clipping from the New
York Spectator" Published Tuesday, June
is, 1921. contains an account which had
appeared previously in the Boston Daily
Advertiser OF the expedition which cul-
minated in the capture of Washington
The facts were CLEANED from the journal
of an officer who was a member of the
expedition, Ii rccites in detail the events
of the march and with remarkable clear
ness describes the battle which was fought
near the little town Of Bladensburg. For
story written from a partisan stand
point, il is unusually fair. 1t appears the
expedition was made up at first entirely
of British forces which had been engaged
in the campaigns in the south of France
The expedition departed from the Car
onne on June ,, 1914. The avowed destina-
B,s.
not originally planned to capture Wash
ington until the fleet reached the Ber-
mudas. The land army says the
journal quoted, was composed OF
three battalions of infantry, the Fourth,
Forty-fourth, and the Eighty-fifth Regi-
ments. the two former mastering each
about 500 bayonets, the last nc more than
600 In addition to these there We're two
officers Of engineers, a brigade of artil-
lery, detachment Of sappers and miners,
and party of artillery drivers. The
whole together cannot be computed at
more than $500 men, if, indeed. it amounts
to so great a number. Ii was under the
command of Major General Ross, a vers
gallant and experienced leader
The fleet consisted of eleven or twelve
ships of war. with general store ships
and transports and touched at St Mich
aels and Bermuda. At the latter point
they We're Joined by Sir Alexander Coch-
rane, who took command of the fleet and
by the TWenty-first Regiment of Fusi-
liers, making a total lighting force Of
$500 men, besides corps Of blacks and
marines. On the 18th Of August the fleet
arrived on Cape Charles and on the 18th
at the mouth Of the Patuxent. on the
latter date they began to sail up this
river. After they had proceeded few
miles the ships Of the fleet were notified
to hold their troops in readiness to land
provisions for three days were cooked
and given TO each man. cartridge boxes
Tiied, ana accoutremcnts handed out The
fleet continued up the river until about
10 leagues from the bay. when the ships
OF the line began TO touch ground. Short
ly after the frigates could proceed no
farther. This was near the little village
Known as Benedict The American troops
had made every preparation to resist the
attack of the British but when at dawn
on the 18th the troops began to disem-
bark there WIS no opposition presented
The total number Of men who were land
ed numbered about $500. Only three pieces
OF artillery. one siX-pounder. and two
small three-pOundcrs. were landed for |
want OF horses to drag the guns. Orders
were issued to the troops, however. 10
take all the horses they could during the
expedition. ana fifty or sixty were captur-
ed during the course of the march A
cavalry corps was formed, and the army |
organized into three separate brigades. |
On the 18th, the troops were under arms |
and remained so until late in the after
noon of that day. Orders were then given |
and the march began in the direction of |
nottingham. After six miles had been |
traNersed halt was called and bivouac |
for the night ordered. The distance was /
short, but the march most fatiguing ow-
ing to the fact that the men had been so |
long cooDed up aboard ship. A large num- |
Der fell out OF the ranks from sheer ex-
haustion In addition to their arms the |
men carried sixty rounds OF ball car
tridges. knapsack, blanket, change of
q hay yer afAE witt . fVaaa dow
provisions. and canteen-
The following day the command
marched 70 Nottingham, Here it was ex-
pected would be found the American |
fotilla. but before the British arrived the
fotilla had moved up the river. to TIE
chagrin Of the invaders. For day there
vas some indecision upon The part of
General Ross as 10 what course to pur-
sue On the sd the line OF march was
again taken up and the column moved in
the direction Of Marlborough, distant ten
explosions, which proceeded from the
destruction Of the American fiotiIla to pre-
vent It's capture. were heard. Stop was
made in Marlborough over night and |
until o'clock the following day.
Then the column moved again and ii |
became generally known that the avowed !
OBJECT Of the expedition was Washing ton.
" hen the army reached The junction Of |
the Alexandria roads IN order to de-
seiNe the Americans the British took the
direction Of Alexandria and bivou9ced at
=
hot weather prevailed IN Au-
gust. and during the march the soldiers
fell by scores, overcome by the heat and
rose from the road.
1T was on this day August q. that
The American army, II indeed il could Sc
called such, first came into evidence
he British commander learned that the
Americans were concentrating their forces 1
with the purpose Of hsza riding a battle in
defence Of the Capital. on each side Of
q Ia nlfa d .sHrsa.
evidences that another army had T..sed
there shortly before. The ashes Gf camp
lres sun smodldering lined Inc way. The
army was then only about ten or twelve
miles from Washington, and preparations
Tor acton were made, the English com
nander feeling sure that ths American
forces would be met before night
hen II was that the foresight of
mounting portion Of the troopers was
exempliiied. They were employed as
scouts The country was quite open ex-
tachment Of the mounted soldiers was
sent out ahead to keep an eye on the
movements of the enemy; The English
were unaware that the Amerf-
can Army consisted only OF a band Of
citizens and farmers hastily called to-
gether and inadequately armed TO resist
the ADVANCE of the finely disciplined vote
rams of the Continental wars. Every
was planned with the same
care which would have been exercised
against the experienced campaigners OF
European armies.
About noon the attention Of the Brit
ish officers was attracted by a cloud of
Dust which arose in the direction of
at a distance of about two
miles Whence IL originated there
was little difficulty in guessing Upon
a sudden agile In the rod and
passing small farm house the British
and American armies came face to face
The position occupied by the American
Army was of great strength and COM
handing attitude. They were drawn up