The times., 1901-05-12
THEFIGHT With ROSS ARMY
A British Officers Story Of the
Bladensburg Battle.
Encounter Of Untried American
Troops With Seasoned Veterans Of
Acknowledgements and burning of
Washington in the War OF ISf2.

Washington in the War OF 1Sf2.
The old Bladensburg dueling ground is
the centre of many a stirring ante-hellum
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 II 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 all
ways dry at this season of the year, the
trained British veterans charged The lines
Of the American army Of citizens and
farmers and a few soldiers hastily gath
cred together 10 protect the Capital
Much has been written about the eNpe-
dition. which resulted in the capture Of
Washington 10y the British. and, naturally
enough. it was almost an from an Ameri-
can standpoint. A clipping from the New
York Spectator" D." 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. 1t recites 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
a story written from a partisan stand
point, it 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-
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
Fortyfourth. and the Eighty-ffth Regi-
ments. the two former mastering each
about 500 bayonets, the last no more than
600. In addition to these there were two
officers Of engineers, a brigade of artil-
lery, detachment of sappers and miners,
and a party of artillery drivers. The
whole together cannot be computed at
more than 2.5Q0 men, it. indeed. it amounts
TO so great a number 1t was under the
command Of Major General Ross, a very
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
=
they were Joined by Sir Alexander COch-
rane, who took command Of the fleet, and /
by the TWenty-fTSt Regiment of FuSi- !
hers. making total fighting force of /
$500 men, besides CORPS of blacks and |
marines on the 18th Of August the fleet /
arrived or Cape Charles and on the 18th !
at the mouth OF the PatuEent. on the I
latter date they began TO sail uu this /
river. After they had proceeded q few /
miles the ships of the fleet were notified /
10 hold their troops in readiness TO land. /
FroFisions tor three days were cooked /
ana given 10 each man. cartridge boxes 3
filled, ana accoutrements handed out. The /
heet continued up the river uutil a bout 4
- leagues from the bay. when the ships 1
OF the line began 10 touch ground. Short !
ly after the frigates could proceed no (
farther. This was near the little village
known as BenedIcI The American troops /
hao mace every preparation to resist the i
attack of the British but when at dawn /
on the 18th the troops began 20 disem- /
bark there WIS no opposition presented. /
Cd numbered about 4.59o Only three pieces !
Of artillery, one siN-pounder and two
small three-p0unuers. Were landed for |
want Of horses to drag the guns. Orders
were issued to the troops however TO
take all the horses they could during the /
expedition. and fifty or sixty We're Captur-
eu curing ine course or the march.
cavalry corps was formed, and the army
organized into three separate brigades
On the 10Th. the troops were under arms
and remained so until late in the after
I
and the march began IN the direction of !
Nottingham. After six miles had been |
traversed halt was called and bivouac
Tor the night ordered The distance was
short but the march most fatiguing. oW- |
ing to the fact that the men had been so
long cooped UP aboard ship 4 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, d knapssck. blanket, a change of
Of clothes. d haversack with three days
provisions, and a canteen-
The following day the command
marched 10 Nottingham. Here IL WAS eE-
pected would be found the American
foulla. bat before the British arrived the
fOtilla had moved up the river. to tie
chagrin Of the invaders. For q day there
was some indecision upon The part OF
sue On the 23d the line Of march was
again taken up and the column moved in
the direction Of Marlborough, distant ten
miles. During the day numerous heavy
explosions. which proceeded from the
destruction Of the American fiotilla TO pre-
vent lis capture. were heard. Stop was
made in Marlborough over night and
until 0'clock the following day.
Then the column moved again and it
became generally known that the avowed
object Of the expedition was WASHINGTON
" hen the army reached Inc junction Cf 4
The Alexandria roads. Ga order 10 de-
ceiVe the Americans the British took the
direction Of Alexandria and biyousced at
night On The way Ia those DAYS. as now, !
yhsterIng hot weather prevailed IN Au-
gust and during the march The soldiers [
lei by scores, overcome by the heat and
choksd by the heavy yellow Gust which
rose from the road.
"It was on this day August r. that
lhs american army, II indeed il could De I
called such. first came into evidence 1
J he British commander learned that the !
Americans were concentrating their forces /
with the purpose Of haZarding battle in .
defence 0f the Capital on each side of
the road as the Eeliah advanced were
eNlaences mat another army haG PASSED
there shortly before. Tie ashes aI camp
llres stil smOulderine lined The way The
army was then only about ten or twelve .
miles from Washington, and preparations .
for action were made, the English com .
manuer feeling sure that iht American i
forces would be met before night
Then II was that the foresight Of (
a portion Of the troopers was 1
exempuned They were employed as
scouts The country was quite open eX-
cept Tor an occasional grove One de-
tachment Of the mounted soldiers was
sent out ahead to keep an eye on the
bf the enemy The English
evidently were unaware that the Ameri-
can Army consisted only Of a band OF I
citizens and farmers hastily called to-
gether and inadequstefy armed 70 resist
the advance OF the finely disciplined vete-
rams Of the Continental wars. Every
movement was planned with the same 4
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 I
Washington at a distance Of about two I
miles. Whence fl originated there /
was little difficulty in guessing Upon /
rounding a sudden agile 81 the road and 1
passing a small farm house the British [
and American armies came face 70 face. /
The position occupied by the American ]
Army was OF great strength and com / s
:lsanding attitude. They were drawn up
la Ia