The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-06-29
Saved the
"Declaration"
From British

lost was once the most precious OF our
national documents. the Declaration o.
Independence II was during the war
~ 1912 The Declaration OF lndopend-
ence hung. for many years. In a frame
In the state department Ia the room
then occupied by stephen Pleasonton,
who moved to Washington In 1900
with tho government Mr. Monroe,
when he was elected president. ere
atcd a new once. which was conferred
upon Mr. Pleasonton. that Of chief Of
the lighthouse establishment. 20 which
was added the auditing Of the minis
terial aud consular accounts This
once was retained by Mr. Pleason,on
under all the succeeding admlnis,ra-
lions until his death. which occurred
In 1855.
Mfr Beaseley. oommissary Of prison.
ers Of war IN London. forwarded IN
the state department some London
newspapers stating that the English
nccis and transports were receiving
troops az Bordeaux. France. with The
lnieaiion Of operating against wash
lnrion and Baltimore. Soon after IL
was learned that the British feet WIS
To- the Chesapeake bay. and that Il was
ascending the PatuNent The oficlals
and citizens ~ the little capital city
were hourly expecting an attack.
Upon receipt Of this Information.
which was a few days before the enc.
my entered Washington. Mr. Monroe.
then secretary Of state. James Madison
helng president. mounted his horse,
rode 20 Benedict a small village on
tho Patu1ent where the British forces
were being landed. and climbed m
cmlnonce within a quarter of a mile
~ The village. IN order 10 ascertain tho
strength 81 the enemy Being con.
vinoed after his Inspection that We
had no force available that could sue
ceTsfully resist them. he sent a note 10
Mr Pleasonton by n videtie. advising
him 20 ~ that the best care was taken
~ the books and papers Of the State
department.
Arilng NJ once upon this authority
Mr Pleasonton purchased some coarse
linen and had n made into bags ~
suitable size. IN which he. assisted by
'he others 81 the once. placed the
books and other papers
Mr Pioason'on had tho bags cariei
20 a rrist min which he selected ~ a
suitable depository The mill. which
was unoccupled. belonged 10 Edgar
Paterson. and was situated on the vlr-
rlnla side ~ the Potomac. beyond ihs
Chain bridge, two miles above George
town.
The last load had left and Mr. Pleas.
ontop was Just quitting the vacan,
rooms. When, turning back suddenly
10 see whether anything had been LEFT
behind. TO his CONSERVATION he saw
tho Declaration % Independence
which had been overlooked. s,lll hang.
inr upon the wall. lie hastily cut /,
out OF the frame and carried Il away
/ with the other papers.
lie then began 10 be uneasy abou,
the place he had chosen. for n the
British took Washington. which hs
hrmly believed they would DO. and
very soon a, that. they would In All
probability deiaoh n force for tho pur.
pose Of destroying a foundry Tor the
making 81 cannon and shot In the
ncighhorhood, and ~ course would
consider a Frist mill too valuable Z
thing 10 be left standing In a country
they meant 10 suhduc. Mr.. plcasontor
therefore visited some ~ the virginia
farm houses. whose owners were nnly
too willing 10 loan him wagons IN
which 10 convey tho documents q
Lecsburr. distance 81 % miles Tier,
they were deposited IN m empty
house. the Keys ~ which were river
10 Rev Mr. Itilciohn. who was on,
~ tho collectors oi internal revenue.
Worn out with his lahors, Mr Pleas
onion states In letter. he retired
early 20 bed that night and slepl
soundly. Next morning he was In.
formed by the people Of the little tsv
ern whore he had stayed that cvcnln,
that they had seen during the nlght
the same being tho cath Of August.
large IRE In the direction " Washing
ton. which proved 10 he the llght from
the public buildings. which the enem,
had set on Gre and burned TO IN,
ground.
When he returned n Washington OF
tho s6,h he found the public build
INKS stlll burning. and learned that IN,
British army had evacuated the cit,
the preceding evening. In the belle
that the Americans were again assem-
bling In the rear for the purpose o.
cutting on their retreat.
But m the British feet stlll hoveret
In the nelghborhood and throa,ene,
Washington with a second invasion
Il was not considered safe 10 bring m,
papers Of the state department hacl
for aomo weeks In the meantime Mr.
Plcasonlon made occasional trims I,
l.eeshurE for particular papers I,
which the secretary of state had occa
/ rlon 10 rofer In tha lranaartt,., ~ a...t