The Washington herald., 1908-08-24
WAR DAYS RECALLED
BladenSbur@ Battle Fought
August 24. 1874.
WASHINGTON CITY WAS FIRED
Cen Ross and Admiral CocLburn
Lead Night Attack Behind Fleeing
Horses Of President Madison and
Secretaries Monroe and Arm
stronE-Much Property Destroyed.

Niuety-four years ago to-day the city
OF washington was IN the hands Of the
British. and there stI are many Of the
older citizens who remember their par
outs recouutinE the story Of how the red
coats burned the Capitol and White
House.
The battle OF BIadeuSburE. fought on
August a. I9F. had ended in victory
for the invaders. and the Americans were
in fgII retreat President Madison. Secre-
tary Of State Monroe. and Secretary Of
War ATmstrolE- who had gone out 20 see
the fight and give assistance. II possible
FASTENED back to Washington as fast as
feet horses could carry them.
The President and his companions were
the first TO announce 10 the citizens the
loss or the battle and that the victors
were advancing upon the Capital. Up 10
this time the conduct OF the British had
been ir accordance with the rules OF mod
e-u warfare. which now were abandoned
Gen Ross. the British military com
maude-. left the main body when within
mile and "a half Of Washington. then
containing about So buildings The gen
eraL accompanied by Admiral Cockburn-
che chief uaraUd-r entered the city al S
o. H. at the head Of 80 men From a
house near the Capitol they were fred
upon b- a man. the bullet killing the
horse Ross had been riding. The house
was Instantly demolished by the soldiers
The same fate befeu the Office OF the
National Intelligence a newspaper whose
structures upon the brutality OF Ccckburu
had aroused his anger These and some
houses on Capitol HiI. a rope walk. and
a tavern comprised The bulk OF the pr
vate property destroyed.
CoCLburn the TOrchbearer.
Ross had come 20 destroy public prop
e-fv il. obedience 90 the orders Of his
superior. bur even that was requgnant
TO his humane nature. Unfortunately
fo- the Americans. Ee was accompanied
by rue who delighted IN such vandalism.
and Cocknu~1 became his t07cbbearer
The unfinished Capitol building. the Pers-
ideut's house the Treasury building the
arsenal. and barracks for about 3udG
troops were soon ia flames. the light of
which was seen as far away as Balti-
more- In a few hours nothing was left
Of the fine edLdces but blackened walls
OF the public buildings. only the Patent
Office escaped destruction.
While the government buildings were IN
flames the national shipping stores and
other property We're blazing at the navy
yard, as was the Long Bridge. spanning
the Potomac from Washington to the
I Virginia shore Commodore Tingey. IN
com uaud of the navy yard. had carried
ont Instructions 10 set all the public prop
erty atire rather than let it fan into the
possession Of the invaders The British
withdrew after iniictinE a loss Of 81. 90. -
go upon Washington The value Of the
property destroyed by the Americans in
creased the loss 10 100000 For these
calamities the public held the Secretary Of
War responsible in not providing ade-
Quate defense. and the cIamor against
him was so great that he resigned on
September s. 1S1A
The loss Of the Americans was % killed
- wounded. and 20 taken prisoners. al
though tho British estimates placed the
numbers much higher