Evening star., 1909-08-27


the attack would come was uncertain as
we'll as was the strength of the invaders
Some looked for force to come up the
Potomac and attack Fort Washington
vance from another quarter. AS If to
confirm this suspicion Ross army en-
route to Blandensburg maue RENT
toward the rear of Fort Washington
Others. from the TACT tnat the eneHi!
was seen making soundings in South river.
believed tha. q force was to be landed
there to attack Annapolis or Baltimore,
In connection with vessels, or TO JOIN
Ross. So certain was the belief by some
In authority that the city would be at
tackled from the southeast :hat early
in the morning of the oath Barney was
requested by Gen. Winder to. place his
guns in position to defend the passage. OF
the navy yard bridge Uhe one iohs
known as the burnt BRIDGE.
Always on the Alert.
At Marlborough. Old Fields and other
points the Americans kept close watch
on the enemy's movements and there was
some little skirmishing. The District
troops, under Gen. Walter Smith. re-
turned to Washington August "3. after
four days hard service. Barney's men
that night occupied the marine barracks.
and the others went into camp. In the
meantime the Baltimore regiments of
militia and the volunteers called out the
18th had marched to the vicinity OF
Bladensburg, Gen. T. F. Stansbury's
brigade having reached the place after
countermarching from near the Wood
yard Monday evening with over l. 400
men. Gen. Stricker's brigade furnished
a detachment of nearly thousand men.
which arrived at the same place the
night of the 23d. These included artil-
posted at the fork of the roads within
less than 500 yards of the bridge. Thus
was this approach guarded, while Bar
ney's guns commanded the approach by
the navy yard bridge. the morning of the
oath.
It was learned that the enemy was
making toward Bladensburg Wednesday.
the oath, and Winder's troops were soon
on the way, as also Barneys men, ana
they were hastily posted.
On the ground for some time were the
President and Messrs. Monroe, Armstrong
and others prominent in the administra-
ton. and more or less, 1t was stated, the
plans of the battle were changed by other
than the general in command. Winder.
The troops from Washington-Smith
brigade. including volunteers-reached
the ground about noon, as did the hotilia
men and the marines The regiment OF
Col W. D. Beall made a forced march
from Nottingham. sixteen miles distant,
that morning. getting into position a
short time after the battle commenced.
The number engaged on the American
SIDE was ABOUT as Sldlcu, /" III
twenty pieces of artillery, and the enemy,
by his own account, had but a few hun
dred less. with but three pieces of ar
tillery. The British afterward stated that
the position taken by the Americans was
one of great strength and commanding
altitude.
Gen. Winder's Report.
Gen. Winder, in his report OF August
o. 1914, said the slow progress Of the
draft and ineffective laws rendered it i'm
possible to have procured more men, and
he could interpose force of no more
than $500 including Barney's command.
Much Of the largest portion had barely
reached the ground when the action COM
merced-about I o'clock. He states:
THE contest was not as obStinately
maintained as could have been desired,
but was by parts OF the troops sustained
with great spirit and with prodigious
effect, and had the whole of our force
been equally firm ] am induced to be
lieve the enemy would have been repuls-
ed, notwithstanding all the disadvantages
under which we fought THE artillery
from Baltimore. supported by Maj. PINK
ney's rifle battalion and a part Of Capt
Douehty's battery from the navy yard,
were in advance ordered to command the
pass Of the bridge at Bladersburg. and
played upon the enemy, as I have since
learned, with very destructive effects;
nut the rlNe troops were ODIeeO dllei
some time to retire and, of course. the
artillery Superior numbers rushed upon
them and made their retreat necessary.
but not, however. without great loss on
the part OF the enemy.
"Maj. Pinkney received severe wound
in his right arm after he had retired to
the left flank Of Stansburv's brigade. The
right and center Of Stansbury's brigade,
consisting of Lieut.. Coils. Ragan's and
Shutze's regiments. generally gave way
xrvik1 fhH
ton Of about forty, rallied by Col. Ragan
this after he lost his horse and whole
or a part of Capt. Trower's company.
both of whom Gen. Stansbury repre-.
sents to have made. even thus deserted,
Gallant stand.
"The fall which Lieut.. Col Ragan re-
ceived from his horse. together with his
great efforts to sustain his position.
rendered him unable to follow the retreat;
we have therefore. to lament that this
gallant and excellent officer has. been
taken prisoner. He has, however. been
paroled, and / met him here recovering
from the bruises occasioned by his fall.
The loss of his services at this moment is
serious.
'The 5th Baltimore Regiment. under
Lieut.. Col. Sterret, being the LEFT of Brig.
Gen. Stansbury's brigade. still, however.
stood their groupd. and except for a
steps, remained firm and stood until
ordered to retreat with a view to prevent
them from being outflanked.
District Does Nobly.
''The reserves, under Brig Gen. Smith
of the District of Columbia. with the
militia OF the city and of Georgetown.
with the regulars and some detachments
of the Maryland militia. flanked on their
right by Commodore Barney and his
brave fellows, and Lieut.. Col. B@RlI, stiH
were to the right on the hill and main
tanned the contest for some time with
great effect.
1T is not with me to report the conduct
of Commodore Barney and his command,
nor can l speak from observation. being
too remote. but the concurrent testimony
of all who did observe them does them
the highest justice for their brave resist
ance and the destructive effect they pro-
duced on the enemy Commodore Barney,
after having lost his horse, took post near
one of his guns and there. unfortunately.
received a severe wound in the thigh, and
he also fell into the hands of the enemy!