Evening star., 1909-08-27
WAR IN OTHER DAYS
Invasion by the British Army
in August, 1914.
BATTLE OF BLAOENSBURG
Part Taken in the Engagement by
District Militia.
HOW TROOPS WERE PLACED
Fierce Battle Waged Over Wide
Area by Small Force-Bravery
of Participants.
HOW TROOPS WERE PLACE.

of Participants.
Tuesday, August a. 1874. the battle Of
Bladensburg was fought by Gen Ross,
with about 5000 British, and Gen. c. H.
Winder, with about the same number,
mostly militia, resulting in opening Wash
ington to the ravages of the enemy.
What was commonly known as THE
war of 1872 had been in progress for two
years on sea and land, and along the
Chesapeake bay and it's vicinity the
country had been subjected to depreda-
tions by the marauding parties of the
British and In several months George
town and Fredericksburg and Havre de
Grace, Benedict in Charles county, Hun
tngton in Calvert, Nottingham in Prince
George and other places were devastated.
Several skirmishes had taken place with
parties landed from Cockburn's fleet, in
which the f1otiIla of Commodore Joshua
Barney. with about 100 men; detach-
ments of regulars, under Col. Decius
Wadsworth, and the District militia, un-
der Gen. Walter Smith of Georgetown,
took part, as did a number of volunteer
companies. as follows: Capts. George
Peters and Benjamin Burch's Artillery,
Davfdsons Light Infantry. Stall and
Doughty's Rifles and Caldwells Cavalry
Of Capitol Hill.
In Maryland the enemy had more or
less intercourse with the people, some
few families receiving the visits of Off
GERS of the fleets and through the papers
and the slaves they were constantly
carrying off, the enemy was well inform
ed as to conditions in this section.
Gen. Philip Stuart, member of the
House of Representatives. year before
had introduced a resolution looking to
the arming of citizens of the District
for defense. and he soon after called out
his command of militia in southern Mary
land, and detachments of the sameshad
been busily engaged In watching the
enemy's movements Almost continuously
District companies were in garrison.
President Realizes Danger.
Gen. w. H. Winder, having been cap
tured on the frontier by the British in
June. and afterwards exchanged, was
called to Washington and conferred with
the President, who, by that time, be-
lieved an attack would be made. Soon
after this the latter convened his cabinet
and proposed that force of two or three
thousand men should take position on the
Eastern branch or Patuxent, and ten or
twelve thousand militia and volunteers be
held in readiness in the neighboring
staees and in the District of Columbia.
The following day Gen. Winder was given
command of the forces. which, with the
marines, aggregated a corps Of 3.COO
conbatants disposable under direction
Of the comma nding general
July Gen. Winder informed the Sec
retary Of War, that the utmost available
regular force that could then be placed
at his command would not exceed 1 O0O,
including those earrisoning the forts:
that when the detachments from Car
Isle and Virginia arrived he would not
have for tire field more t.1an 500 men
He noted that the militia shall be draft
ed and designated, but not all called into
the field until the hostile force in the
an extent as to make it probable that
serious attack was probable. He showed
that If Annapolis, Baltimore or Washing
ton be the object of attack after de-
about three hours, Annapolis in less time,
and Washington from South river in a
day and a half, and the British could
reach either place in four days, after
entering the capes.
What time" he asks, would this al
low to get the militia into service? Should
the enemys force be strong they would
be upon us before the militia could be
warned, and our forces run together, even
as disorderly crowd, before he strikes
his blow
He asked that portion Of the militia
be called into service without delay, sug-
gesting four thousand men. which he
would station in eligible positions. be-
IL IL,
near Baltimore. BY this means, he said,
the enemy might be retarded.
Secretary Armstrong; Response.
Three days later Secretary Armstrong
informed him that "in case of actual or
menaced invasion, he might call for
part or the whole of the quota assigned
to the state of Maryland, which shall
have been organized and equipped etc.
the territory from the Pennsylvania line
to the Rappahannock. he was for over
month active In preparations to meet
the enemy. and his little force was kept
busy: Commodore Barney. with
slotlla manned by a force, including
marines. of over four hundred men, was
in the Patuxent, and had had several
skirmishes with raiding parters of the
enemy. The British force near the mouth
Of the Potomac, under Cockburn. the
morning of August II, was reinforced by
the feet of Rear Admiral Malcolm. from
Bermuda. and the day after Gen. Winder
was informed of this and sent out calls
for the militia. The enemys feet was in
the Patuxent that afternoon, and had al
ready taken all the horses 1t could lay
its hands on.
According to a dispatch received by
Barney at Nottingham. there were oyer
ordered to the Potomac. and others sent
up the bay. to mask the real intention. and
the landing of Ross with the attacking
force was made the 10th and 10Th.
Barney's hotilla retreated up the river to
Nottingham. and. removing his guns. he
destroyed his boats and united with
Winders force. camping with 1t near
Long Old Fields. Col. Hoods Maryland
regiment was then stationed at Annapolis.
and the District Brigade. Gen. Smith In
command, marched Saturday. the Goth,
and camped near 1.-The woodward" in
Prince George county. Young's Brigade
from Alexandria,. took post near Piscata-
way, at the same time. and the Balti-
moreans went into camp near that city.
The regulars at Long Old Fields were
Joined by the Light Dragons from Car
Isle, the Goth. The day previous, the
18TH Mr.. Munroe. escorted by Thornton's
Troop of Alexandria, left the city to
reconnoiter. and Sunday his letter reached
the President with the information Of the
landing. and stating that from Annapolis
some of the enemy's vessels were in
view. etc.
Valuable Papers Preserved.
Already had Mr.. Pleasanton and others
Of the State Department commenced
packing the valuable papers of the office,
and removing them to places OF safety,
and more or less preparation was made in
other departments. Pleasanton first stor-
ed the papers at Patterson's mill, but
afterwards, fearing that If Foxalls
foundry was attacked the mill would be