Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-09-08
LUCKY LAST LOOK.
1t Preserved the Declaration Of
Independence In 1914.
SAVED IT FROM THE BRITISH.

SAVED u From The BRITISH
The Precious Document Would .Hav,
Been In the State Department Whs,
1t Was Burned but For PIeasonton,
FINAL Glance Around the Room.
Comparatively few of the present
generation know how near to being
lost was once the most precious Of our
national documents, the Declaration
OF Independence. 1t was during the
war OF 1872. The Declaration of Inde.
pendence hung for many years in a
frame in the state department in the
room then occupied by Stephen Pleas
onton. MY. Beaseley, commissary of
prisoners of war in London, forwarded
10 the state department some London
newspapers, stating that the English
fleets and transports were receiving
troops at Bordeaux, France, with the
intention OF operating against Wash
1ngton and Baltimore Soon after II
was learned that the British fleet was
In Chesapeake bay and that 1T was
ascending the Patuxent The officials
and citizens Of the little capital civ
were hourly expecting an attack.
Upon receipt Of this information. |
winch was few days before the
enemy entered Washington, Mr.. Mon
roe, then secretary of state, James
Madison being president, mounted his
horse, rode to Benedict small village
on the Patuxent, where the British
forces were being landed, and climbed
an eminence within quarter of mile
OF the village, in order to ascertain
the strength Of the enemy. Being con.
Nlnced, after his inspection, that we
mad no force available that could sue
cessfully resist them, he sent a note to
Mr. Pfeasonton by a vidette, advising
him to see that the best care was taxi
en- OF the books and papers of the state
department
Acting at once upon this authority
Mr. Pleasonton purchased some coarse
linen and had it made into bags of .
suitable size, in which he, assisted by
others In the Office. placed the books Z
and other papers. ,
Whlle engaged in this work General
armstrong, then secretary of war q
passing the state department on his
way to his own Office, remarked that ("
ne thought they were unnecessarily g
alarming themselves, as he did NOT
think the British were serious in their o
antent1ons of coming to Washington. "
fortunately Mr.. Pleasonton was of "
dlfferent opinion, and observed that # p,
was the part of prudence to take meas d
ures to preserve these valuable papers al
or the revolutionary government. Had to
MI. fleasonton delayed but a few o,
uays, mad he followed the advice of
me secretary of war, an irreparabIa
loss would have been sustained. For
Inc papers which Mr.. Pleasonton had a.
paced IN the coarse linen bags COM m,
prlsed the secret journals of congress- -
tnen not published; the correspondence ~
Of General Washington, his commits ~
sion' resigned at the close Of the war:
me correspondence Of General Greene "a
and other officers of the Revolution. as sn
well as laws, treaties and correspond Al
snce OF the department of state from
ne adoption Of the constitution down WI
o that time CIV
MI. Fleasonton had the bags carted W.
grlst mill, which he selected as a CIV
depository. The mill. which par
vas unoccupied. belonpod r. Eaaon pol
'atterson and was situated on tba Ger
isin,a side OF the Potomac, beyond De
ae Chaln bridge, two miles above wa,
georgetown. I c
Inc last load had left, and Mr. the
leasonton was Just quitting the va cert
int rooms when, glancing back sud
enly to see whether anything had
zen left behind, to his CONSERVATION 81
saw the Declaration of Independ- edn
Ice, Which had been overlooked Sons
inglng upon the wall. He hastily Won,
lt 1t out Of the frame and carried it stro
way with the other papers. onID
He then began to be uneasy abo,,t 49,,
place he had chosen, for if the tow,
'ltish took Washington, which be tond
mly believed they would do. and saa
~ soon at that, they would In all 49,
opabll1ty detach force for the pur- ~
Sc OF destroying a foundry for the $500
lklng OF cannon and shot in the :,
lgnborhood and, of course, would i've
lsider grist mill too valuable 1iesl
ng to be left standing in a country ana
y meant to subdue. Mr.. Pleason- ne LII
therefore visited Soma 30 ~ W. but
ia farmhouses whose o1rno,, 800. witht
y too willing TO loan hin, ,1,o York
Whlch to convey the documents to
'spurg, distance Of thirty-iye
es. There they were deposited in The
empty mouse, the keys Of which Of try
e given to Rev. Mr.. Littlejohn, who of t
one OF the collectors Of internal branc
anue. a+ +bt
ofn out with his labors, Mr.. Pleas Of DO
IN states In letter, he retired ear of the
bed that night and slept soundly. for
J. "orhlng ne was informed by the time
nc VI the little tavern where he coat,
stayed that evening that they had posed
curing the night, the same being suffer
24th OF August, large fire in the
,tion Of Washington, which proved
the light from the public build "He
which the enemy had set on fire after
burned to the ground. "But
zen ne returned to Washington on how G.
18th he found the public buildings his W.
burning and learned that the Brit "Oh,
irmy mad evacuated the city the fervor
eding evening in the belief that go to -,
americans We're again assembling
g rear Tor the purpose of cutting
lelr retreat-Kansas City Times. ssDea
his tail
well said that man has no great, ing for