Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-12

enlisted in Commodore Barney coil-
nand and We're mustered into Gen.
Smiths brigade Capt. Easbyis daugh-
ter in talking with the Rambler upon this
matter said
I'VE all know now that the retreat from
Bladensburg was great military blum
der on the part OF Gen. Winder, although
the circumstances left him without blame.
The idea, however, that it was an igno-
miniouS rout is an error. l nave heard
that the men were so exasperated at De-
ing obliged to obey the order of retreat
that many of them turned and fired
frequently during this retreat Three or
four hundred of the British were killed
and 600 wounded while the American
loss was but twenty killed and thirty or
forty wounded
Thomas Parker. an officer of Gen.
Smiths brigade, thus closes letter de-
scribing the battle: 1t is but justice to
the troops of Gen Smiths brigade and
those attached to it tos say that no trepi-
dation or ALARM was shown and that they
retained their positions till ordered to
retreat. / speak of those troops. es-
pecially, and of Barneys and Miiler's,
because / was most with them
'"The ravine in which the British We're
killed was called for years Dead Mems
Hollow. and the stories ] heard of their
scant burial always brought gruesone
thrills 10 me while driving over the
Spot.
one of the accomplishments of Capt
Easily was music. He was fine singer
being remembered as having had pow
erful and tuneful baritone voice. he
was a friend of Francis Scott Key and
WIS among the first to sing Ihe star
Spangled Banner.
After the burning of the navy yard in
the surnmer of 1914 Capt. Easily and his
wife, who was a sister of Edward Sim
mons. with their two daughters. returned
TO philadelphia, where they remained
until Easily was recalled to Washington
i'm 1920 to take the position OF master
,uilder at the navy yard, which plant
mad been rebuilt One of the men en-
ployed in the molding loft OF the navy
yard in is was John LengthaiL CliueI
Easby's supervision Lengthall became an
EXPERT constructor and in the course OF
time through gradual promotion, he De
came chief constructor of the navy.
William Easily was appointed by
President Madison in 1924 captain or
the second legion of the 1st Brigade OF
the militia of the District OF Columbia,
and it was in this way he obtained the
military title which usually proceeds ms
name He was one OF the FOUNDERS, WIFI
Benjamin King and John Davis of Abel
near kinsman. of the Masonic Naval
Lodge Capt Easily was always
strong WING. and on the inauguration
of President Jackson he resigned his
position in the navy yard rather, ac-
cording to his daughter, than be SUBJ
ject to dismissal" and it was directly
after this that, looking for place in
which to establish himself in the ship
building business, he decided TO locate
in the first ward. The Loo alton, on what
came to be called Easby's point, was
because of the boom in shipbuilding, due
to the prospects of the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal Wonderful hopes were en-
tertained by the people of this vicinity
of what would be accomplished for
Potomac commerce by this waterway
connecting the west with the Atlantic
by means of the Potomac valley. The
hope was not fulfilled. Tire Baltimof e
and Ohio railroad was projected as d
rival proposition, and upon the same
day, July L. 1928, both enterprises were