Evening star., 1914-08-23


ened and refreshed by the contemplation
Of an opportunity for action.
i:
Washington. at the time. was a primi-
tive metropolis. 1t would have had the
aspect of a struggling country village
but for the size and beauty OF its public
buildings. Pennsylvania avenue now
beautiful enough to rank with the
famous thoroughfares Of the world. was
a forest-bordered roadway. with ruts SO
deep that the coaches Of the President
and his Secretaries were stalled whenever
they attempted to drive from the eXecu-
tive mansion to the Capitol. There were
few houses of imposing size or architec-
tural beauty. rhe population numbered
only about 5000
The Capitol itself was unfinished. Its
north and south wings were completed.
but the central building was not yet be-
gun. The two disjointed parts, now the
Supreme Court and Statuary Hall. were
connected by a bridge of rough boards
spanning the foundation Of the rotunda. :.
Thus insignificant was the capital
which the British officers wished to seize.
They set out from their camp at Bene-
dict. situated forty miles southeast from
Washington. and moved toward the small
town Of Bladensburg. August %. They
camped for the night ten miles away
from their objective point.
Gen. Winder at his headquarters heard
of their rapid march and set out for
Bladensburg. about five miles distant. The
Pre"ident, by law commander-in-chief OF
the army. set out also. accompanied by
Secretary Of War Armstrong and Secre-
-ary Of State Monroe. They all took
share in the practical operations of the
small campaign.
Even at this late day our soldiers were
undetermined whether Washington city
destination OF the invaders Winder left
force near BladenSburg and planted
another battalion Of troops to watch the
highways leading In other directions. The
little army had only tWenty-sfx pieces OF
cannon, Of which twenty We're only six
Founders
As the British approached they com
menced hurting rockets at the exposed
Americans. AT first they We're repulsed
by the American artillery, but being con-
tiuualiy reinforced succeeded by iudfctous
maneuvers in carrying everything before
them with rapidty and firmness that
the raw troops We're unable to resist.
Ross. Nith irish apdacity. rushed across
the bridge at Bladensburg. threw out
sharpshooters and quickly dispersed our
skirmshers. They threw our first line
into widest disorder. Wfnder tried in
vain to rally them. They retreated in
panic and the British captured two pieces
of our cannon left on the field before
hardly any resistance had been made.
Then Ross approached our second line.
and with fight Of kissing rockets threw
II into disorderly confusion Our third
lire was better posted Here the battle
ragged for one hour. But our success
was short-lived. for our fanks We're
turned by the assault of the British light
troops. and Gen. Winder ordered a gen.
eraI retreat. The dust rose above. the
woods in thick clouds. and presently the
Secretary of War and his suite came
galloping In full sight, followed by crowds
on horseback bawling out as they passed J:
Fly, fly, the ruftans are at hand" The
great body of Americans who were not
dispersed retreated toward Montgomery
courthouse. leaving the battlefield in full
possession of the British. The American
wounded. The British lost more than 300
men, among them several officers of rank
and distinction.
Our soldiers applied the abstract prin-
ciples Of warfare and attempse5 to guard
a dozen avenues of approach with force
insufficient to protect one. The Presi-
dent and his fugitive party were the first
to announce to the frightened citizens of
the capital the loss of the battle and the
march Of the victors upon the city.
AT twilight the enemy made Its appear
ance in Washington. Up to this time
their conduct had been in accordance
with the rules of modern warfare, but
now they abandoned all rules. The wild
Russian Cossacks. who had sacrificed
their own sacred Mos ow In 1872 spared
Paris when their vengeance struck 1t that
same year. but 1t remained for civilized
Britons to commit against their own blood
an act of vandalism worthy of the age
of barbaric Alaric.
The marauders bivouacked on Capitol
HILL From a house nearby they were
fred upon by single musket which
killed the horse ridden by Gen. Ross. As
punishment they demolished the house
from which this shot had been fired
This. some other houses nearby and q
tavern composed the bulk of the private
property destroyed.
Ross had come to destroy public prop.
erty. and this he proceeded to do. For
tunately, he was accompanied by one who
delighted in euch spoliation-A dmira
Cockburn. who literally served as his
torchbearer.
First they approached the unfinished
Capitol building. After discharging army
rockets through the roof of each wing
they tore away the bridge connections
these structures and spanning the space
on which the central ediice was to be
built. They left the floors of the two
legislative chambers strewn with valua-