Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-08-29
CAPITALS CAPTURE
WAS GREAT EVENT
One Hundred Years Aoo General R,.s
Landed and Marched On
the Capital

WASHINGTON, d. c Aug. 2!.-ln
the light Of present events in Euro &c
1t is interesting to recall the fact that
residents Of this vicinity, including
the president of the United States
and all the officials of the govern.
ment, were having some similar wor.
RES of their own just one hundred
years ago today. On this date in the
year 1914 word was received in Wash.
lEgton that the British expedition un-
der Gen. Ross and admiral Cockbu,n
had effected a landing on the shores
OF Maryland and was ready to march
on the national capital.
Two days later, on august "a, the
British entered Washington and
wrought such havoc with its public
buildings that years were require d
to reconstruct and repair them. The
capture OF the city wes preceded by
the defeat Of motley army muster
eG to defend it. This engagement oc-
Cured at Bladensburg, Nd. The
American force consisted of several
thousand raw militia commanded bN
Gen. Winder and a few hundred oi
Commodore Barney's sailors and ma.
zines. Had the militia been equal tc
holding it's ground the victory would
have been with the Americans. But
he citizens soldiers quality was not
on par with their quantity.
The American position at Bladens.
burg was strong and the defenders
were we'll posted. The British force
consisted of less than 5000 men, but
tie most of these men were evterans
who had fought unGer Wellington 10
Europe. After a scrambling skirm!sh
lie British charged and the American
militia broke and fled. The sailors
and marines alone disdained to re-
treat. They put up a resolute resist
ance and were overcome by numbers
The president and his cabinet were
at Bladensburg when the British ap-
preached, but returned to the city
when the conflict began, and narrow
ly escaped capture,
AS soon as the British entered
Washington they began their work
o. destruction. The congressional IL
brary, with many valuable historical
documents, was destroyed, and an al
1~ f~ -,
The torch was also applied to the
White House, the treasury and the
war and state departments, and be-
fore the British evacuated the city
and the flames were extinguished,
property valued at $2,O00,00O had
been destroyed, and in addition many
Americans had been killed and wound
ed. The black mark which the raid
left on Washington came very near
to ending It's career as the capital
Of the United States, and it required
all President Madison's influence 70
prevent the seat of government being
removed to some place less resembl-
iiltS q Sti uSSlluS N1lldSS tlldL lldu Dc5U
visited by conflagration.
When the world heard of the sack
Of Washington it denounced it as OK
ceeding the limits of decent warfare.
Nevertheless the British government
honored Gen. Ross by permitting his
family to add "of BladensbuTg" 70
their patronymic. Most British his
torians have attempted to excuse the
vandalism by stating tn the acts
were in retaliation for the depreda-
tons committed by the Americans
along the Canadian border, particular
IL in the towns and villages in the
vicinity Of Niagara Falls. Others have
stated that the British soldiers were
incensed because Of an attempt made
by citizen Of Washington to kill
Gen Ross, whose life was saved a,
the expense of his horse.