Evening star., 1914-08-23
THE ORIGINAL cAp1roL. AFTER THE FIRE OF 1914

August % Gen. Winder and his troops
returned 10 Washington, tired, confused
and discouraged. and spent the night near
the navy yard. having first burned the
bridge across the Eastern branch at that
place. Thus the British were left free
to advance unmolested, save by the small
force Of soldiers and citizens at Bladens-
burg. But whether they would attack
the city by way of Bladensburg or by
another road was still in doubt. SO mea-
ger was the information that could be
secured.
The morning of Wednesday, August "a
dawned. At sunrise President Madison
and several members of his cabinet wen,
to Gen. winders headquarters at the
navy yard and held an extended confer.
ence. Here. at 10 o'clock. definite woro
came that the British were approaching
by way of Bladensburg, and Gen. Win
der Immediately ordered his excited troops
to that place. They arrived about nooh
and found the force of soldiers and citi-
zens which had assembled a day or t"e
before. on the ground, the soldiers drawn
up in an irregular line near the Bladens-
burg bridge, awaiting the approach OF the
British.
Hardly had Gen. Winder. who rode
somewhat in the rear reached ms troops,
when the British were seen marching lnto
the town of Bladensburg The DAY Was
intensely hot and the dust was sunocat.
ing, for 1t had not rained for seVera'
weeks. The American troops were az
most exhausted from the constant marcn.
ing and the intense excitement OF the pas
few days and nights: those who had peefl
rushed from Washington did not nave
mement's rest before the first gun was
fired.
Cen. Winder hastily reviewed the posi-
ton of his men and then RODE 10 a poii., M
where he could have commanding Wv W
~ tbe hattle From there he saw the
British attempt to cross the bridge across
the Eastern branch. but under the amer. !.
can fire they left the road ana sonsh ht
shelter behind houses ana a,!.e;1s. ,rers forded
the river near the bridge, ana soon ~e.e :
directly in front of the Americans -.
drst the Americans brayely held theiI
ground, but, after firing nan a uoNe'
rounds, broke ranks and neo
y
Gen. Winder rode franticallN among
,ban in an effort to avoid a panic ana
.rrast their retreat, hut the shower OF
rockets and the continued advance Oh
fresh british soldiers made all attempts
70 restore order useless. They continued
TO flee in wild confusion anu 'oo"
further part in the battle
The British now advanced alons ~ .e
washington road, practically unnioiesS- -
ed. for nearly a mile. Here, at VIA. -
now called Barney Spring, tney eIeoed eoead
tered another American me, So-a
largely of marines under Couiiouao,e
Barney Although these troops hu'hp.
ed only about 600. they mace s.;.n 49, y,
horn resistance and held the BRUSH III
check for over an hour. 1T was neIe ,,e
that the only real fighting OF the oa.ue
took place and had Commodore Daias ~
received the least support from liz
troops which formed the advance n1ie
the fortunes Of the day might nave oeoA
reversed. . o,o
But outnumbered nearly ten 70 one one
they, too. gave way. and the battle was ~
AT an end Gen. Winder intenaeu "
form again at Washington, but on eon-
ferring with Gen. Armstrong. the eecre-
tary Of War, gave orders to retreat "
the heights above Georgetown, leavins
Washington at the mercy OF the Sritlsn.
Such was the battle of BladenspufH.
No other single event fills more IN
glorious place in our national history
The British loss was sixty-four Klleo
and 249 wounded that of the Americans
was twenty-six killed and fifty wounded
among them Commodore Barney IN
the panic he was left where he had faii-
en- and was found by the British as
they advanced. Both Gen. Ross and Ad-
miral Cockburn treated him with the
greatest respect. offering him immediate
assistance and the services Of their sur
seon.
After his wounds had been dressed,
Gen. Ross said to him, Commodore