The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-11-08
BATTL EOF NORTH POINT,
FOUGHT 1874, RECOUNTED
Capt. John A. Webster, In Let
tiers to Mayor BrantZ, Balti-
more, Gave Account

and fourteenth anniversary OF winch
was observed this month, was written
by Capt. John A. Webster to Mayor
Brantz, of Baltimore.
Mayor Brantz, who was the second
president of the Maryland Historical
Society, asked Captain Webster for
his own account of the conflict and
the officer replied in two letters relat-
ing his own experiences and impress
sions of the battle, of September Ii
and IA, 1914, says the Baltimore Sun
of last Sunday.
The manuscripts of these letters
are now in the possession of Arthur
B. Bibbins, 1900 Maryland avenue,
Baltimore.
Describes Battle.
The letters, giving notable and
graphic account of the fighting, fol-
low:
"Harford Co., July 22nd, 1853.
ITO Brantz, Mayor, Esqr.:
"Dear Sir-I now accede to your
wishes in regard to my services dur
ing the war with Great Britain and
Mexico, as near as my memory serves
me.
81 will remark in the first place, at
the commencement of the war with
Great Britain I was appointed by
Commodore Joshua Barney third
lieutenant on board the privateer
Rosie. We captured and destroyed a
great many of the enemy's vessels,
one of which was the Princess Anne
lis. packet ship. She fought hard and
did not strike her colors until her
commander and two lieutenants were
killed. We lost several killed or NOR
tally wounded.
"At the formation of the f1otilla at
Baltimore Commodore Barney procur-
ed for me a warrant as sailing master
in the navy l was placed in charge
of one of the barges during the whole
period of their existence, or until they
were burned near Pig Point at the
head of the Patuxent river, on the
approach of the British toward Wash
ington. | was in all the different en-
gagements with Commodore Barney,
and during the attack we made on two
British frigates at the mouth OF st.
Leonard's creek l had two men killed
on board my barge. One was Midshlp-
man Aisquith, of Baltimore, and one
a seaman. Inclusive of several others
during the engagement we lost in that
attack on board the different barges
about nine killed and about sixteen
wounded, some of whom died after
wards.
At Bladensburg.
cat Bladensburg I was ordered by
Commodore Barney to ride to the field
of battle from the Navy Yard at
Washington and take charge of the
seamen attached to his flagship, the
Scorpion, and also the seamen az
tached to my barge. When we met
the enemy about one and half miles
from Bladensburg, our seasmen at
tached to the fotilla included my COM
mand.
Commodore Barney ordered our
forces to be fanked abreast of his
cannon to the right of the old brick
ward. When the enemy were advanc-
ing on us, our army was then in full
fight rapidly moving toward Wash
ington. Our fire Immediately COM
menced on the enemy, both from the
long 18-pounders under the immedi-
ate command of Commodore Barney
and the different attachments belong
ing to Commodore Barney's flotilla,
and commanded by his officers Of the
same grade as myself, one of whom,
named Warner, was killed at one OF
the large guns; also two petty Off
GERS and several seamen. Our sea-
men, who acted as infantry, including
those under my command, fought
most nobly, which they continued TIC
do until our ammunition became ex-
pended and most of US were nearly
surrounded. When it was necessary
to replenish the ammunition, we dis
covered those in charge of the ammu-
milton wagons had run off with the
contents. That being the fact, it then
became necessary to make our escape
and in so doing in double-quick time,
I passed near where Commodore Bar
ney's guns had been taken possession
of by the enemy. Commodore Barney
had been wounded in the thigh and he
at that moment, was being supported
by a British officer and one of the
commanders of the fiotilla, Captain
Hamlin. I think, as well as my mem
B ory will serve, we had in all killed up
2 ward of thirty-fve and as many
wounded, some of whom died at the
Lazaretto, in Baltimore.
Narrowly Escaped Death.
II had during that engagement my
horse shot through the head and my
hat shot through the crown, which
lost, not taking time to pick it up
After that memorable battle all had
to retreat, as the most of the army
did. to Montgomery Court House.