The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-11-08

down to the Navy Yard and there
found eight horses belonging to some
wagons and already harnessed. These
horses l took possession of. l had
with me a petty officer named John
Frazier, now a resident of Baltimore.
l hitched the horses to the field pieces
and went on. Passing in front of the
Presidents house, | found a brass g.
FOUNDER mounted and abandoned.
attached that to the others and con-
tinued on, and that night about IL
o'clock halted about three miles from
Georgetown.
early next morning, as we passed
near Taneytown, one of the 1S-pound-
ers broke down, which l then had
spiked and left it on the road; the
other two I took on to Montgomery
Court House. The following morning
l found all the horses had been stolen
by our militiamen. 1 then had to
march on to Baltimore with as many
seamen as l could collect.
Took Short Rest
"That night about IL o'clock we
arrived at Ellicott's Mills, where We
laid ourselves down on the porch until
daylight, when we again took up the
line of march and breakfasted in
Light street, at Mr.. John H. Barney's
hotel, the old Fountain Inn. l then
reported myself at the Lazaretto to
DR.. Solomon Rutter, next in command
to Commodore Barney, of the fiotilla,
as soon as the British were known to
be approaching Baltimore. DR.. Rutter
appointed me, by the request of Gen
eral Smith, to take charge of the six
gun battery with seventy-fve men,
where was engaged"
This is followed by note of Au-
gust 10, 1858.
"On the 10th of September,
1914, was detailed by First Lieuten-
ant Rutter, of the fiotilla, with sew
enty-fve men, to take charge of the
siX-gun battery situated on the ferry
branch between Fort McHenry and
Fort Covington. During the general
between this and the 18th, my officers,
my men and myself were employed in
preparing the battery in as secure a
manner as circumstances would per-
nit of. l had two master mates or
midshipmen, one named Edwards and
the other named Andrews. The bat
terry was open and exposed, except a
breastwork of dirt thrown up about
four feet high, magazine in the rear
about sixty feet off, composed of a
hole dug in the side of hill as secur-
ity for the ammunition. When the
bomb vessels hove in sight off Fort
McHenry, much anxiety and interest
was manifested, all hoping to share
in the fully expected conflict. Day and
night we were on the alert, anXiously
expecting an attack until hopes were
nearly extinct.
AhOISWOu.
"On the night of the 18th, about II
P. NJ, the bomb vessels appeared to
renew their fire at least double, it
being dark and raining quite fast and
cold for the season. The rapid dis
charge of bombs from the enemy's
shipping created much anxiety and
vigilance among my officers and men.
l had the cannon doubly loaded with
18-pound balls and craps shot. l took
a blanket and laid down on the breast
work, being much exhausted. About
IL midnight, l could distinctly hear
a splashing in the water; the atten-
ton of all hands was aroused; we
were sure it was the sound of barges
and their oars. Very soon after we
could discern a small glimmering
light at different places. l was sure
it must be the matches on board the
barges, which at that time did not
appear to be more than from two to
three hundred yards off. Some of the
lights were above me next to Fort
Covington. AS rapidly as possible,
mounted the cannon with my breast
over the aprons of the guns and ex-
amined the printing as it was then
raining fast. All being right, l train
ed the guns to suit my own views be-
fore firing. When 1 opened on them
my fire caused the boats to cease row.
ing. A rapid fire followed from the
barges as we'll as ourselves. l coulC
} distinctly hear the balls from oul
guns strike the boats. My men stated
to me they could hear the shriekine
of the men.
Fort Opens Fire.
"Soon after 1 commenced, Fort Gov
ington opened on them, although they
had not got quite up to it. During
) the firing of the enemy l could dis.
) tinctly see the barges of the enemy
by the explosion of the cannon, which
was a great guide to me to fire with
more precision than l could otherwise
have done. The enemy had a large
schooner with them, which they hac
propelled up by sweeps. This had ar
18-pounder on board and should have