Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05

tached parties. the firing having. already
begun. He instantly dispatched an off,
Ger to hasten the march of his men.
who came up in trot. notwithstanding
their exhausted condition. He stopped
at the District line. and had scarcely
time to form his men and unlimber his
guns. which we're served with such
great precision that they wrought havoc
in the ranks of the advancing enemy.
until being assaulted by them also on
the flank. deserted b. the supporting
Maryland Regiment. with his animuni-
ton nearly exhausted. he ordered his
Marines. and the seamen acting as in
fantry under the flotilla officers to
make a counter attack upon the enemy.
who we're driven back. while his bat
terry played upon them with grape and
canister inflicting severe losses.
Meanwhile the rest of the Americans
had disappeared. and the British were
able to center their attack on Barney's
men. Barney's horse was shot from
under him. several of his best officers
were killed or wounded. and he himself
was severely wounded in the thigh.
Realizing the hopelessnsSs of further
rrolonging the conflict with such a
mall force. without ammunition. and
',einz nearlv surrounded By the enemy.
he felt 1t his duty to order a retreat
which was effected In perfect order.
The loss of blood weakened him so
that he was forced 10 lie down az the
spring. which until recently was al the
east side Of Bladensburg road. little
south of the entrance to Fort Lincoln
Cemetery. the site now being covered
By bungalow houses Here he ordered
his oficers to leave him. It was not
long before Capt. Wainwright came up.
and upon ascertaining the conmodore'S
identity. went in search OF Admiral
Cockburn, who soon made his appear
ance. accompanied by Gen. Ross.
In the report Commodore Barney
later made of the affair he tells OF the
kind attention given him through the
courtesy Of Gen Ross
These officers behaved to. me with
the most marked attention. respect and
Doliteness." he states: had a surgeon
brought and my wounds dressed i'm
mediately. After few minutes con-
versation. the general informed me
latter paving me a handsome compli-
ment) that was paroled. and At
liberty to proceed 70 Washington or
Blsndensourg."
He was conveyed 10 the latter place
for treatment, and after recovering Suf-
ficienslv saw additional active service
The bullet with which he was wounded
was never extracted. and the wound
contributed greatly TO his death abou,
four years later.
RARNEY'S heroic defense Of the Ma
tionsl Capital forms one Of the
brigh. pages in American history May
we hope that some day there will stand
& monument to him right ss the Dis
trict line on the Bladensburg road near
the site Of the spring and the spot
where ne fell wounded
The people Of Washington were not
unmindful OF Barney's insrepidity and
sal!ansry, and the City Council. a few
months later. appropriated on, O. its
treasury $500 with which 10 procure q
sword as Q testimony Of their respect
for him.
There being no further obstacle in
the way. Gen. Ross and Admiral Cock
burn entered the city about dusk with
some 700 men for the purpose Of burn
ing all public property 10 be found
The toll OF the torch that night in
rluoed the unfinished Capitol and the
Congressional Library. which Il then
housed; the White House, the War and
Treasury Buildings and the Arsenal
and Barracks for almos, 5000 ,rcops II
Is said that the reflection from the
flames could be seen in Baltimore, 40
miles of.
As a strategic move, our trNcpS
burned the Navy Yard and \ vessel
lying there, and also set fire 10 the Viz
ginia end Of the Iong Bridge over the
nNtNp,ar thA wasNS~~,NN ana ~ tNn
bridge having been DESTROYED by the
British 10 prevent surprise attack,
Admiral Cocshurn. who Is said 90
have been freerand and bent on
revenge, Was greatly restrained by Gen
RoSs, who SAVed AL The NrivAte nrNN-