Evening star., 1931-05-13
BY REX COLLIER.

Historic Fort washington, mentioned
as one Of the score or more Ct military
posts which may be abandoned by the
War Department, had one supreme
chance to defend the National Capital
from an enemy invader-but failed
During the War of 1912 the venerable
fort might have proved stumbling
block to the British squadron WnlcIl
sailed up the Potomac to attack WaSn-
ington, but, much to the surprise @
Capt. Gordon, commanding the Btu
ish squadron, the fort of1ereo no re
sistance.
British Leader Reports.
In his report Of the expedition, Capt
Gordon said: ,.. OF
1914 to our great Joy the vino Pc
came fair, and we made all san up IiIe
river. which now assumed HUie ,l
pleasing aspect. AT ocioCS =. N.ra+ @
afternoon, Mount Vernon, tn0 xeeaSS xS
of the INDUSTRIOUS washington, Wpeneo
to orr view. and showed us I-r tne
first time since we entered the Fo'NAAi''O
a 0entleman'S residence. ...
"TJioher I'D the river on the oppoSlte
side. Fort Washington appeared 10 uui
anxious eyes and to our great saCS
faction II was considered assallaole.
little before sunset the squadron an
chored lust out of gunshot. The oomp
vessels at once took up their poSlClonS
to cover the frigates in the proIecteG
attack at daylight next morning anu
began throwing shells.
Garrison Retreats.
"rhe garrison, to our great surprise
retreated from the fort and short Time
Afterwards Fort Washington was blown
nm: which left the Capital OF America
and the populouS town OF Alexandra
omen to the squadron, without loss OF
a man. It was too late TO ascertain
whether this catastrophe was occasion
ed bv one of our shells, or whether IL
had been blown up by the garrison
hut, the opinion was in favor OF the lat-
ter. Still we are at loss to account
for such an extraordinary step. The
position was good and its capture would
have cost us at least SO men and more,
had it been properly defended; besides,
an unfavorable wind and other chances
were in their favor, and we could nave
destroyed it only had we succeeded IN
the attempt.
cat daylight the ship moored under
the battery and completed its destruc-
ton. The guns we're spiked by the
enemy. We otherwise mutilated them,
and destroyed the carriages. Fort
WASHINGTON was a most respectable de-
fense. It mounted two 52-pounders,
two 32-pounders, in a martello tower.
two l2-pounders with two loopholeS
for musketry, and a battery in the rear
mounting, two IL and pound field
pieces"
Fort Commander Dismissed.
Failure Of the defense at Fort Wash
ington resulted in the court martial
and dismissal from the service of its
commanding officer, but perhaps part
of the blome should have been placed
on Secretary of War Armstrong, who
rejected a plan to strengthen the fort
before the advance Of the British on
Washington.
President Madison, more worried than
Armstrong, had commissioned Maj.
Pierre Charles LEnfant in 1918, to in
vestigate conditions at Fort Washington
and prepare plans for enlarging its de-
fenses. Maj L'Enfant recommended
additional guns ana equipment and
construction of an additional fort in
the neighborhood. Fort Hunt, across
the river, was not then in existence.
Secretary Armstrong is quoted, ir
reply to Maj. L'Enfant, as saying, The
British will never be so mad as to make