Evening star., 1941-10-12
By John CIagen Proctor

War College now stands. When they
arrived there they found the magazine
empty, the powder having been taken
out the day before and thrown into
dry we'll. One of the British soldiers,
naturally unaware of this fact threw
a lighted match into the we'll and most
terrific explosion was the result. The Of
ficers present and about 80 men were
killed outright, while some At others were
horribly wounded.
After the catastrophe at Bladensburg,
in the little time left for the purpose,
the people of Washington did their best
to remove their valuables to a place of
safety, and DR.. Ewell who figured promi-
nently in the invasion of Washington,
tells us in his "reminiscences that so
thoroughly was this done that he was
unable to obtain even a cart to remove
his own family to the country, as all the
vehicles were otherwise engaged.
Soon after the British entered Wash
ington, about 8 o'clock pm, the Capitol
was burned. The leading officers" we
are told, entered the House of Repre-
sentativeS, where Admiral Cockburn OF
the Royal Navy (who was cooperating
with Gen. Ross, seating himself in the
Speakers chair, called the aSSemblage
to order Gentlemen shouted he, the
question is, shall this harbor of Yankee
democracy be burned? All in favor OF
burning it will say aye! There was a
general affirmative response. And when
he added, Those opposed will say nay
Silence reigned for a moment. Light
up! cried the bold Briton, and the order
was soon repeated in all parts of the
building, while soldiers and sailors vied
with each other in collecting combustible
materials for their incendiary fires. The
books on the shelves of the Library of
Congress were used as kindling for the
north wing and the much admired, full
length portraits of Louis XVI and his
Queen, Marie Anpoiinette, which had
been presented by that unfortunate
monarch to Congress, were torn from
their frames and trampled underfoot."
Books Saved
At this time the Supreme Court was
occupying quarters on the basement floor
directly under the Senate chamber, and
upon approach of the enemy Elias Bou-
dinot Caldwell, the clerk Of the court,
took the law library and records to his
home at 2O6 Pennsylvania avenue Sc.
During his brief stay in Washington,
Gen. Ross made his headquarters at the
home Of DR.. James EWell, then at the
northeast corner of A and First streets
Sc, now included in the grounds OF
the Library of Congress. This residence
was the corner one in the block of five
houses known as Carroll row, and Gen.
Ross was stopping here at the request
of Dr. EWell, who is responsible for the
statement that when he remarked to the
elegant library had been burnt with
the Capitol Gen. Ross replied with much
concern "I lament most sincerely was
not apprised of the circumstance, for,
had known it in time, the books would
most certainly have been saved"
Neither do I suppose, general" said
DR.. EweIl you would have burnt the
Presidents house had Mrs. Madison re-
manned at home"
mo, SIR" Gen Ross was quoted by DR..
Ewell as saying Il make war neither
against letters nor ladies' and I have
heard so much in praise of Mrs. Madison
that would rather protect than burn a
house which sheltered such an excellent
lady"