Evening star., 1942-04-05

BeLUOtT.
along the Maryland snore Of the river
az they could, 80 as to avoid being fred
on from the White House.
The channel ran close to the Virginia
shore, and the ships of war had neces-
sarily to sail within a short distance Of
the White House, where the Virginiaps
were prepared to give them a warm
reception, and this they did; but have
never heard of the result of the engage
ment further than that one of our men,
named Jenkins, with whom I was &C
quainted, had one of his arms shot off.
What the British loss was I never heard,
but have no doubt it was considerable.
While all this war going on, Commo-
dores Rodgers, Porter and, believe, De-
catur, hastily procured a few pieces Of
cannon and took them down to Indian
Head, by land, on the Maryland side Of
the river. to prevent the feet, If possible,
from leaving the river. At the same
time several companies and squads of
citizen soldiers volunteered to go down
with the commodores as infantry.
Having arrived at Indian Head, the VOL
unteer infantry was placed under COM
mand Of Gen. Stewart of Maryland,
somewhat in the rear of the artillery,
under the command of Commodore
Rodgers.
Nov. by this time, the firing at the
White House had commenced, and could
be distinctly heard at Indian Head.
After the lapse of considerable time the
firing ceased. which indicated that the
British feet had passed the White House
battery. In the meantime, as Capt,
Gordon neared our little battery at
Indian Head, he took the precaution Of
sending his small craft, loaded with
plunder, as he had done at the White
House, to the Virginia side of the river,
as the channel runs near Indian Head
on the Maryland side which he had,
OF course, to pass with his ships OF war.
The sight of this might have reminded
one Of an old hen with brood of young
chickens scattered in every direction,
as they sailed over the flats of Virginia.
while the old hen was trying to protect
them. AS soon as the feet approached
near enough, the firing commenced on
both Sides and continued, almost without
mtermission, until dark. We did not
hear of any casualties on our side,
The reason that our little battery
came of so well without any loss, was
because Indian Head was so much higher
than the river, that the British were
compelled to elevate their pieces so high
that the shot either struck the edge Of
the bank, or they passed right over the
heads of our artillerymen into the coun-
try. 1t Is supposed that the British
suffered considerably. particularly in the
rigging OF their vessels. They remained
near Indian Head during the night, prob
ably to see that their little vessels, with
their booty, all succeeded IN getting over
the flats. After some time they COM
menced sailing down the river, and troops
returned home to Washington. While
the contest was going on the British had
man stationed at the masthead. point
ing out in what direction they should
fire. The above is about the substance of
the account my brothers gave of the
affair after they returned from Indian
~~NesN' Ndo llO1 Will lllCIl ulyS6ll ds
my duty required me to be with nv
company, as lieutenant, under Capt
Briscoe. who was stationed on Camr
Hill. now called Observatory Hill"
1t was during the same period, wher
the British fleet was on its way to Alex
andria, that Capt. Samuel T. Dyson, the
American officer in charge of Fort Wash
ington, on the Maryland side Of the
river, did not attempt to test the resis.
tance and stability Of the fort, but forth.
with blew 1t up and made a hasty re.
treat, for which he was later court.
martialed anu dismissed from the service
George Washington was always or
friendly terms with members Of the vir.
ginia Fairfax family, and especially ad,
mired Bryan Fairfax, who served 70,
some time as rector Of Christ Church
Alexandria. This clergyman inherited
the title of Lord Fairfax, and on Ma,
6, 1900, Lord Walsingham made repor
to the House Of Lords from the com
mittee appointed to consider the peti
ton claiming the title and dignity o
Lord Fairfax Of Cameron.
After which it was resolved and ad
judged by the lords spiritual and tenn
poral, in Parliament assembled, that tn,
claimant, the Rev. Bryan Fairfax, boil
made out his claim to the title ant
dignity OF Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Mr.. Fairfax never assumed the it'll
and in 1902 died at Mount Eagle, nea
Alexandria, Va, but the title later wa
bestowed on Albert Kirby Fairfax, VIII
was employed by Brown Bros m Wal
Street, New York.