Evening star., 1950-09-17


Columbia is an old institution
and even before the Capital had
its own code Of laws, military
companies existed here under the
laws Of Maryland and Virginia,
depending upon that part Of the
Federal territory in which the
particular organization was To-
Gated.
One Of the first military bodies
formed was carrying on at least
as early as 1895, and in 1907 took
part in welcoming here Gen.
washington shortly after he had
retired from the presidency and
was on his way to Mount Vernon.
This organization was known as
the Washington Light Artillery
Company.
On March 8. 1903. Congress
made it obligatory for all male
citizens between the ages Of ID
and As to muster once a month
during certain seasons, and upon
failure to do so were liable to q
fine of five dollars for neglect Of
duty. To quote one authority Of
the period: 1.-THE consequence was
many military companies were
formed which 1lourished for a
while until tired Of parade duty.
when they dissolved and returned
their arms to the United States" "
But 1t was not long after the
forming Of these volunteer COM
panies when they were called up
on for active service when the
Battle Of Bladensburg took place
and the City Of Washington was
invaded on August "a, 1914. and
the public buildings were de-
stroyed by fire.
Warned of Invasion
The people Of Washington were
naturally excited and alarmed al
the approach of the British
which had been anticipated fol
months. but over those in au-
thority hung q cloud of optimism
through which the light Of argu-
ment and reason failed to pene-
trate.
In the early part Of April, 1914
the attention Of the President
was called to the defenseless con-
dition Of the city and Of Alex
andria, but little notice was taken
Of it, and even when a delegation
Of business men of the city called
at the White House and urged
that several places around Wash
ington should be Immediately
fortified, no action was taken and
the warming was ignored until too
late to be Of any value.
In June Of that year only 2,145
effective men Of the Regular
Army were In reach-one-half at
New York, one-fourth at Fort Nc
Henry, Baltimore, and the other
quarter divided among Annapolis,
Fort Washington and st. Marys,
besides a company Of Marines at
Fort Washington on the Potomac
and 500 recruits for the Army
from North Carolina In a camp
for instruction near Washington.
The latter were actually sent to
the Northwestern frontier as late
as one month before Washington
was burned.
A typical illustration Of the
condition then existing in Wash
ington is in connection with the
Virginia regiment under Col.
Minor. When this regiment ar
rived, instead Of being immedi-
ately supplied with arms and am
munition, the colonel was in
structed to make his men put in
order the few guns they had
brought with them and, in the
morning, to report in person to
Col. Carbery, who would furnish
him with additional arms. After
hours Of waiting, the guns were
dealt out but the flints were given
one by one and even recounted,
with the result that the regiment
was not able to join the army
before the retreat.
Barney at Bladensbur8
This sort of thing all along the
line caused the defeat Of our
troops at Bladensburg and the
burning of Washington.
Commodore Joshua Barney had
been ordered to defend the East
ern Branch Bridge, but when it
was ascertained that the enemy
had suddenly wheeled to the right,
he asked permission to abandon
this position and to march with
his force to join the Army.
Riding ahead. he came up to
the American forces, drawn up
in detached parties. the firing
= a 1yio0 alraodv hao,1o Ha in.