CHAPTER XV.

CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON-DEFENCE OF BALTIMORE.

WE return once more to the events of the war on the sea-board. The occurrences of 1814, in this quarter, wore a more serious face than during any of the preceding years. Our powerful enemy manifested a fixed determination, of carrying on the war for the purpose of revenge; and being freed from the continental war, her numerous ships, and her armies, were now at her disposal for any other purpose. Advices from the American commissioners, served not a little to depress the hopes of peace.

In the beginning of summer, the enemy arrived off our coast with several ships of the line and frigates, with a great number of transports. They soon after entered the Chesapeake, and maintained a threatening attitude against the principal cities on the Bay. Considerable time, however, elapsed before any important enterprise was undertaken; but Admiral Cockburn was actively engaged as usual, in plundering and pilfering the planters. To oppose some check to this atrocious repareé, a flotilla of gun vessels was fitted out by our government, and the command given to Commodore Barney. This intrepid veteran, soon made himself so formidable from

nis rapid movements through creeks and inlets, that the enemy found it necessary to destroy his flotilla. A number of vessels suited to the purpose, were accordingly provided. The Commodore about the 1st of June, was chaced into the Patuxent; here their larger vessels not being able to pursue him, they sent their barges, but which were compelled to sneak off faster than they came. A more formidable squadron of boats a few days afterwards, compelled the Commodore to take refuge on Leonard's creek, where he was closely blockaded, by two frigates. Commodore Barney having received some additional force from Washington, fell down to the mouth of the creek and choosing his position, began a well directed fire on the British vessels: in two hours the frigates finding their situation rather uncomfortable, prudently weighed anchor and stood down the Patuxent. Barney embracing this opportunity, ran out of the creek, and ascended the Patuxent.

During the time that the Commodore was thus blockaded, a party of the enemy proceeded up the Patuxent, and landing a body of men, took possession of Benedict and Marlborough, and then courageously attacked the tobacco warehouses and hen roosts, which were robbed with Cockburnian rapacity. The visit to these villages, first shewed them the practicability of attacking Washington in this quarter, as they would be enabled to approach it within thirty or forty miles, before any suspicions should be entertained of their designs. The year before, considerable alarm had prevailed, lest the enemy .would ascend the Potomac in his ships, and attack the city of Washington; but no suspicion of any probable attack in this direction, was entertained. Indeed, it appeared to be the opinion of many, that the American

7

Capital, could scarcely hold out any inducement to then. to incur the risk, when but little could be gained. Of this 'opinion, was the secretary at war, who it will appear, did not use those precautions necessary to secure the American Capital from the disgrace of being spurned by hostile steps. President Madison, in a council of the heads of department, had determined that at least ten thousand men, should be collected at some point which might be nearly equi-distant from Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore, and could cover all these places. The execution of the plan, was of course left to the Secretary. A new military district being formed, General Winder, in the month of July, was invested with the command, and authorized by the Secretary to call out the necessary force. It was soon found that the quota of Pennsylvania militia, and for the greater part, that of Maryland, had failed. No measure was taken by the Secretary to ensure at all events, the requisite number in the field. The General busily occupied himself in-visiting all the different parts of his district, and in making the necessary arrangments, to meet the enemy at all points. No camp was formed as had been contemplated: all the force to be depended upon, was Stansbury's brigade, then near Baltimore, a body of militia at Annapolis, about one thousand regulars, and the militia of the district of Columbia.

Admiral Cockburn, about the 16th of August, ascended the bay with twenty-two sail, besides transports, and was joined by Admiral Malcom. About this time, it appears he formed a resolution of attacking Washington. The circumstance of Barney's flotilla having taken shelter in the Patuxent, favoured the design of attacking the city by way of Benedict. Accordingly, dividing his

force, and sending one detachment up the bay, as if to threaten Baltimore, under Sir Peter Parker, and one up the Potomac, under Captain Gordon, as if to force fort Washington, he took the road himself first named.

The British land forces debarked at Benedict on the 21st of August, and on the 22nd reached Upper Marlborough, and the American flotilla which had ascended as high as this place, was now destroyed, while Commodore Barney, according to his orders, joined General Winder with his marines. At this time, the American General, had not more than two thousand men, just collected into camp, at a place called the woodyard. On the 22nd, he fell back to the Old Fields, where he encamped for the night.

The General might expect to be re-inforced in the course of a day or two, by the militia of Baltimore, and Annapolis, which, with the volunteers of Georgetown, and its neighbourhood, and the regulars, would give him a force of about five thousand men. As the ground was extremely favourable for skirmishing, and irregular fighting, he might harrass the enemy on his advance; for his force was by no means sufficient to meet the enemy in open field. On the 23d, the General detached a party, under Colonel Scott, for the purpose of watching the movements of the enemy, and harrassing him in his advance. Within six miles of the American camp, the enemy was descried marching in column; after firing a few rounds, the detachment retreated, and the enemy. advancing three miles further, encamped for the night. Apprehensive of a night attack, the General marched about sun-set into Washington, and encamped near the navy yard. Early the next morning, the British were discovered to have taken the road to Bladensburg, hav

- ing General Winder's force on his left flank, and leaving his communication with the shipping entirely unguarded.

General Stansbury's brigade, about thirteen hundred strong, arrived at this place on the 22d, and was joined the next day by the Baltimoreans under Colonel Sterret, about five hundred in number, but much fatigued by a forced march: the Colonel was accompanied by the artillery companies of Myers and Magruder, and the light battalion of riflemen under Pinkney the Attorney-General, who could fight as well as speak. On the 24th about noon, the enemy made his appearance near Bladensburg. The Americans had already posted themselves in the following manner. Stansbury's brigade, was drawn up on the West side of the Western branch, the artillery posted so as to command the bridge, the riflemen so as to support the artillery; Sterret's regiment in an orchard in the rear of these, and the other troops in the best pósitions the nature of the ground would admit. General Winder having surveyed this disposition of the troops, which had been made with the assistance of Colonel Monroe, approved of them. The General had already posted the marines and seamen, on the rising ground in a position to command the road, in two separate batteries, one under Commodore Barney, the other under Captain Miller. In the rear of these, there was a second line of regulars, volunteers, and militia, under General Smith; there was just time to post these, about half a mile in the rear of the first line, when the battle commenced. A strong regiment of Maryland militia, commanded by Colonels Beal and Hood, at the same time, took posts on the lengths South of the great road, among the woods, whence they could annoy the approaching enemy. Until this moment the heads of department, with the President,