seamen and engineers, with rockets.* Leaving captain Robyns, with the marines of the ships, in possession of Upper Marlborough, majorgeneral Ross and rear-admiral Cockburn, with the troops, marines, and seamen, whose number, notwithstanding the absence of captain Robyns and his party, we will still state at 4000, moved forward, on the evening of the 23d; and, before dark, arrived, and bivouacked for the night, at a spot five miles nearer to Washington.† As if by concert, the American army retired from the long Old Fields, about the same time that the British army advanced from Upper Marlborough; the patroles of the latter actually occupying, before midnight, the ground which the former had abandoned. The American army did not stop till it reached Washington; where it encamped, for the night, near the navy-yard." On the same evening, upwards of 2000 troops arrived at Bladensburg from Baltimore. At day-light on the morning of the 24th, general Ross put his troops in motion for Bladensburg, 12 miles from his camp; and, having halted by the way, arrived at the heights facing the village about half-past 11 o'clock. § While the British troops are resting themselves, and preparing for the attack, we will endeavour * Hist. of the United States, Vol. III. p. 298. Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 767. to place before the reader, the force which they had to overcome, before they could enter the metropolis of the United States. The army under general Winder," says doctor Smith," consisted of: According to general Armstrong's letter to the editor of the "Baltimore Patriot," of September 3, general Winder had, under his com. mand, exclusive of the 15000 militia he was directed to call out, as many regular troops and seamen, as would make his total force, when assembled, 66 16300 men.” "General Winder," proceeds doctor Smith," after the battle, reported his forces at about 5000 men ;* nearly 2600 less than appears from the preceding detail." Nor has the general given any account of his artillery; although we find that the American army had, on the field, not fewer than 23 pieces, varying from 6 to 18 pounders." This army was drawn up, in two lines, upon very commanding heights, on the north of the turnpike-road leading from Bladensburg to Washington; and, as an additional incitement to glory on the part of the American troops, their president was on the field. "Every eye," says. general Wilkinson, "was immediately turned upon the chief; every bosom throbbed with confidence; and every nerve was strung with valor. No doubts remained with the troops that, in their chief magistrate they beheld. their commander-inchief, who, like another Maurice, having, by his irresolution in council, exposed the country to the chances and accidents of a general engage* App. No. 66. + Hist. of the U. S. Vol. III. p. 297. ment, had now come forward to repair the error, by his activity in the field; determined to throw himself into the gap of danger, and not to survive the honor of his country, especially entrusted to his guardianship."* The affair, for it hardly deserves the name of battle,-of Bladensburg, may be given in the words of general Wilkinson; assisted by a reference to his own diagram.† "The enemy," says the general, “made the attack with their light brigade; the right wing, led by colonel Brooke, of the 44th regiment, and the left by colonel Thornton, of the 85th. They crossed the bridge in disorder, and the skirmishers advanced in loose order, and forced the battery and riflemen in h, i. The right wing formed in u, u, and followed the skirmishers through the corn-field, p, p, and the orchard, q, q, and over the field, forward of the tobacco-house, k. Captain Doughty," (with a corps of riflemen,) " formed in l, gave a few fires, and retired with the rest of the troops; and the enemy pursued to the fence 14, 14; while our troops generally res treated," proceeds the general, “by R, R, R." Before we proceed to detail the operations of colonel Thornton's wing, a little explanation, as to numbers, may be necessary. The American force, thus routed by about 750 rank and file of the 4th and 44th regiments, including a Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 781. + See Plate VI. rocket-party, consisted of, regular and militia dragoons, 530; major Pinkney's battalion of militia-riflemen, 150; Doughty's riflemen, number not stated; Stansbury's militia-brigade, 1353; Sterret's militia-regiment, 500; Baltimore artillery, with six pieces,* 150; major Peters, with six pieces of artillery, and lieutenantcolonel Scott, with the 36th United States' regiment, together, 500;† Burch's artillery, with four pieces, number of men not given; Smith's militia brigade, 1070: total 4000 men, and 16 pieces of artillery. It is fortunate that we have American testimony for the extraor dinary account here given. ( 4 Requesting the reader again to turn to the diagram, we will, with general Wilkinson's assistance, narrate the proceedings of the remainder of the British and American forces. "Colonel Thornton," says he, "with the left wing, pushed up the turnpike-road, and was about to attack the 5th regiment, in flank, when it gave way. There were a great many commanders this day, and, among them, not the least discerning, colonel Wadsworth; who, to avoid interference with others, and render what service he could, had prepared, and, with a few hands, brought forward, two field-pieces to t, t, on the turnpike, with intention to open and * See Plate VI. h. i + Ibid. 9 and 10. |