ROSS OF BLADENSBERG

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1929, Page 12

ROSS OF BLADENSBERG

CAPTOR OF WASHINGTON.

Writing in the ‘National Review’ on the achievements of General Robert Ross, who afterwards became known as Ross of Bladensberg, Sir John Ross, formerly Lord Chancellor of Ireland, relates the story of one of the most brilliant of Britain’s minor feats of arms, the capture of Washington, by a small expeditionary force under General Ross in 1814. In 1812 President Madison decided to take advantage of Britain’s embarrassments in Europe and force a war, with the object of wresting Canada from her. It was thought at the time that the Canadians were disaffected, and. that they would rally to the United States of their own accord. Instead, the Canadians put up a fight that astonished their self-appointed liberators. The British Government, in preparing an expeditionary force of 4,500 men, asked Wellington to nominate a leader, and bearing in mind his signal services in the Peninsular War, the Duke sent in the name of General Ross. The force arrived in America, and on August 24, 1814, Ross reached Bladensberg, about five miles from Washington. The American army, under General Winder, numbered 7,000, and it was drawn up in a position supposed to be impregnable. The bridge before it, which was the key to the position, was defended by a flotilla and twenty-six guns. Ross immediately assaulted the bridge, and carried it, capturing fourteen guns and the commandant, Commodore Burney. Then he smashed the first American line, which fell back in confusion on the second. Before either could recover a furious bayonet charge caused the Americans to break ah<T scatter. The defeat was complete. 'President Madison was so confident of victory that he had prepared a magnificent banquet for the American officers in the President’s house. At the news of defeat he fled agnominously, leaving Ross and his officers to enjoy the banquet and drink the Prince Regent’s health in the President’s wine.

The victors paid the greatest respect to private houses and property in the captured capital, but Ross ordered the destruction by fire of tne Capitol, the Senate House, the House of Representatives, the arsenal, the dockyards, the Treasury, the. President’s house, and the bridge over the Potomac, as a reprisal for the destruction by the Americans at Newark and the public buildings of York City, in Canada.

In his book, ‘The Art of War,’ Baron de Jomimi, referring to the capture of Washington,, writes: “The world was astonished to see a handful of Englishmen making their appearance in the midst of a State embracing 10,000,000 of people, taking possession of its capital, and destroying its public buildings —results unparalleled in history.” Ross then marched upon Baltimore, but on September 12, in passing through wooded country he received a mortal wound. The death of the general disorganised the whole undertaking, and the expedition was withdrawn. The news of Ross’s death was received with wild rejoicing throughout the United States. A dozen men claimed the honour of having shot him. On the spot where he fell a monument was erected to an American named Aquila Randall, to whom the credit went.

The British deplored Ross’s death, and at the opening of Parliament the Prince Regent ordered the insignia of K.C.B. to be sent to his widow. At the same time he commanded that the family designation should thenceforth be Ross of Bladensberg.