ROSS OF BLADENSBERG

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1929, Page 17

ROSS OF BLADENSBERG

CAPTOR OF WASHINGTON. Writing in the “National Review” for May on the achievements of General Robert Ross, who afterwards became known as Roas of Bladensberg, Sir John Ross, formerly Lord Chancellor of Ireland, relates the story 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-ap-pointed liberators. The British Government, in preparing an expeditionary force of 4500 men, asked the Duke of 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, Roes reached Bladensberg, about five miles from Washington. The Amrican army, under General Winder, numbered--7000, 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 Barney. 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 and scatter. The defeat was complete. President Madison had been 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 ignominiously, 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 the 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 of Newark and She public buildings of York City in Canada. In his book ,“The Art of War,” Baron de Jornint, 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 heavily 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 deploring Ross’s death and at the opening of Parliament the Prince Regent ordered the insignia of a K.C.B. to be sent to his widow.' At the same time he commanded that the.Jamily derignation should thenceforth be Ross of Bladensberg.