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CHAPTER XXXV.
We have already commented on the system of brigandage under the
name of war, carried on by Admiral Cockburn along the shores of the
Chesapeake Bay in 1813. These depredations were renewed in the spring of
the following year, on a more extensive scale. And when the overthrow of
Napoleon, and the return of peace in Europe set Great Britain free to
increase her forces abroad, the war in America assumed a more threatening
character. A determination was taken, and at length openly avowed to the
Government of the United States, " to destroy and lay waste such towns and
districts on the coasts as might be assailable." The federal capital itself
â– situated at the head of the navigation of the Potomac, had been menaced by
the enemy, and the government authorities it seems could not be aroused to
its danger, although there were clear indications that the British contemplated an attack upon the City of Washington, On the 15th of July, while
the House of Representatives was in secret session, General Philip Stuart,
who represented the First Maryland District, contiguous to Washington, a
veteran of the Revolution, introduced a preamble and resolution, setting forth
the eminence of the peril, and providing for a distribution of arms to all
able-bodied men in the district, and to " such members of this House as may
be willing to receive them." The subject was discussed in secret, and the
resolution was referred to the committee on military affairs, of which Mr.
Troup, of Georgia, was chairman. On the following day the committee
reported that they had "examined into the state of preparation, naval and
military, made to receive the enemy, and are satisfied that the preparation is,
in every respect, adequate to the emergency, and that no measures are necessary, on the part of the House, to make it more complete."x
From the short interval of time allotted, from the close of one day's
session to the opening of the next, it is manifest that the investigation must
have been an extremely limited one, and the president or secretary of war
must have furnished the information.
It is a fact, however, that at the time this report was made, "there was
not within succouring distance of Washington any organized militia of the
States, nor regular force except a few hundred raw recruits of the 36th and
38th regiments; the district militia partly unarmed and miserably formed,
and the defence of the river depending on the sloop of war Adams, with a few
1 Annals of Congress, 1813-14, i., p. 498.
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000085 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | CHAPTER XXXV. We have already commented on the system of brigandage under the name of war, carried on by Admiral Cockburn along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in 1813. These depredations were renewed in the spring of the following year, on a more extensive scale. And when the overthrow of Napoleon, and the return of peace in Europe set Great Britain free to increase her forces abroad, the war in America assumed a more threatening character. A determination was taken, and at length openly avowed to the Government of the United States, " to destroy and lay waste such towns and districts on the coasts as might be assailable." The federal capital itself â– situated at the head of the navigation of the Potomac, had been menaced by the enemy, and the government authorities it seems could not be aroused to its danger, although there were clear indications that the British contemplated an attack upon the City of Washington, On the 15th of July, while the House of Representatives was in secret session, General Philip Stuart, who represented the First Maryland District, contiguous to Washington, a veteran of the Revolution, introduced a preamble and resolution, setting forth the eminence of the peril, and providing for a distribution of arms to all able-bodied men in the district, and to " such members of this House as may be willing to receive them." The subject was discussed in secret, and the resolution was referred to the committee on military affairs, of which Mr. Troup, of Georgia, was chairman. On the following day the committee reported that they had "examined into the state of preparation, naval and military, made to receive the enemy, and are satisfied that the preparation is, in every respect, adequate to the emergency, and that no measures are necessary, on the part of the House, to make it more complete."x From the short interval of time allotted, from the close of one day's session to the opening of the next, it is manifest that the investigation must have been an extremely limited one, and the president or secretary of war must have furnished the information. It is a fact, however, that at the time this report was made, "there was not within succouring distance of Washington any organized militia of the States, nor regular force except a few hundred raw recruits of the 36th and 38th regiments; the district militia partly unarmed and miserably formed, and the defence of the river depending on the sloop of war Adams, with a few 1 Annals of Congress, 1813-14, i., p. 498. |
