able distance from the yard, were likewise set fire to and consumed. In short. Sir, I do not believe a vestige of public property, or a store of any kind, which could be converted to the use of the government, escaped destruction: the bridges across the eastern branch of the Potowmac were also destroyed.”
When the British troops entered the President’s house “they found a dinner-table spread, and covers laid for 40 guests. Several kinds of wine, in handsome cut-glass decanters, were cooling on the side-board; plate-holders stood by the fire-place, filled with dishes and plates; knives, forks, and spoons were arranged for immediate use; in short, every thing was ready for the entertainment of a ceremonious party. Such were the arrangements in the dining-room, whilst in the kitchen were others answerable to them in every respect. Spits loaded with joints of various sorts, turned before the fire; pots, saucepans, and other culinary utensils, stood upon the grate; and all the requisites for an elegant and substantial repast were exactly in a state which indicated that they had been lately and precipitately abandoned. These preparations were beheld, by a party of hungry soldiers, with no indifferent eye. An elegant dinner, even though considerably over-dressed, was a luxury to which few of them, at least for some time back, had been accustomed; and which, after the dangers and fatigues of the day, appeared peculiarly inviting. They sat down to it, therefore, not indeed in the most orderly manner, but with countenances which would not have disgraced a party of aldermen at a civic feast; and having satisfied their appetites with fewer complaints than would have probably escaped their rival gourmands, and partaken pretty freely of the wines, they finished by setting fire to the house which had so liberally entertained them[1].”
“This general devastation being completed during the day of the 35th, we marched again at 9 that night, on our return, by Bladenaburg, to Upper Marlborough. We arrived last evening at the latter place, without molestation of any sort; and this morning moved on to Nottingham, where I found H.M. sloop Manly, the tenders, and the boats.
- ↑ Narrative of the Campaign at Washington and New Orleans, by the author of the Subaltern, 2d. edit. p. 130 et seq.
