e beyond
shaking the morale of the population. The objective of this larger
operation was undecided. Either Baltimore or Washington was tempting.
But first the British had to dispose of the annoying gunboat flotilla of
Commodore Joshua Barney, who had made his name mightily respected as a
seaman of the Revolution and who had never been known to shake in his
shoes at sight of a dozen British ensigns. He had found shelter for his
armed scows, for they were no more than this, in the Patuxent River, but
as he could not hope to defend them against a combined attack by British
ships and troops he wisely blew them up. This turn of affairs left a
fine British army all landed and with nothing else to do than promenade
through a pleasant region with nobody to interfere. The generals and
admirals discussed the matter and decided to saunter on to Washington
instead of to Baltimore. In the heat of August the British regiments
tramped along the highways, frequently halting to rest in the shade,
until they were within ten miles of the capital of the nation. There
they found the American outposts in a strong position on high ground,
but these tarried not, and the invaders sauntered on another mile before
making camp for the night. It is difficult to regard the capture of
Washington with the seriousness which that lamentable episode deserves.
The city was greatly surprised to learn that the enemy actually intended
a discourtesy so gross, and the Government was pained beyond expression.
But beyond this display of emotion nothing was done. The war was now two
years old but no steps whatever had been taken to defend Washington,
although there was no room for doubt that a British naval force could
ascend the river whenever it pleased.

The disagreeable tidings that fifty of the enemy's ships had anchored
off the Potomac, however, reminded the President and his advisers that
not a single ditch or rampart had been even planned, that no troops were
at hand, that it was rather late for advice which seemed to be the only
ammunition that was plentiful. Quite harmoniously, the soldier in
command was General Winder who could not lose his head, even in this
dire emergency, because he had none to lose. His record for ineptitude
on the fighting front had, no doubt, recommended him for this place. He
ran about Washington, ordering the construction of defenses which there
was no time to build, listening to a million frenzied suggestions,
holding all man