kaded in St.
Leonard's Bay. Of this confinement they were relieved by some
artillery under Colonel Henry Carbery, with which he drove away
the Loire, the blockading frigate, when the released flotilla
went up the Patuxent, first to Benedict, and then to
Nottingham, that it might be within co-operating distance of
both Washington and Baltimore.

"Seeing this, the British determined to capture or destroy it,
and on the 18th of August a force of a little more than five
thousand men, composed of regulars, marines, and negroes went
up the Patuxent, and landed at Benedict with three cannon,
under cover of an armed brig. Most of the other large British
vessels were below, some of them aground, and all too heavy to
ascend the comparatively shallow stream.

"Barney, then at Nottingham, promptly informed the Navy
Department of the movement, and of a boast of the British
admiral that he would destroy the American flotilla, and dine
in Washington on the following Sunday. General Winder, by
direction of the War Department, immediately ordered General
Samuel Smith's division (the Third) of the Maryland militia
into actual service. He also called upon General John P. Van
Ness, commander of the militia of the District of Columbia, for
two brigades, to be encamped near Alexandria; and he sent a
circular letter to all the brigadiers of the Maryland militia,
asking for volunteers to the amount of one-half their
respective commands.

"By his orders, his adjutant-general, Hite, issued a stirring
appeal to the citizens to come forward, 'without regard to
sacrifices and privation,' in defense of the national capital.
Winder also asked General Stricker, of Baltimore, to send to
Washington his volunteer regiments of infantry and his rifle
battalion.

"The veteran patriot, General Smith, promptly responded to the
call of the government. He at once issued a division order, in
which he gave notice of the invasion, and directed the whole of
General Stansbury's brigade to be held in readiness for active
service, adding, 'the third brigade is now under the pay of the
United States, in its service, and subject to the Articles of
War.' That corps General Smith declared to be 'the finest set
of men he ever saw.' They paraded at four o'clock the same day,