aped on the beach, and instantly drew up
in line, ready to repel any attack. After the infantry was landed,
about a hundred artillerymen followed, and the same number of sailors
dragging howitzers.

It is easily understood that this powerful force was not organized
solely to destroy Barney's pitiful little flotilla. The real purpose
of the British commander was to press on into the interior, and
capture Washington, which the Americans had foolishly left without any
defences whatever. It came to Barney's ears that Admiral Cockburn had
boasted that he would destroy the American flotilla, and dine in
Washington the following Sunday. This news the American commodore sent
off to the authorities at the capital, and they then began to make
futile preparations to repel the invader. In the mean time the British
commenced their march up the shores of the Patuxent, meeting with no
opposition. Barney, knowing that the defence of the national capital
was of far greater importance than the fate of his flotilla, landed
with four hundred men, and hastened to the American lines before
Washington. He left the barges under the command of the second
lieutenant, Mr. Frazier, with instructions to set fire to every boat
on the appearance of the enemy, and then join the commodore with all
the men left under his charge. Accordingly, when the invading column
reached Nottingham, Mr. Frazier took the flotilla still higher up the
creek,--a move that vastly disconcerted the British, who saw their
prey eluding them. "But in the main object of our pursuit we were
disappointed," wrote a British officer. "The flotilla which had been
stationed opposite to Nottingham retired, on our approach, higher up
the stream; and we were consequently in the situation of a huntsman
who sees his hounds at fault, and has every reason to apprehend that
his game will escape." But the game never fell into the hands of the
ardent hunters; for the next day Mr. Frazier fulfilled his orders by
setting fire to every barge, and, after seeing several of the larger
boats blow up, mustered his men, and cut across the country, to join
his superior officer. The British naval forces soon after reached Pig
Point, the scene of this destruction, and there remained; while the
land forces immediately turned away from the river, and marched upon
Washington.

[Illustration: Sharp-Shooters.]

It is not necessary to give in detail the incidents of the series of
skirmishes by which the Brit