cers
whom he had ordered away, and fell from weakness, in which situation
he was found by the enemy.

"General Ross and Admiral Cockburn came to him and tendered every
assistance. He was carried in a litter to the village of Bladensburg,
and the next day, in the company of his wife and son, was taken home
in a carriage. A week later he was formally exchanged for two British
colonels. The ball had been probed for by the English surgeons, but
without effect, and it was not found until after his death, which is
said to have been caused by the wound."

And now regarding the fleet which we dodged, Mr. Lossing says in his
"War of 1812."

"The British squadron appeared before Fort Washington on the 27th of
August, three days after the capture of the capital. Captain Dyson
either misunderstood General Winder's order, or was influenced by
mortal fear, for he blew up and abandoned the fort without firing a
gun. No doubt the British fleet could have been kept below by the
heavy cannon of the fort. Dyson chose not to try the experiment, and
for his injurious conduct he was dismissed from the service.

"The British squadron now had nothing to fear, and without
interference the frigates sailed on, anchoring off Alexandria on the
evening of the 28th. On the morning of the 29th it assumed a hostile
attitude a hundred yards from the wharves, and was well prepared to
lay every building in the town in ashes. The citizens sent a
deputation to Captain Gordon to ask upon what terms he would consent
to spare the town. He replied that all naval stores and ordnance; all
the shipping and its furniture; merchandise of every description in
the city, or which had been carried out of it to a place of safety;
and refreshments of every kind, must be immediately given up to him.
Also that the vessels which had been scuttled to save them from
destruction must be raised, and delivered up to him. 'Do all this,' he
said, 'and the town of Alexandria, with the exception of public works,
shall be spared, and the inhabitants shall remain unmolested."

"These were harsh and humiliating terms, and the inhabitants were
allowed only one hour for consideration. They were powerless, and were
compelled to submit. The merchandise that had been carried from the
town and the sunken vessels could not be given up to the invader, so
he contented himself by burning one vessel and loading several others,
chiefly with flour, cotton and tobacco. With these in charge, the