Winder had but three thousand men, most of them
undisciplined, to oppose this force; and he prudently retreated toward
Washington followed by Ross, who, on the 23d of August, was joined by
Cockburn and his seamen.
Uncertain whether Washington City or Fort Washington was the
destination of the enemy, Winder left a force at Bladensburg about four
miles from the capitol, and with other troops watched the highways
leading in other directions, while he hastened to the city to inform the
president that the enemy were camped in ten miles of the capitol.
Neither President Madison nor his cabinet slept that night. Fernando and
his riflemen were sent to Bladensburg at midnight, and on the morning of
August 24, 1814, a small scouting party sent down the road came back
reporting that the British army was on the advance.
Fernando with his riflemen went to meet the enemy and hold them in check
as long as possible. About ten o'clock, they came in sight of the
advance of the enemy. About two hundred redcoats were led by an officer
on horseback.
Sukey saw that officer, and he also saw an old tree about a hundred
yards nearer the enemy and twenty paces to the left of the road. From
it, one would be in long rifle range of the British.
"Fernando, I want to go there," said Sukey, hugging his long rifle as if
it were his dearest friend.
"Go."
He went with arms trailed, stooping as he ran, to keep the enemy from
seeing him, and gained the tree, which stood on an eminence that
overlooked the narrow valley below.
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