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 344 Capture of Washington. [isi4 the works which the Americans had constructed. Though he was bitterly censured at the time for his failure, subsequent experience at New Orleans suggests that his retreat was prudent. He cannot, how- ever, be excused for abandoning his wounded and sick, with a considerable quantity of stores. His recall followed immediately after hisjiasco. On the seaboard of the United States the blockade was maintained with energy, and, on April 25, was extended northward, so as to include the New England ports, which had hitherto been left open for motives of policy, as feeling in New England was more than ever hostile to the war. A small expeditionary force under Major-General Ross was despatched to the American coast, and instructed to strike against Washington and the other large towns near or on the coast, with the object of diverting American attention from Canada and making the people of the United States feel the miseries of war. At the same time orders were issued for the conquest of so much of Maine as would give Nova Scotia easy communication with Canada proper. Owing to the great naval strength of Britain the whole coast-line of the United States was open to attack, for it was manifestly impossible to protect 2000 miles of seaboard by fortifications and ill-organised militia. The conquest of eastern Maine was expeditiously achieved by a combined expedition, which seized Eastport on July 11, and in September cleared the zone east of the Penobscot. Nor was any time lost in attacking Washington. Though the British intentions were known to the American government, no serious effort had been made to fortify the place or to prepare for its defence. Lamentable confusion and disorder reigned at headquarters ; and a mere rabble of men had been collected to meet the enemy, whose strength was grotesquely exaggerated. The militia of Pennsylvania and Maryland did not come forward with alacrity ; volun- teers did not respond to the appeals of the President ; the few regulars at hand were raw recruits ; and, worst of all, there was a great want of money. Landing unopposed at the head of the Patuxent, a British force about 3500 strong, under General Ross, marched slowly on the capital, and on August 24 easily routed the American levies 7500 strong, under General Winder, at Bladensburg, with a loss to the British of 256 men. On the 25th Ross entered Washington. It is difficult to approve the acts which followed, though they were afterwards justified as a retaliation for the destruction of Canadian private property, and were within the strict letter of the laws of war, as interpreted at the time. The public buildings, including the Capitol and the President's house, and one or two private houses, were burned, and a quantity of stores destroyed. Having done all possible damage, the British force withdrew. Simultaneously the town of Alexandria, opposite Washing- ton, was held up to ransom by an independent naval expedition. The next point attacked was Baltimore, whither the squadron and the troops proceeded early in September; but the enemy had had