The object of the expedition had thus been accomplished; but, as the army had advanced within sixteen miles of Washington, and the enemy's force was ascertained to be such as would authorize an attempt to carry the capital, the troops moved forward on the 23d of August. They had scarcely proceeded three miles when the advance-guard encountered a party of American riflemen, who maintained a sharp contest before they gave way; and arriving at a point where two roads meet, the one leading to Washington and the other to Alexandria, twelve hundred Americans and some artillery appeared on the slope of a height opposite. The army turned along the road leading towards Alexandria, and the Americans fled before the detachment sent against them. Having deceived the enemy respecting the real design of the expedition, the route was changed, and the troops proceeded in the direction of Washington.
About noon on the 24th a heavy cloud of dust was seen to arise at a distance, and the British troops turning a sudden angle in the road and passing a small cluster of trees, discovered above eight thousand American infantry, with a numerous artillery and three hundred dragoons, commanded by General Winder, occupying a formidable position beyond the village of _Bladensburg_, where they were awaiting the advance of their opponents.
The British, though not half so numerous as their adversaries, advanced boldly to the attack; on entering the village the enemy's artillery opened a tremendous fire, and as the light brigade traversed the bridge across the eastern branch of the Potomac river, from whence a strait road ran through the enemy's position to the capital, numbers fell before a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. The survivors having gained the opposite side of the stream, carried a fortified house which commanded the bridge, then dashed into the thickets on the right and left of the road, and drove back the American riflemen, who fled with such precipitation that they threw their first line into disorder, and it fell back in confusion, leaving two guns on the road. The British light infantry, throwing off their knapsacks, pushed forward in extended order to attack the enemy's second line; but a heavy fire of musketry and artillery checked the assailants, and the Americans advancing in force to recover the lost ground, drove the first brigade back to the thickets on the brink of the river, where an obstinate fight was maintained. Meanwhile the second brigade passed the river; the forty-fourth moving to the right, turned the enemy's left flank; and the FOURTH, emulating their gallant companions, advanced in firm array, preceded by a flight of rockets, to charge the enemy's right, which was broken and driven from the field: many of the American sailors who acted as gunners were bayoneted, and eight guns were captured. The American infantry fled in dismay, and diving into the recesses of the forests, were quickly beyond the reach of their pursuers; and their cavalry turned their horses' heads and galloped off: thus in one hour the battle was won, and the third brigade, which had formed the reserve, pushed forward at a rapid rate for _Washington_.