EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!READ ALL ABOUT IT!British Burn Down British Burn Down the White Housethe White House

By Kathy Snyder

Who’s Who?Who’s Who?

► British forces of 4000 led by General Robert British forces of 4000 led by General Robert Ross.Ross.

► American President James Madison left the White American President James Madison left the White House to assess the battle at Bladensburg.House to assess the battle at Bladensburg.

► First Lady Dolly Madison saved many important First Lady Dolly Madison saved many important documents and Washington’s portrait as she documents and Washington’s portrait as she fled from the British troops. fled from the British troops.

► General William Winder led the troops of the General William Winder led the troops of the American Army in the Washington DC area.American Army in the Washington DC area.

WHEREWHERE-Key Places--Key Places-

Blandensburg England

Toronto (York)

Washington DC

France

WHEN?• June 15, 1812-War of 1812 begins• April 1813-Battle of York (US troops burn

York)• August 24, 1814-Battle of Blandensburg• August 24, 1814(evening)-Burning of

Washington DC• December 24, 1814-Treaty of Ghent

WHY?WHY? America had been at war with the British Empire since America had been at war with the British Empire since

1812, but the action so far had consisted of a series of 1812, but the action so far had consisted of a series of indeterminate skirmishes along the Great Lakes region. indeterminate skirmishes along the Great Lakes region. With the defeat of Napoleon, the Empire turned its full With the defeat of Napoleon, the Empire turned its full attention to its former colony sending its battle-hardened attention to its former colony sending its battle-hardened troops to squash the up-start Americans. Washington had troops to squash the up-start Americans. Washington had little strategic value - the thriving port of Baltimore was little strategic value - the thriving port of Baltimore was much more important. However, as capital of the nation, much more important. However, as capital of the nation, the British hoped that its burning would have a the British hoped that its burning would have a psychological impact on the will of the Americans to psychological impact on the will of the Americans to continue the conflict. continue the conflict.

Why-ContinuedWhy-Continued At the time, Washington was a minor At the time, Washington was a minor

port with only about 8,000 port with only about 8,000 inhabitants — about one-sixth of inhabitants — about one-sixth of whom were slaves. What it lacked in whom were slaves. What it lacked in strategic value, however, it made up strategic value, however, it made up in symbolic value. The British and in symbolic value. The British and Canadians had long sought revenge Canadians had long sought revenge on the United States for the on the United States for the destruction they had caused on the destruction they had caused on the capital of Upper Canada at York after capital of Upper Canada at York after the Battle of York in 1813. The naval the Battle of York in 1813. The naval commander, George Cockburn, commander, George Cockburn, wrote that he hoped the destruction wrote that he hoped the destruction of the new republic's capital might of the new republic's capital might demoralize the enemy as well. demoralize the enemy as well.

George Cockburn

HOW?HOW?Just to the north-east of Washington, at Bladensburg, a 1500-strong British Just to the north-east of Washington, at Bladensburg, a 1500-strong British advance force met some 6500 American militiamen, boosted by a marine advance force met some 6500 American militiamen, boosted by a marine detachment and naval gunners.detachment and naval gunners.Badly led, the Americans panicked in the face of the attackers and fled - Badly led, the Americans panicked in the face of the attackers and fled - leaving a small number of regular troops and the naval presence to battle it leaving a small number of regular troops and the naval presence to battle it out.out.The British, commanded by General Robert Ross, suffered just under 300 The British, commanded by General Robert Ross, suffered just under 300 casualties, while the remaining American defenders lost 200.casualties, while the remaining American defenders lost 200.The way to the American capital was open.The way to the American capital was open.

How~ContinuedHow~Continued

The Burning of WashingtonThe Burning of Washingtonby Dolley Madisonby Dolley Madison  This is taken from a letter by First Lady Dolley Madison to her sister, Anna, written the day before Washington, D.C. was This is taken from a letter by First Lady Dolley Madison to her sister, Anna, written the day before Washington, D.C. was burned by British forces during the War of 1812. The letter describes the abandonment of the White House and Mrs. burned by British forces during the War of 1812. The letter describes the abandonment of the White House and Mrs. Madison's famous actions saving Gilbert Stuart's priceless portrait of George Washington. As Mrs. Madison fled she Madison's famous actions saving Gilbert Stuart's priceless portrait of George Washington. As Mrs. Madison fled she rendezvoused with her husband, and together, from a safe distance, they watched Washington burn.rendezvoused with her husband, and together, from a safe distance, they watched Washington burn.

My husband left me yesterday morning to join General Winder. He inquired anxiously whether I had courage or firmness My husband left me yesterday morning to join General Winder. He inquired anxiously whether I had courage or firmness to remain in the President's house until his return on the morrow, or succeeding day, and on my assurance that I had no to remain in the President's house until his return on the morrow, or succeeding day, and on my assurance that I had no fear but for him, and the success of our army, he left, beseeching me to take care of myself, and of the Cabinet papers, fear but for him, and the success of our army, he left, beseeching me to take care of myself, and of the Cabinet papers, public and private. I have since received two dispatches from him, written with a pencil. The last is alarming, because he public and private. I have since received two dispatches from him, written with a pencil. The last is alarming, because he desires I should be ready at a moment's warning to enter my carriage, and leave the city; that the enemy seemed desires I should be ready at a moment's warning to enter my carriage, and leave the city; that the enemy seemed stronger than had at first been reported, and it might happen that they would reach the city with the intention of stronger than had at first been reported, and it might happen that they would reach the city with the intention of destroying it. I am accordingly ready; I have pressed as many Cabinet papers into trunks as to fill one carriage; our destroying it. I am accordingly ready; I have pressed as many Cabinet papers into trunks as to fill one carriage; our private property must be sacrificed, as it is impossible to procure wagons for its transportation. I am determined not to private property must be sacrificed, as it is impossible to procure wagons for its transportation. I am determined not to go myself until I see Mr. Madison safe, so that he can accompany me, as I hear of much hostility towards him. go myself until I see Mr. Madison safe, so that he can accompany me, as I hear of much hostility towards him. Disaffection stalks around us. My friends and acquaintances are all gone, even Colonel C. with his hundred, who were Disaffection stalks around us. My friends and acquaintances are all gone, even Colonel C. with his hundred, who were stationed as a guard in this inclosure. French John (a faithful servant), with his usual activity and resolution, offers to stationed as a guard in this inclosure. French John (a faithful servant), with his usual activity and resolution, offers to spike the cannon at the gate, and lay a train of powder, which would blow up the British, should they enter the house. To spike the cannon at the gate, and lay a train of powder, which would blow up the British, should they enter the house. To the last proposition I positively object, without being able to make him understand why all advantages in war may not be the last proposition I positively object, without being able to make him understand why all advantages in war may not be taken.taken.Wednesday Morning, twelve o'clock. -- Since sunrise I have been turning my spy-glass in every direction, and watching Wednesday Morning, twelve o'clock. -- Since sunrise I have been turning my spy-glass in every direction, and watching with unwearied anxiety, hoping to discover the approach of my dear husband and his friends; but, alas! I can descry only with unwearied anxiety, hoping to discover the approach of my dear husband and his friends; but, alas! I can descry only groups of military, wandering in all directions, as if there was a lack of arms, or of spirit to fight for their own fireside.groups of military, wandering in all directions, as if there was a lack of arms, or of spirit to fight for their own fireside.Three o'clock. -- Will you believe it, my sister? we have had a battle, or skirmish, near Bladensburg, and here I am still, Three o'clock. -- Will you believe it, my sister? we have had a battle, or skirmish, near Bladensburg, and here I am still, within sound of the cannon! Mr. Madison comes not. May God protect us! Two messengers, covered with dust, come to within sound of the cannon! Mr. Madison comes not. May God protect us! Two messengers, covered with dust, come to bid me fly; but here I mean to wait for him... At this late hour a wagon has been procured, and I have had it filled with bid me fly; but here I mean to wait for him... At this late hour a wagon has been procured, and I have had it filled with plate and the most valuable portable articles, belonging to the house. Whether it will reach its destination, the "Bank of plate and the most valuable portable articles, belonging to the house. Whether it will reach its destination, the "Bank of Maryland," or fall into the hands of British soldiery, events must determine. Our kind friend, Mr. Carroll, has come to Maryland," or fall into the hands of British soldiery, events must determine. Our kind friend, Mr. Carroll, has come to hasten my departure, and in a very bad humor with me, because I insist on waiting until the large picture of General hasten my departure, and in a very bad humor with me, because I insist on waiting until the large picture of General Washington is secured, and it requires to be unscrewed from the wall. This process was found too tedious for these Washington is secured, and it requires to be unscrewed from the wall. This process was found too tedious for these perilous moments; I have ordered the frame to be broken, and the canvas taken out. It is done! and the precious portrait perilous moments; I have ordered the frame to be broken, and the canvas taken out. It is done! and the precious portrait placed in the hands of two gentlemen of New York, for safe keeping. And now, dear sister, I must leave this house, or the placed in the hands of two gentlemen of New York, for safe keeping. And now, dear sister, I must leave this house, or the retreating army will make me a prisoner in it by filling up the road I am directed to take. When I shall again write to you, retreating army will make me a prisoner in it by filling up the road I am directed to take. When I shall again write to you, or where I shall be to-morrow, I cannot tell!or where I shall be to-morrow, I cannot tell!

And So……..And So……..

The British troops burned the White House after having The British troops burned the White House after having ransacked the house and dining on a extravagant meal that ransacked the house and dining on a extravagant meal that had been laid out for guest before the Americans had fled!had been laid out for guest before the Americans had fled!