Burning of Wasington, D.C.
Chesapeake Campaign

DATE: August 25, 1814
LOCATION: Washington, D.C.
VICTORY: British
COMMANDERS: None (American)/ Gen. Robert Ross and Adm. George Cockburn (British)
CASUALTIES:
AMERICAN................ (None) None
BRITISH/INDIANS...... (4,250 men) None


BATTLE DESCRIPTION:
The "Burning of Washington" is a name given the razing of Washington, D.C. by British forces during the War of 1812. Strict discipline and the British commander's orders to burn only public buildings are credited with preserving most residences, but the facilities of the U.S. government were utterly destroyed.
At the time, Washington was a minor port with only about 8,000 inhabitants — about 1,300 of whom were slaves. What it lacked in strategic value, however, it made up in symbolic value. The British and Canadians had long sought revenge on the United States for the destruction they had caused on the capital of Upper Canada at York after the Battle of York in 1813. The naval commander, George Cockburn, wrote that he hoped the destruction of the new republic's capital might demoralize the enemy as well.
On Wednesday, August 24, backed by reinforcements newly arrived from Europe, the British Gen. Robert Ross defeated the American forces at the Battle of Bladensburg, laying open the path to the capital.
During the American retreat, President James Madison sought out Secretary of War John Armstrong Jr. to see what the plan was for the defense of the capital. Armstrong reported that there was none; he had expected the British to turn next to Baltimore. The President, his cabinet and many other government officials fled to the mountains of Virginia. Most residents of Washington had already abandoned the city; preservation of the government's documents and records had been largely left to clerks and slaves.
On August 25, the advance guard of British troops marched to Capitol Hill; they were too few in number to occupy the city, so Ross intended to destroy as much of it as possible. He sent a party under a flag of truce to agree to terms, but they were attacked by partisans from a house at the corner of Maryland Avenue, Constitution Avenue, and 2nd Street NE. This was to be the only resistance the soldiers met. The house was burned, but the soldiers were infuriated, and the Union Jack was raised above Washington.
The buildings housing the Senate and House of Representatives—construction on the trademark central rotunda of the Capitol had not yet begun—were set ablaze not long after. The interiors of both buildings, including the Library of Congress, were destroyed, although the thick walls and a torrential rainfall preserved their exteriors. Cockburn also entered the building of the anti-British newsletter, "National Intelligencer," intending to burn it down; however, a group of neighborhood women persuaded him not to because they were afraid the fire would spread to their neighboring houses.
The troops then turned north down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the President's House. First Lady Dolley Madison remained there after many of the government officials—and her own bodyguard— had already left, gathering valuables, documents and other items of importance, notably a full-length painting of President George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. She was finally persuaded to leave moments before British soldiers entered the building. Once inside, the soldiers found the dining hall set for a dinner for 40 people. After eating all the food they set about destroying the building.
Cockburn now ordered all the contents of the building to be emptied into the streets and standing on a printing press, he announced he would destroy all the "C"s in the press so that "the rascals can have no further means of abusing my name." Fuel was added to the fires that night to ensure they would continue burning into the next day; the flames were reportedly visible as far away as Baltimore and the Patuxent River.
The British also burned the U.S. Treasury building and other public buildings. The historic Washington Navy Yard, founded by Thomas Jefferson and the first federal installation in the United States, was burned by the Americans to prevent capture of stores and ammunition. The U.S. Patent Office building was saved by the efforts of William Thornton—architect of the Capitol and then superintendent of patents—who convinced the British of the importance of its preservation.
During the occupation, a severe storm, which included a tornado passed through, damaging both the invaders and the city, but quickly leaving and helping put out the fires. The occupation of Washington lasted about 26 hours, and within a week the British troops were dispatched to their next target, Baltimore. Madison and the rest of the government returned to the city, but were in such disarray that they were unable to prosecute the war effectively.
The thick sandstone walls of the President's House survived, although scarred with smoke and scorch marks. Although a popular myth has it that the modern name White House came from the rebuilt mansion being painted white to cover smoke damage, the name is recorded earlier than the war, and it was first painted white in 1798, before it was used by any President. Reconstruction of the Capitol would not begin until 1815, and would not be complete until 1830.
Of the 3 objectives of Britain's invasion of the U.S., Lake Champlain, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. this was the only attack that was successful. Although they had succeeded in diverting the necessary attention of Washington away from the war, the field commanders proved themselves and beat back every invasion that the British launched against the U.S. for the rest of the war. Cockburn's belief that the destruction of the capital would demoralize the American populace also proved false. The destruction galvanized thousands to volunteer for the defense of Baltimore.
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The Battle of Washington D.C. (also termed the Battle of Bladensburg), and the subsequent burning of the parliament buldings was one of the most debated and denounced events during the entire war. Washington was the first target in a line of major raids by the British, designed to frighten as well as draw attention away from the invasion of a vulnerable Canada. In addition, Sir George Prevost wanted a retaliation for American attacks on settlements in Upper Canada - hence the burning of buildings in the capital. To British advantage, Washington was poorly fortified. In July 1814, Brigadier General William Winder was appointed to maintain the city's defences. Because of poor co-ordination between the General and the United States Secretary of War, John Armstrong, insufficient action was taken to fortify Washington - there were almost no prepared gun positions, and the American defense force consisted mainly of militia. Armstrong reasoned that Baltimore rather than Washington was crucial to the military. However, it was said that his poor effort in the defense of the capital was largely due to his dislike of General Winder, whose appointment Armstrong resented. This was the situation when the British army, numbering around 4,000 soldiers led by Maj. Gen. Robert Ross landed in Benedict on August 19 and headed north towards the capital along the Patuxtent river. The British fleet, under the command of Admiral Sir George Cockburn, followed the ground troops on the river. The force met almost no resistance in their progress toward Washington.
The American defense force destroyed their own gunboats on the Patuxtent river to prevent their capture by the British. While General Winder desperately tried to increase his militia force, numbering a mere 1,700 of the 15,000 supposed to be at his disposal, the British army advanced, unhindered, to village of Bladensburg, east of Washington. By the time of the Bladensburg confrontation, the American force consisted of under 1,000 regulars, 400 sailors from the destroyed American ships, and about 6,000 militia.
The British force rushed across the bridge on the road from Bladensburg, and the disorganized American militia could not hold the assault for long. Because there was no precise defense plan, General Winder split his troops, unsure if the British would attack Washington, or Baltimore, as Armstrong predicted. Frightened by British rockets, the majority of the American force soon fled, with the exception of the sailors who fought on until the British flanked them. When the news of defeat reached President James Madison, he left the city, while American officers set fire to the Navy Yard. Without an army to protect the city, the British entered Washington at 8:00 P.M. and on the night of August 24, they burned the Capitol, the President's house, the Treasury, the War Office, and the office of the National Intelligencer. Then, on August 25, they retreated from the capital, and were back in Benedict by August 29. The burning of Washington was highly denounced both in North American and Europe. However, as many historians agree, the event may have been exaggerated. Burning and looting the property of the enemy had become commonplace in the War of 1812, as demonstrated by the destruction of parliament buildings of York, the capital of Upper Canada, by American forces, and the burning of the town of Newark (known today as Niagara-on-the-Lake).
In the aftermath, the burning of Washington united Americans in their fight against the British and lowered their morale at the same time. John Armstrong resigned his position as Secretary of War which was filled a month later by James Monroe, at the time also the Secretary of State.
_____________________
The Burning of Washington is a name given the razing of Washington, D.C. by British forces during the War of 1812. Strict discipline and the British commander's orders to burn only public buildings are credited with preserving most residences, but the facilities of the U.S. government were utterly destroyed.
At the time, Washington was a minor port with only about 8,000 inhabitants — about one-sixth of whom were slaves. What it lacked in strategic value, however, it made up in symbolic value. The British and Canadians had long sought revenge on the United States for the destruction they had caused on the capital of Upper Canada at York after the Battle of York in 1813. The naval commander, George Cockburn, wrote that he hoped the destruction of the new republic's capital might demoralize the enemy as well.
On Wednesday, August 24, 1814, backed by reinforcements newly arrived from Europe, the British General Robert Ross defeated the American forces at the Battle of Bladensburg, laying open the path to the capital.
During the American retreat, President James Madison sought out Secretary of War John Armstrong to see what the plan was for the defense of the capital. Armstrong reported that there was none; he had expected the British to turn next to Baltimore. The President, his cabinet and many other government officials fled to the mountains of Virginia. Most residents of Washington had already abandoned the city; preservation of the government's documents and records had been largely left to clerks and slaves.
On August 25, the advance guard of British troops marched to Capitol Hill; they were too few in number to occupy the city, so Ross intended to destroy as much of it as possible. He sent a party under a flag of truce to agree to terms, but they were attacked by partisans from a house at the corner of Maryland Avenue, Constitution Avenue, and Second Street NE. This was to be the only resistance the soldiers met. The house was burned, but the soldiers were infuriated, and the Union Jack was raised above Washington. The buildings housing the Senate and House of Representatives—construction on the trademark central rotunda of the Capitol had not yet begun—were set ablaze not long after. The interiors of both buildings, including the Library of Congress, were destroyed, although the thick walls and a torrential rainfall preserved their exteriors. Admiral Cockburn also entered the building of the anti-British newsletter, National Intelligencer, intending to burn it down; however, a group of neighborhood women persuaded him not to because they were afraid the fire would spread to their neighboring houses.
The troops then turned north down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the President's House. First Lady Dolley Madison remained there after many of the government officials—and her own bodyguard— had already left, gathering valuables, documents and other items of importance, notably a full-length painting of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. She was finally persuaded to leave moments before British soldiers entered the building. Once inside, the soldiers found the dining hall set for a dinner for 40 people. After eating all the food they set about destroying the building.
Admiral Cockburn now ordered all the contents of the building to be emptied into the streets and standing on a printing press, he announced he would set it on fire so that "the rascals can have no further means of abusing my name". Fuel was added to the fires that night to ensure they would continue burning into the next day; the flames were reportedly visible as far away as Baltimore and the Patuxent River.
The British also burned the United States Treasury building and other public buildings. The historic Washington Navy Yard, founded by Thomas Jefferson and the first federal installation in the United States, was burned by the Americans to prevent capture of stores and ammunition. The United States Patent Office building was saved by the efforts of William Thornton—architect of the Capitol and then superintendent of patents—who convinced the British of the importance of its preservation.
The occupation of Washington lasted about 26 hours, and within a week the British troops were dispatched to their next target, Baltimore. President Madison and the rest of the government returned to the city, but were in such disarray that they were unable to prosecute the war effectively.
The thick sandstone walls of the President's House survived, although scarred with smoke and scorch marks. When it was rebuilt, they were covered in white paint, giving rise to the building's modern name, the White House. Reconstruction of the Capitol would not begin until 1815, and would not be complete until 1830.
Of the three objectives of Britain's invasion of the U.S., Lake Champlain, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. this was the only attack that was successful. Although they had succeeded in diverting the necessary attention of Washington away from the war, the field commanders proved themselves and beat back every invasion that the British launched against the U.S. for the rest of the war. Cockburn's belief that the destruction of the capital would demoralize the American populace also proved false. The destruction galvanized thousands to volunteer for the defense of Baltimore.