The Burning of Washington, D.C.-- Part 1: Brookeville, Md., U.S. Capital for A Day

From Wikipedia.

August 24, 1814

After the Americans were routed at the Battle of Bladensburg, outside Washington, D.C., on August 24, the British Army under General Robert Ross occupied the city and set about burning down a lot of buildings, including the White House, the Capitol and other government buildings.

This burning was partly in response to American sacking and burning of Port  Dover and York (Toronto today) in Upper Canada earlier in the war.  This marked the first and only time since the American Revolution that the nation's capital has been occupied by a foreign country.President Madison, military officials and other government people gad hurriedly abandoned the city as soon as they learned of the defeat at Bladensburg.

They made it to Brookeville, Maryland, and found refuge for the night.  Today, Brookeville bills itself as the "United States Capital for a Day."  Madison spent the night at the home of Caleb Bentley and the house still stands and is known today as the Madison House.

--Brock-Perry

Samuel Smith of Baltimore-- Part 4: Victory At Hampstead Hill and Fort McHenry

The British, led by Major General Robert Ross until his death landed on North Point by Baltimore on September 12, 1814,  with 4,000 soldiers and encountered a delaying force led by Brigadier General John Stricker.

The delaying tactic worked and Smith was able to fortify Hampstead Hill, a fortified position  east of Baltimore.  He congregated thousands of militia men and whatever guns he had.  British attempts to flank the position were foiled by Smith.  He also positioned his troops so that a frontal assault would get caught in a crossfire.

The British retreated September 14 and boarded their ships.

The British also assaulted Baltimore with their Navy warships but Fort McHenry and its covering forts (Covington and Babcock) successfully withstood the famous bombardment. and they also withdrew.

--Brock-Perry

Wells and McComas Monument-- Part 2: Both Killed At Battle of North Point

Although evidence that they fired the shots that killed Robert Ross is scant, they have received credit for it.  There were other sharpshooters in their unit.  Regardless, the loss of General Ross was a heavy blow to the British.

Sadly, McComas and Wells could not confirm or deny the story as both were killed on the battlefield.  Two of the 24 who died at the Battle of North Point.

It wasn't until some 40 years after the battle that the two boys gained local celebrity status.  In the 1850s two military companies formed the Wells and McComas Monument Association and solicited subscriptions  from citizens to erect a monument in their honor.

They had the bodies exhumed from their vault in  Baltimore's legendary  Green Mount Cemetery and lay in state at the Maryland Institute building at Market Place.  Thousands came to pay their respects.

--Brock-Perry

The Wells and McComas Monument-- Part 1: "The Boy Heroes of the Battle of Baltimore"

From the explore.baltimoreheritage.org. site.  Wells and McComas Monument.

I wrote briefly about this monument in the last post.  These two were given credit for killing British General Ross.

The historical record, however, offers slim evidence that they did, in fact, kill Ross.  Nonetheless, Baltimore has celebrated their story for over bicentennial.

The young men, aged eighteen and nineteen were privates in Captain Edward Aisquith's Sharpshooters of the First Rifle Battalion of the Maryland Militia at the Battle of Baltimore.

Wells was an Annapolis native and McComas had enlisted in Baltimore.  Their battalion had first encountered British General Robert Ross at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 14, just three weeks before the Battle of Baltimore.

--Brock-Perry

Other Baltimore War of 1812 Monuments-- Part 3: The "Star-Spangled Banner" House and Wells-McComas Monument

**  The "Star-Spangled Banner" flag was designed and primarily sewn at Baltimore's Flag House.  The historic house was once occupied by Mary Young Pickersgill and her successful flag making business.

**  The Daniel Wells / Henry McComas Monument.  These two men were members of Captain Edward Alsquith's Militia Rifle Compnay and are credited with killing British General Robert Ross, who had led the sacking and burning of the Washington, D.C..

The monument was completed in 1873 and is made of Baltimore County marble.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 5: The British Withdraw

Because the British fleet was unable to get Fort McHenry to surrender in order to enter Baltimore Harbor and bombard the American defensive line east of the city, the British commander-in-chief Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane wrote to the British Army commander approaching those defenses, Colonel Arthur Brooke that it would be up to him to determine whether to attack.

Brooke had taken over command of the British Army after British Major General Robert Ross had been mortally wounded just before the Battle of North Point on September 12.  He decided to withdraw.

Baltimore was safe.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Battle of North Point and Bombardment of Baltimore

SEPTEMBER 11, 1814:    British capture Fort O'Brien and Machias, District of Maine.


SEPTEMBER 12-15, 1814:  Also the death of British Major General Robert Ross.

After sacking Washington, D.C., British commanding officer Robert Ross led a force of roughly 4,000 men north to Baltimore.  On 12 September, during the Battle of North Point, Ross was mortally wounded;  Colonel Arthur Brooke then assumed command and defeated Brigadier General John Stricker's 3,200 American troops.

The British advanced until they came upon recently prepared fortifications around Baltimore.  Judging the defenses too strong to be attacked, the British withdrew.

Meanwhile, Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane led an unsuccessful naval attack on Fort McHenry.  The spectacle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

As for Ross. his comrades preserved his body in rum and sent it to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for burial, where his remains received a hero's welcome.

--Brock-Perry

When They Burned the White House

From the September 8, 2013, Guardian "When Britain burned down the White House" by Peter Snow.

President James Madison and his Dolley evidently felt that his troops sent out to stop the British on their way to Washington, D.C., would be victorious and planned a prsidential celebratory dinner.

Just before they ate, news of the American defeat reached the White House and the dinner was hastily abandoned as everyone fled.

The British arrived to find "40 places neatly laid, with meat roasting on spits and Madison's best wines on the sideboard in handsome cut glass decanters."

British commander, Major General Robert Ross, reported the meal was "voraciously devoured by John Bull" and a toast made "to the success of his Majesty's armies...was drunk in the best wines."

After dinner, Ross ordered the chairs piled on the table and a fire set.

Wonder If They Washed the Dishes? --Brock-Perry