About That D.C. Tornado-- Part 1: Background of the Event

From the March 26, 2012, Historical Digression blog "A tornado saves Washington during the War of 1812" by Patrick Browne.

One of the first targets of the British reinforcement in America in 1814, was the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., partly as a form of payback for American transgressions to the capital of Upper Canada, York (now Toronto), earlier in the war.  Also, the destruction of such an important city would also be a major blow to American morale.

Another factor was that these new British soldiers were veterans, having fought Napoleon all those years.

Some 5,000 British landed in Benedict, Maryland, and made short work of a larger American force at the Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland on August 24, 1814.    The road to Washington was now open.

Once in D.C., they burned  what is now known as the White House (after sitting down to eat a large feast that Dolley Madison  and her staff had prepared for  cabinet members before they were all forced to flee).

--Brock-Perry

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

York/Toronto Canada

From Wikipedia.

In 1793, Upper Canada's Governor John Simcoe established the town of York on the Toronto Purchase Land.  He moved Upper Canada's capital from Newark (today's Niagara-on-the-Lake) to York, believing it to be less vulnerable to American attack.

York Garrison (Fort York) was constructed at the entrance to York's natural harbor.

In 1813, the Battle of York ended with the capture of the town by U.S. forces.  The surrender was negotiated by York's John Strachan.  Americans destroyed much of York during a five day occupation which resulted in British payback with the burning of Washington, D.C..

York was incorporated as the city of Toronto (the Indian name for it) on March 6, 1834.

--Brock-Perry

The Sacking of York and Washington, D.C.-- Part 2

JANUARY 30, 1815:  :"Commodore Chauncey, who has generally behaved honourably, was so ashamed of the last transaction that he endeavoured to collect the books belonging to the library and actually sent back two boxes filled with them, but hardly any were complete.

"Much private property was plundered and several homes left in a state of ruin.

"Can you tell me why public buildings and the library at Washington should be held more sacred than those of York?"

The Sacking of York and Washington, D.C.-- Part 1

From War of 1812 Timeline, Post 1814 Fire Along the Frontier.  Along with the Canadian Historic Places Time line, I find this one to be the most complete timeline for the War of 1812.

JANUARY 30, 1815:  The Rev. John Strachan of York wrote a letter to ex-President Jefferson protesting the actions of U.S, troops at York (now Toronto) the capital of Upper Canada (now Ontario).  Evidently, Jefferson had written something that was published about the burning of Washington, D.C. by the British in August 1814.

"In April, 1813, the public buildings at York, the capital of Upper Canada, were burnt by troops of the United States, contrary to the articles of capitulation.

"This consisted of the two elegant halls with convenient offices for the accomodation of the Legislature and the Courts of Justice.  The library and all the papers and records belonging to these institutions were consumed, at the same time the church was robbed and the town library totally pillaged."

--Brock-Perry