About That D.C. Tornado-- Part 2: And Then It Hit

Along with the Executive Mansion (White House), the War Department, the State Department, the Treasury and many government offices were burned.  And, of course, the Capitol , along with the original Library of Congress, was also destroyed.

The British policy was to leave private property alone.  However, the fires threatened to spread out of control.  The city was in jeopardy.

The next day, August 25,  as fires still raged, a massive storm hit Washington,.  The driving rain put out most of the fires threatening the city.  Perhaps, more importantly, the invading British were so battered and demoralized by the storm (tornado included),it caused them to cut short their occupation of the city.

The storm (tornado) was so severe that it tore buildings apart, literally lifting them off their foundations.  The winds uprooted trees and knocked men to the ground.  A number of houses collapsed, killing British soldiers taking cover in them.

One British officer reported seeing cannons lifted off the ground and thrown through the air.  British soldiers out in the streets to maintain order, were forced to lie prostrate in the mud.

This Was a Tornado.  --Brock-Perry

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

Did a Tornado Save D.C.?-- Part 4: How the President's Home Became White

There was a debate as to whether the tornado saved Washington, D.C. from the British or if it actually helped them to ruin the city.  Whichever it was, President Madison went back to the city on August 27 and peace between the two countries was achieved by the end of the year.

Congress thought about abandoning the city and constructing a capital elsewhere, but they eventually rebuilt the city.  The granite stone of the  President's residence was burned black with soot and it was decided to repair the structure and paint it white.  This is how the White House got nits name.  So, whenever you hear the White House being mentioned, that goes back to the War of 1812.

Peace negotiations started in the City of Ghent, Belgium in August 1814, as both sides wanted peace since the trade embargo largely impacted the British economy (not to mention the even bigger expenses of fighting Napoleon).

Hundreds of American privateers had put to sea and were wreaking havoc on the British merchant fleet all over the world.  Public support  in the U.S. was also waning, especially in New England where the federalists assembled in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss their grievances (and some even went so far as to desire secession).

Peace terms called the Treaty of Ghent were agreed upon and signed in December 1814, but the conflict did not officially end until Congress ratified it on February 17, 1815.

--Brock-Perry

Did a Tornado Save Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812?-- Part 1

From the May 7, 2022, SOFREP.com "Did a tornado save Washington, D.C. from being razed to the ground?"

On the night of August  24, 1814, British troops entered the nation's capital with the intent of destruction.  They set fire to the U.S. Capitol and what is now known as the White House.

The U.S. Capitol survived, though the Senate wing was badly damaged since it was the oldest part of the structure with wooden floors and the books and manuscripts of the Library of Congress.

Washingtonians were used to scorching summer heat and damaging storms.  The day of the invasion, the temperature was at 100 degrees, excellent conditions for the burning of the city.  Much of the city was aflame as the British continued their destruction.

But, the skies began to darken and there was sharp  lightning accompanied with loud claps of thunder.  The people of D.C. knew what was coming and that was a big storm.  They took shelter but the British didn't.  England gets plenty of rain, but usually without the storm.  And, a big one, as it turns out, was on the way.

--Brock-Perry

Southwest Georgia Played a Key Role in the War of 1812-- Part 1: The Causes of the War

 From the September 7, 2021, Albany (Georgia) Herald by Tom Seegmueller.

Sometimes referred to as America's Second War for Independence, the War of 1812 was fought against Britain and its Canadian and Indian allies.  Many Americans know about the battles along the country's northern borders, the iconic naval battles, the burning of the White House, Battle of Fort McHenry and Andrew Jackson victory at the Battle of New Orleans (after the war was over).

One of the primary reasons often cited as a reason for the war was the impressment of American sailors into the British Navy, estimated to have been as high as 15,000.

There is also proof that the British were stirring up the Indians, who were increasingly fearful of American encroachment on their lands.

Florida was under Spanish control at the time and that too was a threat to the U.S., especially in the state of Georgia.

--Brock-Perry

Paul Jennings Describes the White House That Day-- Part 2

He said that the people who actually saved the painting were:  "John Suse (Jean Pierre Sioussat, the French doorkeeper) and Magraw (McGraw), the President's gardener, took it down and sent it off on a wagon, with some large silver urns and other such valuables  as could hastily be got  hold of.

"When the British did arrive, they ate up the very dinner, and drank the wines, &c.,  that I had prepared for the President's party."

The soldiers burned the President's home and fuel was added to the fires that night to ensure they would continue burning  into the next day.

--Brock-Perry

Paul Jennings Describes the White House That Day

From Wikipedia Burning of Washington.

In the last post I mentioned James Madison's personal slave, 15-year-old Paul Jennings describing the events at the White House 24 August 1814.  He later purchased his freedom from the widower Dolley Madison and in a memoir he published in 1865. related those events.

"It has often been stated in print that when Mrs. Madison escaped  from the White House , she cut out  from the frame of the large portrait of Washington (now in one of the parlors there), and carried it off.  She had no  time for doing it.

"It would have required a large ladder to get it down.  All she carried off  was the silver in her reticule (purse in case you're wondering), as the British were thought to be but a few squares off, and were expected an moment."

He went on to tell who were responsible for saving the painting.

Who Saved the Portrait?  Tomorrow.  --Brock-Perry

Hot Time in the Old Town, Burning Washington, D.C.-- Part 2

But, the books in the Library of Congress contributed to the flames.  Almost all of the 3,000 books in the library were destroyed.  Later, though, former President Thomas Jefferson donated his private book collection to start a new Library of Congress.

But the Capitol was not a complete loss.    The House rotunda, the east lobby, the staircases and Latrobe's famous  Corn-Cob columns in the Senate entrance hall survived.

After burning the Capitol, the British turned up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House  The president and other government officials had already fled the city, but his wife, Dolley, was still at the White House.  When Madison  urged his wife to leave, she organized the slaves to save  valuables from the British.

Reportedly, she saved the famous Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington, but another account by James Madison's personal slave, Paul Jennings, then age 15, said she didn't save it herself, that others saved it.

When the British arrived, they happily devoured a feast that had been prepared for Madison before setting fire to the White House.

--Brock-Perry

Temporary White House: D.C.'s Octagon-- Part 1

From the July/August DAR American Spirit Magazine "The Octagon: An Icon of Democratic Design" by Courtney Peter.

Before this article, I'd never heard of this house or that it had served a s temporary White House for James and Dolley Madison after the British burned much of the city, including the President's House, as the White House was then called.

"The Octagon (not sure why it is not called the Octagon House) has stood at the corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue Northwest in Washington, D.C., for 214 years, yet is best known for a brief period in 1814-1815 when it served as James and Dolley Madison's temporary presidential residence after the British burned a path through the city. Undeniably, the first couple's stay was historically significant-- President Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent, whih officially ended the War of 1812, at the Octagon-- but the home's rich history includes much more than the Madisons."

And, I'd Never Heard of It Before. --Brock-Perry

North Carolina in the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the December 12, 2012, Goldsboro (NC) News-Argus "War of 1812 focus of talk at museum" by Josh Ellerbrock.

James Greathouse of Fayettevile asked the crowd at the Wayne County Historical Society,  "What's the first thing you think of when it comes to the war of 1812 and North Carolina?"  They were silent, which did not surprise the presenter.  Greathouse currently serves as a member of the North Carolina 1812 Bicentennial Commission and this is a problem they are trying to overcome.

Hey, even ask most people to name five things about the War of 1812 and you might get the USS Constitution, "Star-Spangled Banner,"  Francis Scott Key, the burning of Washington, DC, and maybe the Battle of New Orleans.  The war is often referred to as "The Forgotten War."

The fighting during the war took pace far from state soil, but there were some important people who came from North Carolina.

Probably the nest-known would be Dolley Madison, whose husband James, was president at the time.  Some Americans even went so far as to call it "Mr. Madison's War" as it was unpopular in some areas, especially New England which even threatened to secede from the United States.  Where have we heard that before?

Dolley, a North Carolinian,  is known for saving the portrait of George Washington when Washington, DC, was burned.  She also did a lot to get backers for her husband.  Her "Squeezes" (parties) at the White House were highly attended social balls.

Taking It to Carolina.  --Brock-Perry

The Truth About the War of 1812

From the June 30, 2012, Baltimore Sun "Letters to the Editor" by David Brandenburg.

Some call it "America's successful 'Second War of Independence'" which is wrong on two counts.  First, it wasn't successful and Second, It was not a war for independence.

It was an attempt by the U.S. government to steal Canada from Britain and it failed.

The British burning the White House and their attack on Fort McHenry were for good reason.  The White House burning was in response to an earlier American attack on York, capital of Upper Canada where American troops set fire to the parliament building.

Fort McHenry was attacked because Baltimore was a "nest of pirates" according to the British.  This would be concerning the numerous privateers operating out of said port.

A lot of the war was the result of a small group in Congress called the War Hawks.  They actively pursued a war with Britain.  The writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner," Francis Scott Key, was opposed to the war.

Now, You Know.  --Brock-Perry

Ten Things You Didn't Know About the War of 1812-- Part 3

5.  THE BURNING OF THE WHITE HOUSE WAS CAPITAL PAYBACK

To Americans, the burning of the White House and other public buildings by the British was a barbaric act.  But, in actuality, it was payback in kind for the American torching of York (today's Toronto) a year earlier.  It was then the capital of Upper Canada (today's Ontario).  United States troops plundered the town and then burned down the parliament building.

Perhaps the burning of the White House was for the better as the original one was very combustible and it was rebuilt much sturdier.    Plus, white paint replaced the white wash on the original, making for a much whiter building.  Plus, the British also burned Congress' library, which was replaced by Thomas Jefferson's own personal library, which became the foundation of the Library of Congress.


6.  NATIVE AMERICANS WERE THE BIGGEST LOSERS

There was much combat with Indians along the frontier areas.  Andrew Jackson battled Creeks in the South and William Henry Harrison fought Indians allied with the British in the Old Northwest Territory.

Of course, by this time, the Indians knew exactly what the Americans intended for them and their land which led to their alliance with the British as their only help.  The British not winning the war opened the way for waves of American settlers pouring into Indian territory and the eventual Indian Removal.

Four More.  --Brock-Perry

This Is a Good One: 5 Tips for That War of 1812 Party You're Planning

From the June 18th Mental_Floss Blog "5 Tips for That War of 1812 Bicentennial Party You're Probably Planning" by Ethan Trex.

I got a kick out of reading these suggestions.

1.  DO NOT kidnap and sailors. (Especially those from the Sailabration.  This could cause your neighbors to call the cops.)

2.  DO pace yourself.  Not a whole lot really happened.  Most fighting in 1813, treaty ratified 1814, deciding battle 1815. (Well, I'm not sure how it can be a deciding battle if the war is over.  Probably the best-known battle, though.)

3.  DON'T even think about looting the White House.  Besides getting yourself arrested and in big trouble, the ship carrying the captured loot from it sank off Nova Scotia coast on the way back and the British never got any of it. (Crime doesn't pay.)

4.  DO launch bottle rockets to get some of that red glare in your backyard.  These were Congreve rockets, a giant iron bottle rocket mounted on a 15-foot-long bamboo pole that could go a mile and create quite a bit of destruction but were extremely inaccurate.  (You might hit some neighbors mad at you for destroying their house.)

5.  DON'T forget to visit Brookeville, Maryland.  President James Madison hid here August 26, 1814.  It was a little rural settlement 18 miles from Washington, D.C..  Madison ran the country from here for a day.  The town's 140 residents still call their town "U.S. Capital for a Day."  (I didn't know that.  On my travel itinerary now.)

I Wonder If They Drank Beer Back Then?  Gotta Have Beer At a Backyard Cookout.  --Brock-Perry