What Is Going to Happen to D.C.'s Capitol Rocks?-- Part 2: And, the Corinthian Columns

Along with the Capitol's old Corinthian columns, the stones spent a short stint at the Capitol Power Plant where they remained until as late as 1972.

In the 1980s, the Corinthian columns were removed to the  the National Arboretum where they are still a popular, and officually sancioned tourist attraction.

The stones, on the othernhand were just dumped at Rock Creek Park.

Since then, they have become a beloved landmark for those who know.  Located beside the park offices, they are stacked haphazardly.  Last summer, fencing was put up around them.

Let's hope they can continue to stay where they are as long as they don't pose a danger to anyone.

--Brock-Perry

About That D.C. Tornado-- Part 3: More Than One?

British soldiers out on the streets of Washington, D.C., on patrol when this hit were forced to  lie prostrate in the mud.

Based on the first-hand accounts, weather historians generally agree that the storm that struck the city on August 25, 1814, sparked one or more tornadoes.  It does seem hard to believe that none of the soldiers or residents would have remarked about a funnel cloud.

There can't be much doubt that the tornado(es) that struck that day saved Washington, D.C., by putting out the fires and giving the British cause to leave the city (although I don't think it was their intention to permanently occupy it).

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From the Vintage News, "War of 1812: The burning of Washington and how a freak storm saved the day" by Ian Harvey.

Two British cannons were  lifted up and moved by the storm.

According to the Smithsonian, there have only been seven other tornadoes reported in Washington, D.C. since then.

The storm and tornado also caused damage to the General Post Office and Patent Office which had their roofs torn off by it.

--Brock-Perry

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 D.C.?-- Part 3: The Admiral and the Lady's 'Interposition of Providence'

Obviously shocked and surprised by the violent weather, the British decided it was time to leave.

A local D.C. weatherman wrote:

"As the British troops  were preparing to leave,  a conversation was noted between the British admiral (Sir George Cockburne and a Washington lady regarding the storm.  The admiral explained, 'Great God, madam!  Is this the kind of storm to which you are accustomed in this  infernal country?'  

The lady answered, 'No sir, this is special  interposition of Providence to drive our enemies from our city.'  

The admiral replied, 'Not so, madam.  It is rather to aid your enemies in the destruction of your city.' "

Saved by a Tornado?   --Brock-Perry

washing

Did a Tornado Save Washington, D.C.?-- Part 2: And a Huge Rainstorm Put Out the Fires

The clouds began to form and the winds kicked up.  What happened next has been called a tornado which formed  in the center of the city and made its way through the British forces on Capitol Hill, ripping buildings and uprooting trees as it went along.

The British cannons weren't spared either and were tossed around like leaves.  The British who didn't take cover were killed by falling debris and structures.

Even when the tornado was gone, heavy rains continued to pour for the next two hours and most of the fires which the British had set were extinguished.

From the Heavens.  --Brock-Perry

Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

From Find-A-Grave.

In the last post, I mentioned that William Gamble was buried in Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.  Some other notables buried there:

John Quincy Adams--  President

Matthew Brady--  Photographer Civil War

Preston Smith Brooks--  Attacked Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner on the Senate floor.

David Herold--  Lincoln conspirator 

J. Edgar Hoover--  FBI

Owen Lovejoy--  Abolitionist

Thomas "Tip" O'Neill--  House of Representatives

John Philip Sousa--  Marches

And, lots of members of Congress.

--Brock-Perry

The Gamble Family in the USN and USMC: Major William Gamble, the Father

In the last post, I wrote about William Gamble being a Marine veteran of the American Revolution and having four sons who followed him into service, building a bit of a Gamble dynasty.

What about this patriarch?

From Find-A-Grave

MAJOR WILLIAM GAMBLE

BIRTH:  Unknown

DEATH:  15 January 1833

BURIAL:  Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

From the Congressional

In this city, on Tuesday morning, the 15th instant, Major William Gamble, an officer of the Revolutionary war, aged 78 years.  The funeral will proceed from Mrs. Arguelles', Pennsylvania avenue, at one o'clock this afternoon.

The friends of the deceased, and those of his son,  Col. Gamble,  of the U.S. Marine Corps, are respectively invited to attend without further invitation.

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This would explain why John M. Gamble became a Marine after initially being a midshipman in the Navy.

--Brock-Perry

Who Was Kervin Waters?-- Part 2: Born in Georgetown

Continued from January 8.

I have already written that he was native of Georgetown (near Washington, D.C.), and that he had been injured in the battle but not died until two years later.  During those two years, he was in great pain, but persevered stoically according to accounts.

From Find A Grave.

Lieut, Kervin Waters

BIRTH:  1797  Georgetown, District of Columbia

DEATH:  25 September 1815, aged 17-18

BURIAL:   Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Maine.  Section 8, Grave 9.

--Brock-Perry

This Month in the War of 1812: Surrender of Detroit and Burning of D.C.

From the American Battlefield Trust August 2021 calendar.

AUGUST 16

1812:  General Hull surrendered Detroit to the British

AUGUST 19

1812:  The USS Constitution defeats the HMS Guerriere

AUGUST 24

1814:  Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland, a big American defeat

AUGUST 24

1814:  The Burning of Washington, D.C.

--Brock-Perry

National Society United States Daughters 1812

From previous post.

Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, women's service organization for descendants of patriots who aided the American cause during the War of 1812.

Membership is available to women who are age 18 or older and who can offer satisfactory proof that they are lineal descendants of any ancestor who, during the period 1784-1815 inclusive, rendered  civil, military or naval service to our country, rendered material aide to the U.S. Army or Navy, or who participated in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

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There are currently four active chapters of the organization in Arkansas.

Baseline-Meridian (Little Rock) Organized 1995

Simon Bradford (Pine Bluff) Organized 1911

Thomas H. Flippin  (Bella Vista) Organized 2014

President George Washington (Texarkana)   Organized 2015

--Brock-Perry

Caroline Abbott and the War of 1812-- Part 2: Burning of Washington, D.C. and Battle of Baltimore

**  The completion of the USS General  Pike following the Second Battle of Sackets Harbor.

**  President Madison receiving the news of the British invasion of Washington, D.C. after the Battle of Bladensburg.

**  First Lady Dolley Madison, who saved several important papers as well as the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington before fleeing the White House.

**  The burning of Washington, D.C., and its impact on American citizens.

**  Mary Pinkersgill who was commissioned by George Armistead to create a flag "so large the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance", resulting in the "Star-Spangles Banner" flying over Fort McHenry.

**  The Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814,  witnessed by Francis Scott Key, and the presence of the flag following the battle, signaling that Fort McHenry had not been captured.

**  "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem Francis Scott Key wrote following the Battle of Baltimore and later set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven",  a popular drinking song of the time.

**  The formal adoption of "The Star-Spangled Banner"  as the national anthem of the United States  on March 3, 1931.

These Girls Will have a Good Understanding of the War of 1812 After Reading This Book.  --Brock-Perry

The Last Time U.S. Capitol Was Breached Was Over 200 Years Ago

From the January 6, 2021, Guardian "U.S. Capitol's last breach was more than 200 years ago" by Amanda Holpuch.

That horrible scene of idiots running amuck in the Capitol last weekend is still in my mind and it will join the Twin Towers burning on 9/11 and the pictures of the burning and sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.

And the fact that their intent was to disrupt a government function.  Well, just too much.

Not since 1814 has the building been breached like it was Wednesday.

Then, it was by British troops  who set fire to it and other public buildings in Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812.  City residents were aware of the British approach and most had fled by the arrival of those troops.

The Capitol was under construction at the time and while a considerable portion was destroyed by the fire, use of many fireproof materials allowed for the preservation of the exterior and many of the interior rooms.  Still the fire was bad enough that many documents were destroyed, glass lights melted and statues destroyed.

I've written a lot of posts about the burning of Washington, D,C..  Click on the Burning of Washington DC label.

--Brock-Perry

St. Mary's County Museum Division Exhibits Detailed Model of British Ship of the Line HMS Albion

From the November 24, 2020, Southern Maryland Chronicle .

The St, Mary's County Museum Division in Leonardtown, Maryland, has partnered with a local  model ship builder to have a special exhibit of a model of the British ship HMS Albion, the flagship of a fleet of British ships that raided Leonardtown and St. Mary's County during the War of 1812 Chesapeake Campaign of 1814 which led to the burning of Washington, D.C., and the Battle of Baltimore.

The model enthusiast is retired Marine Colonel Robert Ballard who has loaned the stunning and intricate model to  display at the Old Jail Museum.

Several display panels give the history of the ship, her raids along the Chesapeake Bay and Admiral Cockburn (I've been writing about him recently because of his proclamation to Blacks to emigrate from the United States.

Mr. Ballard said this model took a year to make and he wanted people to see it.

--Brock-Perry

Macdonough Monument in Plattsburgh, N.Y.-- Part 1

From HMdb  "THOMAS MACDONOUGH MEMORIAL MONUMENT"

Commemorates the American naval victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814 and was designed by John Pope.  It commands the park which is opposite of the Plattsburgh City Hall, which was also designed by John Pope.

Inscribed at the base are Macdonough's four primary vessels:  Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Eagle and Preble.

The monument is 14 feet square at its base.  The bronze eagle at the top has a twenty-foot wingspan.  Pope also designed the National Archives and Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C..  He used Indiana  limestone for the Macdonough Monument and City Hall.  Pope's firm, established in New York City in 1900, consistently produced  dignified architecture of classical inspiration.

The formal dedication of the monument took place on August 18, 1926, "an ideal summer day."  Secretary of State Frank Kellogg spoke to the vast throng.  It was reported that an estimated 7,000 people attended the ceremony in front of City Hall.

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of Plattsburgh/Lake Champlain-- Part 3: John Russell Pope

John Russell Pope (1874-1937) designed the obelisk in downtown Plattsburgh as well as the 1917 City Hall across the street from it.

But, he is better known for designing the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.  The Jefferson memorial and City Hall share some stylistic similarities with the dome and columns.

The Plattsburgh obelisk was erected in 1926 and features the name of each of the major American ships in the battle on each side:  Eagle, Saratoga, Preble and Ticonderoga.  The names are accompanied by intricate reliefs and BOP-contemporary  uniforms.  (Not sure what BOP stands for.)

HOWEVER, in keeping with the current climate of destroying and defacing public monuments in the United States, the obelisk was recently vandalized on some of the reliefs.  The one for the Saratoga had anti-police sentiments painted on it, but since have been removed.

The eagle atop the monument has a twenty-foot wingspan is associated with local, college-town lore and nearly matches the length of the monument's base.

Even in Plattsburgh.  Hey, That Wasn't Even a Confederate Monument.  --Brock-Perry

Real Daughter Marker Returned to Proper Place-- Part 1

From the Nov. 10, 2019, Sentinel-Record

The United States Daughters of 1812 was established in  1892 and many of its original members were the actual daughters of a War of 1812 veteran.  The group developed a grave marker for those members.

Earlier this year, Arkansas State President Kay Tatum received a real daughter's grave marker that was found in the attic of a recently purchased house in Fairfield Bay.  The marker was inscribed with the name Susanna Tucker Shamstrom. "Real Daughter" of Lt. John Tucker, War of 1812.

Using records in the U.S.D. 1812 National Office in Washington, D.C., it was determined that the marker  belonged to Shamstrom's grave in Coolidge, Kansas.

--Brock-Perry

Thomas Jefferson, the Library of Congress and David Rubenstein

From the February 13, 2020, Washington Business Journal "The Library of Congress scores big donation from David Rubenstein" by Drew Hansen.

Billionaire David Rubenstein is committing $10 million  to the renovation of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.

The project will ultimately cost $60 million and focus on enhancing the visitor experience at the library's flagship building and will include a new ground-level orientation center, a learning  lab and new exhibitions that will better tell the story of the Library of Congress.

A new orientation center will be built around the display of President Thomas Jefferson's personal trove of books which he sold to the library in 1815 to replace the collection destroyed by the British in 1814 when they burned it during the sack of Washington, D.C..

Jefferson's library totaled nearly 6,500 volumes and was purchased by the government for about $24,000.

Thanks, Mr. Rubenstein.  --Brock-Perry

The Second Storming of Washington, D.C. By the British: Only This Time They Had Guitars and Mop Tops

Of course, most people know of the British burning of D.C. in 1814, but 150 years later, another group of British also came to town and to thousands of screams.

If you'd like to read about it, go to the labels section and down to Beatles and click.  These were posts from 2014:  Feb. 17, 18 and 21.  It also includes the setlist they played for the concert.

Beatlemania Strikes the Capitol City.  --JohnPaulGeorgeRingo