On This Day
Library of Congress
“Capture and Burning of Washington by the British, in 1814,” an 1876 wood engraving.
“Capture and Burning of Washington by the British, in 1814,” an 1876 wood engraving.
On This Day: British Troops Burn White House and Capitol
August 24, 2009 02:00 AM
by
Josh Katz
On Aug. 24, 1814, British forces set the White House, Capitol, and much of Washington, D.C., ablaze during the War of 1812, aiming to demoralize America and then take Baltimore.
Burning D.C.
Washington, D.C., which became the nation’s capital in 1800, was a sparsely populated swamp town when the British invaded 14 years later. About 8,000 people lived there and slaves accounted for one-sixth of the population.
For most of the War of 1812 to this point, the U.S.-Canada border had been the primary theater of fighting. A year earlier, American forces had burned many buildings in York, the capital of Upper Canada, which Anthony S. Pitch, author of “The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814,” cites as the motivation for the British torching of Washington.
President James Madison and his advisors debated how to protect the capital during an emergency July 1 Cabinet meeting. But Secretary of War John Armstrong, who Pitch says was “infatuated with himself,” said that the British were preparing to march on Baltimore and D.C. was not a worry.
Adm. George Cockburn commanded the Royal Navy squadron in the Chesapeake, and called for the attack on D.C. in order to gain a strategic position for an offensive against Baltimore. He also wanted to crush the morale of the Americans.
The forces of British Maj. Gen. Robert Ross arrived at Benedict, Va., on Aug. 19 and quickly moved north toward Washington. Despite being outnumbered 6,000 men to 4,000, his troops easily vanquished the uncoordinated U.S. forces under the control of Brig. Gen William Winder.
First lady Dolly Madison escaped the city at the last moment after securing vital Cabinet documents. Paul Jennings, a 15-year-old slave, was able to salvage the famous portrait of George Washington. Senior clerk Stephen Pleasonton saved the Declaration of Independence, which would be placed in a gristmill near Georgetown.
“Only two objects of art that were in the President’s House before the conflagration of August 1814 remain in the White House today,” according to Pitch’s account for the White House Historical Association: the portrait and a “small wooden medicine chest” saved before the fires.
British leaders finished a dinner in the White House—known as the Executive Mansion or President’s House at the time—and then called for the burning of public buildings. The British set fire to the White House, the Treasury, and public buildings throughout the capital. Americans were left in the dark as to the fate of their president and other U.S. officials because news at the time was slow in coming, the Library of Congress explains.
For most of the War of 1812 to this point, the U.S.-Canada border had been the primary theater of fighting. A year earlier, American forces had burned many buildings in York, the capital of Upper Canada, which Anthony S. Pitch, author of “The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814,” cites as the motivation for the British torching of Washington.
President James Madison and his advisors debated how to protect the capital during an emergency July 1 Cabinet meeting. But Secretary of War John Armstrong, who Pitch says was “infatuated with himself,” said that the British were preparing to march on Baltimore and D.C. was not a worry.
Adm. George Cockburn commanded the Royal Navy squadron in the Chesapeake, and called for the attack on D.C. in order to gain a strategic position for an offensive against Baltimore. He also wanted to crush the morale of the Americans.
The forces of British Maj. Gen. Robert Ross arrived at Benedict, Va., on Aug. 19 and quickly moved north toward Washington. Despite being outnumbered 6,000 men to 4,000, his troops easily vanquished the uncoordinated U.S. forces under the control of Brig. Gen William Winder.
First lady Dolly Madison escaped the city at the last moment after securing vital Cabinet documents. Paul Jennings, a 15-year-old slave, was able to salvage the famous portrait of George Washington. Senior clerk Stephen Pleasonton saved the Declaration of Independence, which would be placed in a gristmill near Georgetown.
“Only two objects of art that were in the President’s House before the conflagration of August 1814 remain in the White House today,” according to Pitch’s account for the White House Historical Association: the portrait and a “small wooden medicine chest” saved before the fires.
British leaders finished a dinner in the White House—known as the Executive Mansion or President’s House at the time—and then called for the burning of public buildings. The British set fire to the White House, the Treasury, and public buildings throughout the capital. Americans were left in the dark as to the fate of their president and other U.S. officials because news at the time was slow in coming, the Library of Congress explains.
Later Developments: Momentum turns, the capital stays put
The burning of Washington did not defeat American morale, however. Instead, the “only time that an enemy force has ever entered the city” strengthened U.S. resolve, says John Miller for the Emmitsburg Area Historical Society.
More than 15,000 volunteers helped to defeat the British in Baltimore by September. Francis Scott Key, who was held prisoner on a British ship, would witness the battle at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry and compose “The Star Spangled Banner.”
There was contention over the future of the capital as well: a congressman suggested moving it to New York, for example, but Congress opted to keep it in Washington, D.C. A Southern delegate said, “If the seat of government is once set on wheels, there is no saying where it will stop.”
More than 15,000 volunteers helped to defeat the British in Baltimore by September. Francis Scott Key, who was held prisoner on a British ship, would witness the battle at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry and compose “The Star Spangled Banner.”
There was contention over the future of the capital as well: a congressman suggested moving it to New York, for example, but Congress opted to keep it in Washington, D.C. A Southern delegate said, “If the seat of government is once set on wheels, there is no saying where it will stop.”
Historical Context: The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain that began in 1812 and lasted until early 1815. Congress, backed by President James Madison, declared war on Britain after a series of economic sanctions that nearly crippled U.S. trade, and because of national outrage over the impressment of U.S. Navy sailors.
By 1814, the war was dragging on and had cost both countries massive amounts of resources. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on Dec. 24, 1814, officially ending the war. It returned relations between the United States and Britain to their original status before the war.
News of the treaty did not reach America for two weeks, however, and the war continued in the interim. On Jan. 8, 1815, Gen. Andrew Jackson led American troops to victory at New Orleans, the last major conflict of the War of 1812.
By 1814, the war was dragging on and had cost both countries massive amounts of resources. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on Dec. 24, 1814, officially ending the war. It returned relations between the United States and Britain to their original status before the war.
News of the treaty did not reach America for two weeks, however, and the war continued in the interim. On Jan. 8, 1815, Gen. Andrew Jackson led American troops to victory at New Orleans, the last major conflict of the War of 1812.
Background: The White House
Irish-born immigrant and architect James Hoban designed the building after winning a contest initiated by President George Washington. Second President John Adams was the first to reside at the mansion, despite the alleged complaints from his wife Abigail about its incomplete construction.
President Madison had Hoban restore the building after the British destroyed the inside. Originally light gray in color, the building’s exterior was painted white during the restoration, which took three years to complete. President Theodore Roosevelt would officially call it the White House, although the name had been informally used before.
President Madison had Hoban restore the building after the British destroyed the inside. Originally light gray in color, the building’s exterior was painted white during the restoration, which took three years to complete. President Theodore Roosevelt would officially call it the White House, although the name had been informally used before.
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