In the Summer and Fall of 1814, the British Royal Navy focused most of their attention on the Chesapeake Bay area. The war in Europe came to an end in mid-1814 and allowed for British forces to be diverted to the American theater where they would precipitate more strategic advances onto American soil. Seemingly the perfect target, the Chesapeake Bay area was a major center for American export shipping as well as home to a large portion of the American population. The bay’s many rivers and inlets also allowed the British Navy to navigate the area more freely. Although unsuccessful in their aims, the Washington and Baltimore campaigns of 1814 were designed to force a quick and decisive surrender by causing divisions and disillusionment among American civilians as well as political turmoil in the capital city.
Coastal Raids
Throughout much of the war, Americans living in the coastal cities from Boston to New Orleans suffered the devastating effects of British blockades, and lived in constant fear of destructive raids. Encouraged by Rear Admiral George Cockburn of the British Royal Navy in the Spring of 1813, the plundering raids on cities around Washington were aimed at forcing American leaders to divert troops from their duties in the North. Instead of giving in to the British, Americans stubbornly refused to be distracted from the war raging in Canada, leaving unorganized militias and local defense committees to plan for the impending attacks. The Royal Navy was, however, successful in bringing the war home to many Americans who had not witnessed the fighting and destruction that was occurring throughout the North.
Politics and Planning
Although the British Navy was at times little more than fifty miles from Washington, DC, the American government under President James Madison did little to defend the capital city until invasion was imminent in August of 1814. Secretary of War John Armstrong, never considering the political appeal that capturing the enemy’s capital city could have, believed that Baltimore was a more important military target. When Armstrong at last conceded to form a new military district to protect Washington, Maryland, and parts of Virginia in July 1814, the process was wrought with political and personal agendas. Overruling Armstrong, Madison insisted that Brigadier General William H. Winder, the nephew of Maryland’s governor and anti-war critic Levin Winder, be given leadership of the new division despite his inexperience. Still furious with Madison, Armstrong refused to aid Winder in recruiting troops and even discouraged him from calling out the local militia until a British attack was forthcoming. Unsurprisingly, the novice general failed to devise strategic defense plans and began to panic as British forces moved toward Washington in late August.
Battle of Bladensburg
On August 15, 1814, Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Rear Admiral George Cockburn, and Major General Robert Ross met at the mouth of the Potomac River to discuss their plan of attack. Cockburn was to lead the British fleet up the Patuxent River in pursuit of Commodore Joshua Barney’s flotilla of small frigates and barges. Although Barney was considered a threat, his pursuit provided a cover for British troops to travel almost twenty-five miles up the river. On August 20th, three naval groups separated from the rest of the British force: the first led by Cockburn continued after Barney, the second ascended the Potomac River toward Fort Washington, and the third diverted American attention by heading toward Baltimore. The remaining troops, led by Ross, disembarked near Nottingham, Maryland and began their march across land. On August 21, as the troops entered the village of Nottingham, a few shots were fired before the small defensive party retreated. Ross’s men continued on throughout much of the next day. By the afternoon of August 23, the British soldiers were marching down the road that would lead them directly to Washington through the village of Bladensburg, Maryland.
The Battle of Bladenburg was fought in three stages, the third engagement starting only three minutes after the first. General Winder and his approximately 6,300 American troops - made up of about 300 regulars and 2000 local militia under Brigadier General Tobias Stansbury as well as reinforcements under Colonel Joseph Sterrett - were positioned in three lines along the road to Washington, just west of the city, to meet the 2,600 advancing British. They were joined late by Barney and his 400 Navy men, who had marched toward Washington after destroying their flotilla to avoid capture by the British under Cockburn. In the first engagement, the British sent rockets soaring toward the American’s first line of defense and the inexperienced men quickly fled. The second line quickly moved into place ready to fight as the British engaged once more. Winder, unaware that Barney’s flotilla men had already rebounded the British twice, ordered a hasty retreat and disorganization turned to chaos. As the others retreated, Barney’s men continued fighting, holding off the British for another half hour. When the British finally outflanked and captured the Navy men, Barney’s horse had been shot out from under him and the commander himself had sustained a musket ball to the thigh. Ross and Cockburn praised Barney for his bravery and skill, and thus treated him with respect. Barney was quickly paroled and the British officers offered to escort him to any place he desired. The Commodore ironically chose the tavern in Bladensburg. Barney was later awarded the Sword of Honor in recognition of his achievements.
Fleeing the City
As the British moved closer to the capital city, citizens boarded up their homes, hid any valuables they could not take with them, and fled to locations throughout Maryland and Virginia. Wagons carrying official records began to leave the city as the American government abandoned its capital. When Madison arrived at the Executive Mansion around 4:30pm on August 24, he found that his wife Dolley had left only a half-hour earlier after ensuring that the famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington was removed from the house. As Dolley explained to her sister, the painting was screwed to the wall and too difficult to remove in the hasty situation so she “ordered the frame broken and the canvas taken out.” With the Americans defeated at the Battle of Bladensburg, Madison soon followed his wife toward Virginia.
Burning of Washington
Following the battle, British troops were exhausted and collapsed onto the battlefield where they stood. The men had marched fourteen miles that day in the oppressive summer heat before reaching Bladensburg and as many as eighteen individuals had died due to heat exhaustion along the way. Although the British won the battle they sustained heavier casualties than the Americans: 64 killed and 185 wounded as opposed to 26 Americans killed and 51 wounded. While the majority of the British force rested, Ross and Cockburn lead a small squadron of men to capture Washington, D.C.
Finding the city essentially deserted, the British set fire to all of the public buildings, including the Capitol, Library of Congress, Treasury, Greenleaf Point’s arsenal, and the US Naval Yard after it was destroyed by the retreating Americans. At about 10:30pm, Cockburn moved up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Executive Mansion, sending a messenger ahead to ensure safe passage for the first lady. Finding it abandoned, Cockburn and his men enjoyed the abandoned dinner laid upon the table then put torches to all the beds, drapes, etc. Although the British respected private property and punished soldiers who were caught stealing, there were a few exceptions. The homes of those who resisted or fired shots when the British arrived in the city were burned, and the National Intelligencer, a harsh critic of Cockburn, was demolished. It is said that Cockburn ordered all the C’s be destroyed “so the rascals can’t abuse my name anymore.” The flames which illuminated the sky were extinguished later that night by a terrible thunderstorm and possible tornado that further ravished the city; and the British, who occupied the city for less than 24 hours, soon returned to their ships. The British success was undeniable. As historian Frederick C. Drake wrote, “In 10 days, the British light troops had marched 100 miles, won one battle and two skirmishes, destroyed the Chesapeake gun flotilla, burned the public buildings of Washington, humiliated the administration, and rejoined their supporting vessels with a loss of less than 300 men.”
Aftermath
President Madison returned to Washington on August 27, 1814. In an attempt to reassure American citizens, he issued a proclamation condemning the British for conducting and uncivilized war and tried to minimizing the damage inflicted in the public’s eye. The president’s statement did not have the desired effect, and the nation’s confidence in their administration, which was never high throughout the war, was now shattered. Fear began to spread along the coast as citizens worried the devastation inflicted on Washington would be repeated elsewhere. Armstrong’s failure to defend the capital was heavily criticized, and although Madison did not immediately accept his resignation, he was eventually removed from office. Winder was also blamed for the capture of Washington and American defeat at Bladensburg - which had begun to be parodied as the “Bladensburg Races” - but rather than being removed from office, he was simply superseded by Major General Samuel Smith at the Battle of Baltimore.
The British campaign on Washington certainly succeeded in spreading fear and disillusionment among American citizens, undermining their confidence in Madison and his administration. Although the British believed that such discord would cause a complete breakdown of American forces and compel a speedy surrender, the United States chose to continue fighting. They went on to win several major battles and eventually the war.
Bibliography
Coles, Harry L. The War of 1812. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1965.
Engelman, Fred L. The Peace of Christmas Eve. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World, 1960.
George, Christopher T. Terror on the Chesapeake: The War of 1812 on the Bay. Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Books, 2000.
Heidler, David S. and Jean T. Encyclopedia of War of 1812. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1997.
Latimer, John. 1812: War with America. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 2007.
Stagg, J.C.A. Mr. Madison’s War. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1983.
The United States CapitolVisitor Center
First Street & East Capitol Street, Washington, DC
202-226-8000
www.aoc.gov/cc/visit
The Capitol is the home of the U.S. Congress - the Senate and House of Representatives. Construction of the Capitol took more than a decade and was completed in 1811. In 1814, British troops invaded Washington and set fire to many public buildings including the Capitol. A rainstorm prevented its complete destruction and in 1815, Benjamin Henry Latrobe began reconstructing and redesigning the structure. A mural depicting the Burning of the Capitol was created by renowned artist Allyn Cox and can be found in the Hall of Capitols. Cox’s artwork can be seen online here.
The White HouseVisitor Center
15th & E Streets, Washington, DC
202-456-7041
www.whitehouse.gov
The White House or the Executive Manor, as it was known, was built in 1792. Like the Capitol, it too was set ablaze by the British in 1814 and survived with substantial damages. Some say little more than the charred walls remained after the rainstorm put out the flames. Today, tours of the White House can be taken and visitors can view various exhibits in the White House Visitor’s Center.
Fort Washington Park13551 Fort Washington Road
Fort Washington, MD 20744
301-763-4600
www.nps.gov/fowa
Standing guard over the Nation’s capital, the first Fort Washington was built in 1809. It was destroyed by its own garrison in 1814 to prevent anything of military value to fall into the hands of the British in their campaign on Washington. A new fort was completed in 1824 and can be visited today.
National Museum of the United States NavyWashington Navy Yard
6th & M Streets, Washington, DC
202-433-6826
www.history.navy.mil
In 1814, the United States Naval Yard at Washington was destroyed by Commodore Tingey before he fled the city in order to keep it from being advantageous to the British. What was not destroyed by Americans, the British burned when they reached Washington. Today, the Naval Yard is home to the National Museum of the US Navy, which hosts various exhibits concerning the country’s naval history.
Dumbarton HouseNational Society of the Colonial Dames of America
2715 Que Street, Washington, DC
202-337-2288
www.dumbartonhouse.org
Built in 1804, the Dumbarton House hosted First Lady Dolley Madison on August 24, 1814 as she fled Washington, DC and the invasion of British troops. Open to the public for tours, this Federal style home demonstrates what life in Washington, DC was like during the early nineteenth century.
Battle of Bladensburg MarkerBladensburg Waterfront Park
Annapolis Road and 46th Street
Bladensburg, Maryland 20710
Website
This historic marker is located in the town of Bladensburg where the British defeated American troops en route to Washington, DC. The marker commemorates and interprets the battle for visitors to the park.
Memorial to Commodore BarneyHistoric Fort Lincoln Cemetery
3401 Bladensburg Road
Brentwood, MD 20722
Website
Located in the Fort Lincoln Cemetery, this memorial is dedicated to the bravery of Commodore Joshua Barney and his flotilla men who fought in the Battle of Bladensburg. Not far from this memorial in the cemetery is another historic marker commemorating the Battle of Bladensburg, which was fought near the site.
Commodore Joshua Barney House7912 Savage Guilford Road P. O. Bo
x 429Historic Savage, MD 20763
301-362-1900
www.joshuabarneyhouse.com
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this home was built in 1760 and is most known as being the residence of US Navy Commodore Joshua Barney who fought in the Battle of Bladensburg. The home is now a historic inn open for guests and special events.
Additional Historic SitesPrince George County, Maryland
Maryland Conference and Visitors Bureau
9200 Basil Court, Suite 101
Largo, MD 20774
301-925-8300
www.visitprincegeorges.com
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