"GREATEST DISGRACE EVER DEALT AMERICAN ARMS"

BRITISH FORCES OVERWHELM AMERICANS, MARCH INTO CAPITAL, SET BUILDINGS ON FIRE

Bladensburg, Maryland (JFK+50) On August 24, 1814, British forces under General Robert Ross* overwhelmed inexperienced American regulars and state militia here at Bladensburg* effectively opening the way for a march into Washington, D.C.

The Battle of Bladensburg, or the "Bladensburg Races" has been referred to as "the greatest disgrace ever dealt to American arms."

A hasty retreat by the Americans allowed British troops to march into the city that evening and set fire to many buildings.  President James Madison and the United States Congress managed to escape into Maryland and Virginia beforehand.

According to the American Battlefield Trust, the British attack was the only one on Washington, D.C. until the terrorist attacks of 9-11-01.

*General Robert Ross (1766-1814) was born in Rostrevor, U.K. & educated at Trinity College, Dublin.  RR served in the British Army 1789-1814 fighting in the French Revolutionary War, Napoleonic Wars & War of 1812.  RR was shot & killed by American sharpshooters at the Battle of Baltimore.

**Bladensburg, Maryland is located 8.6 miles northeast of Washington, D.C.

JFK+50 NOTE

The events of August 24, 1814 were part of the overall conflict in American referred to as the War of 1812.  It was fought between Great Britain and the United States 1812-1815.  While the war is historically regarded as a stalemate, Americans refer to it as a "second war for independence." 

SOURCE

"Bladensburg," The American Battlefield Trust, www.battlefields.org/ 

   

 

British Burn Washington

August 24, 1814

From book by Paul M. Rapid de Thoyras

1816

Library of Congress

BRITISH ATTACK WASHINGTON

BRITISH ATTACKED WASHINGTON CITY 200 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 200 years ago today, August 23, 1814, British forces attacked Washington, D.C.   The attack was part of an offensive in the third year of the War of 1812.

British forces under Major General Robert Ross* had rolled through American defenses at Bladensburg, Maryland to get in position to launch their attack on the Capital.

According to an account by one of Ross's men, George Gleig, the General attempted to negotiate a truce but his party carrying a white flag was fired upon by an enemy sniper and Ross's horse was killed.

Gleig's version of events says that this resulted in General Ross's decision to cause as much damage to the city as possible.

His army headed toward the President's House where James Madison's wife, Dolley, ordered the Gilbert Stuart portrait of President George Washington cut out of its frame, rolled up, and whisked away to safety.

Mrs. Madison escaped across the Potomac River by carriage.  The portrait the First Lady saved was actually a copy of Stuart's original. 

*General Ross was killed a few days later during the battle at Baltimore, MD. 

George Washington Portrait

by Gilbert Stuart

White House Collection

Dolley Madison

White House Collection

SOURCE

"The British Burn Washington, D.C., 1814," Eyewitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ (2003).

STATE OF FRANKLIN DECLARED 230 YEARS AGO TODAY

Jonesborough, North Carolina* (JFK+50) Representatives of four counties of upper western North Carolina declared their independence two centuries and 30 years ago today, August 23, 1784, and declared those counties the State of Franklin.

The representatives were from Washington, Sullivan, Spencer and Greene counties.***

**Today Jonesborough and all counties which were part of the proposed State of Franklin are located in Upper East Tennessee.

***A petition for statehood was filed but it fell short of the 2/3 majority needed to pass.

Replica of Capitol of State of Franklin

Greeneville, Tennessee

Photo by Brian Stansberry (2008)

JFK GREETS 1 MILLIONTH VISITOR 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) John F. Kennedy, just seven months after moving in as the 35th President of the United States, greeted the 1 millionth visitor to the White House 53 years ago today, August 23, 1961.

The visitor and his family, who were from Georgia, were given the opportunity to meet the President in person.

This was the first time in history that a million visitors had toured the White House in any single year.