by Peter Snow
‘their blooming country’: Chesterton, vol. 1, p. 115
‘to the drum boy’: Brooke, Diary, PRONI D3004
a half pounds of biscuit: Gleig, Sub, pp. 9–10
‘and threw us a line’: ibid., p. 7
Gleig described in 1814: ibid.
‘occupied one of the shelves’: ibid., p. 8
‘capture of some sheep’: Chesterton, vol. 1, p. 116. George Laval Chesterton – Laval was his mother’s maiden name; his uncle was the French General Laval – had obtained his commission through a lucky family connection: his mother knew Spencer Percival, who’d been Prime Minister in 1812
‘distance from the coast’: Bathurst to Barnes (the government’s original choice of army commander before Ross), 20/5/1814, in NW, p. 73
this to Madison himself: Skinner to Madison, 13/8/1814, in Brant, vol. 6, p. 289
‘possible join the British’: MBS, p. 90, quoting MBS to Mrs Kirkpatrick, 20/7/1813
‘to keep them in awe’: Gerry, p. 199
should immediately be freed: Bathurst to Barnes, 20/5/1814, in NW, p. 73
‘whole of their race’: Cockburn to Cochrane, 10/5/1814, in NW, p. 65
‘wives and children’: Scott, p. 188
‘hurled from his throne’: Cochrane to Cockburn, 1/7/1814, in NW, p. 129
‘use when they had it’: Lovell, Personal Narrative, p. 152
barges in Barney’s flotilla: Ball, p. 467
destroying Barney’s flotilla: Barney to Jones, 19/8/1814, NARA, RG 233, Select Committee Papers and Reports (HR13A-D15-3)
‘your power, his progress…’: Jones to Barney, 19/8/1814, in NW, pp. 186–7
‘myself and assistants…’: ASP, p. 554
‘obligations as militia men?’: Winder to Armstrong, 19/8/1814, in ASP, p. 547
‘He concurred in the opinion’: Monroe, 13/11/1814, in ASP, p. 536.
‘degree than any other’: Monroe to Armstrong, 18/8/1814, in Monroe, Writings, p. 289
‘preparation to repel it’: Monroe to Madison, 20/8/1814, in ASP, p. 537
‘would they do here?’: Van Ness, in ASP, p. 581
‘much more consequence’: ibid.
‘a Corporal’s Guard’: Armstrong to Spencer, 22/12/1814, in Skeen, p. 205
‘captivating glitter’: Tuckerman, p. 64
‘belonging to the army’: ibid., pp. 65–6
‘glitter of a dress parade…’: ibid., p. 71
‘urgent business’: ibid., pp. 71–3
‘and a steady resolve’: ibid., p. 75; Marine, p. 108.
‘as a matter of laughter’: Tuckerman, p. 72; Marine, p. 106
‘semi liquid state…’: Tuckerman, p. 74
Chapter 4: 20–22 August – A black floating mass of smoke
‘perhaps the flotilla’: Barney to Jones, 20/8/1814, in NW, p. 187
‘with the utmost confidence’: Jones to Barney, 20/8/1814, in NW, p. 188
‘and gain intelligence’: Winder, in ASP, p. 554
‘as soon as she beheld us’: Gleig, Sub, p. 20
‘another hearty cheer’: ibid., p. 22
‘those engaged in it’: ibid., p. 26
‘they reached Nottingham…’: Adams, History, vol. 8, p. 129
‘as ever wore a sword’: Smith, Autobiography, p. 193
‘a coup de main’: ibid., p. 197
army on the alert: Gleig, Sub, p. 32
‘hospitable barn chatting…’: ibid., p. 36
‘aiming at the city…’: Monroe to Madison, 21/8/1814, in ASP, p. 537
‘of precautions on ours’: Madison to Monroe, 21/8/1814, in Madison, Writings, p. 291
‘officers and persons’: Winder, in ASP, p. 555
‘a thousand atoms’: Scott, p. 277
‘from our view’: ibid., p. 278
‘honour of his flag…’: Barrett, ‘Naval Recollections’, p. 459
‘piece of cold steel’: Scott, p. 279
the expedition was over: Davies to mother, 31/8/1814, in Burnett, p. 224
‘nothing of importance’: Roosevelt, vol. 2, p. 47
‘enemy a serious check…’: ASP, p. 555
‘attacking them in ambush’: Ball, pp. 467–8
march on Washington: MB, pp. 263–4
commander in chief: ibid., p. 264. Barney’s biographer refers to Winder, clearly echoing Joshua Barney’s own view, as ‘the commanding general – if indeed he could properly be so called’
‘remove the records’: Monroe to Madison, 22/8/1814, in ASP, p. 538
locked up for weeks: Pleasonton to Winder, 7/8/1848, in Hildt, ed., pp. 65–6
‘have prevented it’: Booth to Tingey, 22/8/1814, in NW, p. 204
Booth remarked: ibid.
‘public and private’: DPM to her sister, 23/8/1814, in Mattern and Shulman, eds, p. 193, and Seale, pp. 228–9
Ross’s British veterans: Gen. Williamson, quoted in John S. Williams, History, pp. 175–6
‘with my shoes on’: ibid., p. 175
‘fortune to gaze’: Gleig, Sub, p. 41
‘bottle of peach whisky’: ibid., p. 45
‘promise of neutrality…’: Evans, ‘Memorandum of operations on the shores of the Chesapeake in 1814’, National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, p. 6
remarked Gleig: Gleig, Sub, p. 46
Chapter 5: 23 August – Not till I see Mr Madison safe
‘we captured’: Cockburn to Cochrane, 22/8/1814, in NW, p. 196
‘characteristic zeal’: Evans, Facts, p. 12
‘Upper Marlborough’: Cockburn to Cochrane, 22/8/1814, in NW, p. 196.
‘get back the better…’: Cochrane to Cockburn, 22/8/1814, in NW, p. 197
read it till 24 August: Evans, Facts, p. 3
‘we gave three cheers’: Davies to mother, 31/8/1814, in Burnett, p. 224
‘favourable bias’: Evans, Facts, p. 12
‘on the city of Washington’: Cockburn to Cochrane, 27/8/1814, in NW, p. 220. Cockburn wrote this letter four days after the successful raid on Washington – by which time he knew that Cochrane, far from expressing disapproval, would be keen to claim his share in running it
‘marines and seamen’: Evans, ‘Memorandum’, 23/8/1814, p. 7
‘upon the capital’: Scott, p. 280
‘confidence and discipline…’: Evans, ‘Memorandum’, p. 7
‘return to the shipping…’: Gleig, F and B, p. 77
‘serious consequences…’: ibid., p. 79
‘was to effect it’: Gleig, Sub, pp. 46–7
‘consultations and calls…’: Winder, in ASP, p. 555
‘life and reputation’: McLane, pp. 234–5
‘devoted husband M.’: Madison, Writings, pp. 293–4
‘faithful in their duty’: MB, p. 264
‘assail us by daylight’: Smith, in ASP, p. 564
‘a serious check’: Winder, in ASP, p. 555
‘of comfortable living’: Smith, in ASP, p. 564
‘Bladensburg and the city’: Stansbury, in ASP, p. 561
‘my [dancing] pumps’: Marine, pp. 110–11
‘saved Washington’: ibid., p. 108
‘stalks around us’: DPM to sister, 23/8/1814, in Cutts, p. 193
‘security and peace’: MBS to her sister Mrs Kirkpatrick, 25/8/1814, in MBS, pp. 98–100
‘coachmen absent…’: Mrs Jones to DPM, 23/8/1814, in Clark, pp. 162–3
‘salute, melted away’: Gleig, Sub, pp. 52–8, and Gleig, Diary, 23/8/1814
‘his sanguine advice’: Malcolm to wife, 2/9/1814, Poultney Malcolm Papers, Clements Library, University of Michigan
‘was too rash’: Scott, p. 280
‘to return immediately’: ibid., pp. 281–2
Chapter 6: 24 August, morning – Be it so, we will proceed
runs his account: Scott, p. 282
‘We must go on’: ibid., p. 283
‘we will proceed’: Scott, pp. 283–4
‘not hesitate to disregard’: Evans, ‘Memorandum’, 24/8/1814
‘gallant band’: Scott, p. 284
‘the consequences of failure’: Ross to wife, 1/9/1814, PRONI, Ross Papers, MS 1a/3/8
‘to be 13,000 strong’: King, pp. 438–9
stay alert all night: Burch to Congress, in ASP, p. 574
‘way to the Navy Yard’: Winder to Congress, in ASP, p. 557
‘his march into the city’: ibid.
‘General Winder’s force…’: ibid., p. 561
‘marched off their legs’: AMT diary, 23/8/1814, p. 174
‘before they could be obtained…’: Minor to Congress, in ASP, p. 569
finally turned up: Madison memorandum, in Madison, Writings, p. 295
advise his commanders?: Campbell to Congress, in ASP, p. 598
‘from the Executive’: Madison memorandum, 24/8/1814, in Madison, Writings, p. 296
‘or from the government’: Armstrong to Congress, in ASP, p. 539
‘latter would be beaten’: Rush to Congress, in ASP, p. 542
‘his advice or opinions…’: Madison memorandum, in Madison, Writings, p. 296
by Madison and Richard Rush: ibid.
‘beaming upon my face’: Tuckerman, p. 79; and in Marine, p. 112
‘be properly so called’: MB, p. 264
enemy crossing the bridge: ibid.
‘corporal and six men’: Armstrong to Congress, in ASP, p. 540
‘into the brushwood…’: Scott, pp. 284–5
‘gaily and rapidly’: Gleig, Sub, p. 63
‘inability to keep up’: Gleig, F and B, p. 82
‘head hit the ground…’: Gleig, Sub, p. 65
‘unable to go on’: Gleig, F and B, p. 84
‘and commanding attitude’: ibid., pp. 84–5
‘to occupy Washington’: Gleig, Sub, p. 67
‘agricultural occupations’: ibid.
‘now in Bladensburg’: Simmons to Congress, in ASP, pp. 596–7
to come back for it: Simmons to Congress, in ASP, p. 596
‘as circumstances admitted’: Madison memorandum, in Madison, Writings, p. 297
‘encourage the resistance’: Rush to Williams, 10/7/1855, in John S. Williams, History, p. 279
‘spectator of the combat’: Armstrong to Congress, in ASP, p. 539
‘of fear and trembling’: letter from ‘a citizen of Washington’, Federal Republican, 17/9/1814
‘strangers were expected’: Jennings, p. 8
Chapter 7: 24 August, afternoon – Bladensburg: a fine scamper
‘this glittering army’: Kennedy, in Marine, p. 106
‘I never could learn’: Stansbury to Congress, in ASP, p. 562
‘this is not my plan’: Sterett to Congress, in ASP, p. 568
‘blundering tactician’: Armstrong, Notices, vol. 2, p. 148
‘did not interfere’: Stansbury to Congress, in ASP, p. 561
‘must be repulsed’: Smith, Autobiography, pp. 198–9
‘people at a funeral’: Gleig, Sub, p. 68
‘was swept down’: Gleig, F and B, p. 87
‘across his countenance’: Gleig, Sub, p. 70
‘gall us with their fire’: ibid., p. 71
‘in an instant’: ibid., p. 73
‘major or a dead captain’: Captain Knox letter, 23/11/1814, in Barrett, 85th KLI, p. 153
‘woodpeckers and bullfrogs…’: Skinner letter to Baltimore Patriot, 23/5/1849
‘fire ill-directed’: Smith, Autobiography, p. 199
‘with their appearance’: Furlong diary in Buchan, p. 170
and unnecessary risk: Ross is roundly criticised by Fortescue, vol. 10, pp. 144–5
‘in full to the enemy!’: Smith, Autobiography, p. 199
‘of the stream’: Gleig, F and B, p. 87
‘confusion whatever…’: Fulford’s account in Marine, p. 114
‘wait a wee, wie your skirling’: Scott, p. 286
‘Rear Admiral…’: ibid.
‘his round shot’: ibid., p. 288
‘exclaimed, “excellent!”’: ibid., p. 289
‘to the other world’: ibid.
‘which it was supported’: Pinkney to Congress, in ASP, p. 573
‘as I myself did’: ibid.
‘in the enemy’s ranks’: ibid.
‘prisoners or cut to pieces’: ibid., p. 573
‘possible use of their legs’: Bluett Diary, p. 32, Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth
‘handkerchief round it’: Captain Bowlby account, National Army Museum
‘were fruitless’: Stansbury to Congress, in ASP, p. 562
‘and personal bravery’: ibid.
‘precipitation and disorder’: Winder to Congress, in ASP, p. 558
‘absolute and total disorder’: ibid.
‘broken by a bullet’: Kennedy, in Marine, p. 112
‘which it was to be effected’: Lavall to Congress, in ASP, p. 570
‘open and scattered order’: Johnson, in ASP, p. 529
‘madness and bravery’: Lavall to Congress, in ASP, pp. 570–1
‘journeymen mechanics’: John S. Williams, History, pp. 102–3
Chapter 8: 24 August, afternoon – Barney’s last stand
‘apparently in much disorder’: Barney to Jones, 29/8/1814, in NW, p. 207
‘by their guns first’: Jennings, pp. 7–8
‘worn-out soldiers’: Ball, p. 468
‘completely cleared the road’: Barney to Jones, 29/8/1814, in NW, p. 207
‘cutting the sinues [sic]’: Burnett, pp. 224–5
‘a mower’s scythe’: Niles’ Weekly Register, 27/8/1814
‘totally cut up’: Barney to Jones, 29/8/1814, in NW, p. 207
‘saw on horseback’: Ball, p. 468
‘loading and firing…’: Gleig, Sub, p. 75
‘rallying the men’: ibid.
‘command issued’: ibid., p. 95
‘fuses still in their hands…’: Gleig, F and B, p. 89
‘like sheep chased by dogs’: Ball, p. 468. Charles Ball’s life provides a revealing commentary on the attitudes of American slaves at this time. In the 1812 war he was one of many blacks who preferred to remain loyal to the American republic in spite of his extraordinary experiences in attempting to escape from slavery. He’d run away from a southern plantation before the war and after his service with Barney during the war he worked on as a free man in Maryland with his wife and family. In 1830 his past caught up with him: a slave-owner from Georgia reclaimed him and forced him back to work in the south. Ball again escaped, but when he finally made his way back to Maryland he found his wife and family had been sold as slaves. He never saw them again. It wasn’t till the 1860s that America’s slaves were emancipated by Abraham Lincoln (Ball, passim)
‘enemy pressed them’: McKenney, p. 363
‘loss of blood’: MB, p. 266
‘pick up my hat’: Webster, in Marine, p. 178
‘attendance of a surgeon’: MB, p. 267
‘want to be conveyed?’: ibid.
‘wouldn’t have done that!’: ibid., p. 268
‘like a child’: ibid.
they wouldn’t accept it: Weller, p. 146
‘desperate as necessary…’: Winder to Congress, in ASP, p. 559
‘was insupportable’: Smith to Congress, in ASP, p. 565
‘superior authority’: ibid.
‘denied the opportunity’: Williams, History, p. 238
‘50 or 60 wounded’: Winder to Congress, in ASP, p. 548
‘to make prisoners’: Codrington, Memoir, abridged edn, p. 231
‘they are not soldiers…’: Gleig, F and B, p. 110
British crossing the bridge: Winder to Congress, in ASP, p. 559
‘the art of war’: McKenney, p. 368
And so on: privately printed pamphlet in 1816, special collections, University of Virginia, quoted in full in Seale, pp. 240–5
Chapter 9: 24 August, evening – Save that painting!
‘heat and fatigue’: MBS, p. 113
‘cities of the ancient world’:
Ewell, p. 56
‘Washington? No never!’: ibid., p. 58
‘that all was lost’: ibid., p. 61
‘ruffians are at hand!’: ibid.
‘shrieking by her side’: ibid.
used a single one: ibid., pp. 64–5
‘mourned for my country’: DPM to sister, probably Lucy, 24/8/1814, in Mattern and Shulman, eds, p. 193. This letter, though dated 24 August 1814, appears to have been compiled by DPM from memory later: she may have embellished it with hindsight
‘[you are] going to do…’: Anna Cutts to DPM, 23/8/1814, in ibid., p. 194
‘husband and his friends’: DPM to sister, probably Lucy, 24/8/1814, in ibid., p. 193
‘but I wait for him’: ibid.
‘Washington is secured…’: ibid.
canvas had been cut: The White House curator Betty C. Monkman typed a note dated 25 September 1978 and attached it to a report on the thorough examination of the painting that was made in the 1970s. It said: ‘According to Marion Mecklenburg, the conservator, there is no evidence that the canvas of the Washington portrait was ever cut to remove it from its frame nor is there any evidence that the painting was removed from its stretcher and rolled … The only damage to the painting which had occurred over the years was due to environmental reasons or the glues used by various restorers. There is no evidence of mechanical damage to the portrait’ (email to author from White House curator William Allman, 9/4/2012)
by Dolley Madison: AMT, pp. 174–5
‘and retire in your gig’: Jones memorandum, 24/8/1814, in NW, p. 215
Tingey recalled: Tingey to Jones, 27/8/1814, in NW, p. 215
‘apparently panic-struck’: Booth to Tingey, NA, RG 45 PC 30 entry 350; also carried in full in Irwin, pp. 9–27
‘followed me’: ibid.
‘of destroying it’: Smith, Autobiography, p. 200.
‘it under contribution’: Gleig, F and B, p. 91
killed and three wounded: King, p. 447, quoting Chester Bailey in the Philadelphian newspaper Poulson’s Advertiser
‘towards the President’s palace’: Scott, p. 298
‘connected with government’: Gleig, F and B, p. 92
the Americans paid compensation: Cochrane to Monroe, NA ADM 1/506 18/8/1814, disc 596
Americans escaped: Gleig, F and B, p. 92; Scott, p. 299
‘by order of Cockburn’: Davies to mother, 31/8/1814, in Burnett, pp. 223–5. Davies also claimed that the US shots from the house killed a corporal and wounded a private soldier
Chapter 10: 24 August, evening – The barbarous purpose
‘destruction of the property’: Tingey to Congress, in ASP, p. 578
