Limits. We passed through the map room, socalled because theres a map of europe over the mantelpiece and it shows the swastika symbols which plot the nazis theres a Little Medicine chest nearby about so big. And its got holes for vials of medicine and you can pull out the drawers. 1 in 1939, a canadian wrote to president roosevelt and his name was archibald canes. And he said, my grandfather was a paymaster aboard the british warship devastation which came up the Potomac River at that time and laid siege to alexandria and oversaw the raiding of the warehouses of Agricultural Produce. But i checked it up. Thomas canes was the paymaster of the devastation but none of the crew set foot in washington. So either he exchanged booty with another briton or archibald canes the canadian is mistaken as is the white house. Well, we then went to see the portrait of George Washington. They took away the rope that keeps you about 20 feet away and then for the first of countless times i saw the artis
Is certainly in question. But in any event, they were a bit of an embarrassment for the royal navy, and the commander, the north american station, sir admiral john warren was conducting a pretty lackluster campaign. There was some thought he needed the boost of a subordinate who could be a bit more aggressive. There was a British Naval historian who was actually detained in philadelphia when war broke out. And he would later write, his name was william james, and he would later write, until cockburns arrival in the chesapeake, people in this region would, quote, scarcely have known except by hear say that war existed. And that was about to change. Cockburn arrives in the spring of 1813 and finds the chesapeake just custom made for an Expeditionary Force such as he had, 200 mile length of the bay with all the rivers serving as tributaries, really provided access to what was then the real economic as well as political heartland of america. And this Chesapeake Bay quickly turns into a lak
During the war of 1812, british soldiers invaded washington, d. C. And set fire to the white house and the u. S. Capitol building. President James Madison and first Lady Dolly Madison fled the city. Next, andrew lambert, author of the challenge britain against america in the war of 1812. He spoke at a symposium hosted by the White House Historical association, u. S. Capitol historical society, and James Madisons montpelier. This is 45 minutes. Lambert, challenge, naval war of 1812. My name is stewart mclauren, and im the president of the White House Historical association where we are privileged to convene today for this significant event. Were honored to have with us today two members of the board of directors of the White House Historical association, the honorable stock and kiplinger. Were also honored to have with us today mr. William almond, who is the curator of the white house. This program commemorates bicentennial of one of americas most critical but overlooked conflicts. With
Ships up with goods that they think will sell in america, and its a huge armada of trade crosses the atlantic, and business booms against. Theres then an economic setback, but essential the United States is able to rebuild its economic activity. So peace is really good for peace its good for the economy, war is not. A lesson the british had learned many years before. Yes, have you seen in the called Public Record sorry. Have you seen in the Public Record office any orders to coburn and ross to burn the public buildings in washington . And the implications being retaliation, question mark. Thank you very much. This is one of the Great Questions about what happens in washington. Were coburn and ross operating under specific orders to do something as specific as burning the white house . Certainly there was a sense that after the occupation of what is now toronto and the destruction of the public buildings there, and in other parts on the niagara front where there had been crossborder des
This afternoons session beginning with andrew lambert, challenge, naval war of 1812. My name is stewart mclauren, and im the president of the White House Historical association where we are privileged to convene today for this significant event. Were honored to have with us today two members of the board of directors of the White House Historical association, the honorable stock and kiplinger. Were also honored to have with us today mr. William almond, who is the curator of the white house. This program commemorates bicentennial of one of americas most critical but overlooked conflicts. With the gathering of extraordinary scholars and experts in history field, next two days sure to educate and inspire, enhance our understanding of the war of 1812. The White House Historical mission echos symposium goal, echos public on history of white house. Were so pleased to host this d day, the study of white house history. This event could not be possible without the partnering and support of our