Then part of the land making up the district of columbia. This was a very wealthy port on the potomac. And they also could pose a threat to other targets in washington that hadnt been taken by the british army. Though they dont know this at this point. Georgetown had been left alone by the british and theres an important foundry that makes weapons for the u. S. Navy that is still sitting untouched. In any event, they were proceeding up river when theyre hit by the huge storm. The remarkable storm that comes through washington on august 25th sweeps down river and severely damages several of the ships in gordons squadron. And they have to stop to make repairs. They almost considered turning back at that point. But they keep coming up river. They sailed past mt. Vernon, which was just down river from here. And finally on august 27th, they come in sight of ft. Washington, which is the last fortress guarding the Potomac River as they on the approach to alexandria in washington. This was the
Many of his lectures and programs have been broadcast for them before. Were lucky to have him tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, mr. Anthony pitch. N÷ thank you veepjz much for coming. Just put that down. Its raining outside and so im very flad to see a lot of people here tonight. I want to tell you that a few years ago i escorted somebody into the white house, and his name was major ed ross, the same name Major General robert ross who burnt the white house. He was a descendant. And he wanted to see the scorch marks that i told him were there. They are under the front door and theres a big stone archway where you can see massive scorch marks from the fires set by the british in 1814. And n the pastry chef who has offices close by couldnt stop giggling. He thought heres a man whos come to finish the job. I like to write stories that are epic, true and sad. People ask me why dont you write something funny . I cant. I really like to write epic stories. Vietnam was one and then i wrote the bu
Hes been quite fearful that georgetown will be attacked. A a few days later, it is from this home that he would launch the mission to try to gain 8p maryland who had been taken prisoner by the british, a and this would ultimately lead to his eyewitnessing of the bombardment of ft. Mchenry and ultimately to thev f writing e national antent them. A big rainstorm hit the city that night after the n÷ britisd gone back to their camp, and extinguishes some of the flames including at the treasury. And coburn, the next morning, he rides up to the white house pretty much for the ae satisfn of seeing the burnt building and he also wanted to make sure that some of the parts of the building that hadt not been extinguished by the rain, and one party sent up to the navy yard, and coburn remarks that he is glad that the americansrn e÷d him the trouble of burning the place, but he sends some of his sailors and loyal marines there remaining buildings that had not been burned. Another party comesvel
Country, that thats more than just a raid, that its a significant moment in International History and so i severely disagree with my canadian counterparts that what happened here was a very important moment in both british and American History. Ive even had canadians say they got the white house. Lets do this. So thats the last question and want to give everyone 30 seconds to close up and geez. So sum up the war of 1812 in 30 seconds and i dont want the audience to forget they will be around, there will be book signings. You dont want to miss that opportunity. Doctor, please start us off. 30 seconds. I did an analysis of raids, skirmishes and battles of war of the 1812. Province of ontario and state of maryland tied on the numbers and virginia came in third. I find that very interesting. So the chesapeake theater had more raids, skirmishes and battles than any other theater during the war of 1812 to canada needs to start thinking about that. And id like to just end on a little bit of a
Saved by several businessmen from new york who came by4pqon secured a wagon and took it away in maryland for safekeeping. Now, dolly rides into georgetown adison friends, and she is etown waiting more word from madison. President madison arrives at the white house around 4 00 in the afternoon. Dolly is left, and he takes sort of the last look around the place, and she is accompanied by a couple of aides. He is obviously exhausted and a 60yearold man who had been riding out on a horseback out to a battlefield to come under rocket fire, and has come back to the white house, and you can only imagine what his thoughts are at this moment. This is the nation that he had helped conceive. He had been the Guiding Light behind the constitution. And now, you know, americas great enemy Great Britain had a clear path and was on its way into washington. He stopped and pauses for a glass of wine and collects his thoughts and then gets on horseback to ride down here to georgeto georgetown where the su