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
Arrive in washington. Theyre so great. They had a fire in the middle of the 19th century but you can see what remains of them in curved bookcases at the library of congress and its incredible. This man, this renaissance man, every subject you can think of is there. Archaeology. History. Art. Farming. Its all there in different languages. That was thomas jefferson. Amazing. Well, two days before the british arrived, the commandant ordered the navy clerk to get a hold of transport to take 124 barrels of gun powder out of the navy yard into the safety of virginia. Booth settled up across into georgetown and saw a wagon outside a store. He rode up and told the two apparent owners he was impounding it for the department of navy. This is wartime. And so some citizens who might normally have buckled to bureaucratic pressure bustled chasing off government officials with abuse and profanities. This is exactly what happened to booth. In a vivid chronicle written two weeks after the departure of
200 years ago this summer in he war of 1812, british soldiers invaded washington, d. C. 24, 1814 and set fire to the white house and the u. S. Building. President James Madison and first Lady Dolly Madison fled the city. Highlights from a symposium looking back at what war. Nown as mr. Madisons the White House Historical association, u. S. Capitol society, and James Madisons mt. Peelier cohosted this event. Our next speaker this mornings session will be talking about Dolly Madison and the british invasion of washington, d. C. In the war of 1812. We have heard some things about Dolly Madisons role in the war of 1812. Now, well hear more from holly shulman, a former editor of the Dolly Payne Todd madison papers. Associate Senior Editor of the papers of James Madison in 2004. Dr. Shooulman continued to publh Dolly Madison papers which she has grants from the Historic Preservation and Records Commission of the national archives. Please welcome holly shulman. [ applause ] those of you who a
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