Of washington. More than anything, the waterway really to find the attack on washington come on the ultimate attack on baltimore. The british were really making good use of the waterways, Chesapeake Bay, and all of the rivers that feed into the bay, including the potomac. By 1813, the chesapeake had pretty much turned into a british lake. The real navy squadron, under the command of her admiral George Cockburn had established domain over the water. George cockburn was a very effective officer, who served under nelson in the wars with france. He had been sent over here to pep things up. He was a very capable officer, ruthless without being vicious. He pretty quickly determines that the americans are not capable of providing much in the way of a real defense. From the start, he sees washington as being vulnerable. Very quickly, as he spreads his terror up and down the bay, he becomes not only the most feared man in america, but also the most hated. He is compared to a till of the han and
Us on facebook, and follow us on twitter. 200 years ago on august we fourth, 1814, British Forces august 24, 1814 British Forces entered washington dc, and burned the capitol building, the president s house, and most of the Federal Buildings. Next, steve vogel, author of through the perilous fight six weeks that saved the nation, texas on a river truer of washington. His program is about 90 minutes. Ipad a boat on the potomac i have had a boat on the potomac for about 30 years. It is a great way to see the city. It is a different city. I think of the potomac is an obstacle on the way you have to cross on your way to d. C. Is the reason the city is where it is. Its one of the most remarkable urban rivers in the country. We are in the middle of the Potomac River, right off for washington, maryland. Maybe eight or nine miles south of washington. More than anything, the waterway really to find the attack on washington come on the ultimate attack on baltimore. The british were really making
[applause] thank you for being in bladensburg and prince georges county, but continue the conversation. Thank you very much. Gregs even watch this entire discussion again tonight at 8 00 eastern on cspan3. American history tv. 200 years ago on august we fourth, 1814, British Forces andred washington dc, burned the capitol building, the president s house, and most of the Federal Buildings. Oft, steve vogel, author through the perilous fight six weeks that saved the nation , texas on a river truer of washington. His program is about 90 minutes. Ipad a boat on the potomac for about 30 years. It is a great way to see the city. It is a different city. I think of the potomac is an obstacle on the way you have to cross on your way to d. C. Is the reason the city is where it is. Its one of the most remarkable urban rivers in the country. We are in the middle of the Potomac River, right off for washington, maryland. Maybe eight or nine miles south of washington. Waterway anything, the really to
Theyre also very different. And i suspect that the truth is somewhere in the middle here, and i couldnt tell you which one is better. And this is another one. This is an image that came out of one of the books that i did and it is showing the british piling up material, and this is in the Capitol Building. And if youll notice, the guy on the left, on the back, hes carrying a backpack that would carry two cases for a congrieve rocket. Rocket and if youll notice the man standing on top of the pile, hes literally taking the projectile material that would have been inside of that rocket and hes sprinkling it over the top and then thats how they would light that fire and here is the actual account and this is by Benjamin Henry latrobe. There was no want of material for the conflagration. For when the number of members of congress was increased the old platform was left in its place and another raised over it giving an additional quantity of dry and loose timber. All the stages and seats of
The shoals. And some more ships would sail up the bay under captain peter parker to disrupt communications and further confuse the americans. And hes able hes able to persuade ross and Admiral Cochrane to go along with this. Ross, he takes them ashore, in st. Marys county and ross sees how poor the defenses are. And ross is, you know, an aggressive commander himself. He certainly has proven himself in the european wars, and hes eager to get home. Hes got a wife who is not at all happy hes been sent across the ocean to fight in this new war. So what they agree to is they dont commit to an attack on washington, but they agree that theyll land the forces at benedict, and go try to trap barney and based on the resistance they meet, they can make a decision as to whether or not to continue on to washington. Cockburns plans are zealously endorsed by one of ross officers. This is lieutenant george de lacy evans. This picture was taken much later, during the crimean war, where he commanded a d