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Posted on 08/23/2003 11:59:55 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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The Washington Campaign In the autumn of 1812, hundreds of miles of wilderness and recently cleared farmland stood between the East Coast heartland of the United States and the bloodshed of the northern battlefields. But this buffer zone couldn’t protect the coastal communities of the East from the power of the Royal Navy. Raiding parties attacked villages in Chesapeake Bay, while British warships effectively blocked U.S. maritime trade. When the British landed thousands of experienced troops on the shores of Chesapeake Bay in August of 1814, not even the president’s wife was spared the destruction of her home. For the inhabitants of Washington it was a humiliating introduction to the horrors of war. The democratic idealism of the American militia proved no match for the harsh discipline of the British regular army. Although the subsequent defense of Baltimore was hailed as a great American victory, the smoldering ruins of the House of Representatives were a stark reminder of the sack of the young republic’s capital. on Washington and Baltimore In August 1814, the British launched a series of raids in the Chesapeake Bay area. According to Governor General George Prevost, the plan was to avenge the destructive American attacks on York and Port Dover by, “inflicting that measure of retaliation which shall deter the enemy from the repetition of similar outrages.” More importantly, British leaders wanted to create a diversion in the East. They hoped the Chesapeake Bay campaign would send American troops scurrying back to defend the Eastern Seaboard and thereby weaken U.S. forces elsewhere.  General Winder Emboldened by earlier successes, British Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane developed a plan for a quick dash on Washington. US Secretary of War John Armstrong, meanwhile, refused to believe the British would attack the strategically insignificant capital. Armstrong instead concentrated his efforts on the defense of nearby Baltimore. The American cabinet’s response to the landing of British troops in Chesapeake Bay was one of utter confusion. The poorly trained militia forces, hastily mustered under Baltimore lawyer William Winder, were easily routed by the seasoned British troops. Washington was quickly sacked and its public buildings burned. When the British tried to take Baltimore, they found it closely defended and retreated after a short siege. It was a humiliating time for the Americans: their Capitol had been burned to the ground, their cherished citizen soldiers beaten by disciplined British regulars, and their government officials driven out of Washington and scattered throughout the surrounding countryside. They could salvage some pride, however, from the repulsion of the British at Baltimore. For the British, the results of the campaign were also mixed: they had avenged the destructive American raids on Canada, but had failed to take the strategically important centre of Baltimore. This failure, along with the later defeat at Plattsburg, played a role in the British decision to reduce their territorial demands at the Ghent negotiating table. In the summer of 1814, Washington is no more than a dusty village with a few recently-erected federal buildings. Baltimore, on the other hand, is a wealthy seaport and unofficial naval base with several warships under construction. The port also happens to be home to several American privateers, such as Commodore Joshua Barney, who have been systematically harassing British shipping in the Atlantic.  James Madison U.S. Secretary of War, John Armstrong, is responsible for the defense of both cities. He thinks the British will be tempted to attack Baltimore and that they will leave Washington alone. “They certainly will not come here (Washington),” Armstrong says. “What the devil will they do here? No! No! Baltimore is the place... that is of so much more consequence.” Consequently, Armstrong concentrates his resources in the Baltimore area. To coordinate the defense preparations, Armstrong proposes veteran artillery officer Brigadier General Moses Porter. But President Madison overrules the secretary of war and gives the command to the militia’s Brigadier General William Winder. In peacetime, Winder is a Baltimore lawyer. His appointment has less to do with his military acumen than with the fact that his cousin is the governor of Maryland. In the weeks preceding the British landing at Benedict, Winder asks to call up at least 4,000 militia troops. But he is rebuffed by the cabinet, which insists that they troops only need to be mustered “once there is evidence of clear and present danger.” Once the British land at Benedict on the Patuxent River, even Armstrong has to admit that Washington is in danger. What follows is a series of blunders that belong more in the realm of buffoonery, than that of serious military strategy. Secretary of State James Monroe rides towards Benedict with an escort of cavalrymen. His mission is to count the British ships and men. Monroe however, is afraid to get within three miles of town. He has also forgotten to bring his telescope. After sneaking around the periphery of Benedict for three days, he concludes that there are 6,000 British troops (there are actually only about 4,500). Meanwhile, none of the other US leaders think to obstruct the roads and bridges which lead to the capital. Winder is now finally allowed to muster the militia. By August 20, he has 9,000 men under arms. But he’s not certain of the British strategy - it appears that they intend to attack Washington, but they may also bypass the capital and march on to Baltimore. Consequently, Winder divides his force. He deploys 5,000 soldiers in the Baltimore area and splits the remaining men into two separate detachments under Tobias Stansbury and Samuel Smith.  Leaving Smith’s brigade in Washington, Winder and Monroe, march off towards Benedict at the head of Stansbury’s men. The Americans bump into the advancing British troops and Winder promptly orders a retreat to Battalion Old Fields, about five miles south of Washington. It finally dawns on Winder that Bladensburg is the strategic key to Washington. He orders Stansbury to deploy his troops to the east of the village in the best possible defensive position. Winder consults President Madison and the cabinet at every opportunity; the politicians in turn hover over his every move. At first, Stansbury does exactly as ordered. On August 23, however, he sends Winder a message saying he’s just received a report (which will prove false) that the British are a mere six miles away and heading straight for Bladensburg. Stansbury decides to retreat at once. On the following morning, Stansbury sends another message: fearing that the British might cut him off, he continues his retreat back towards Washington. Winder orders Stansbury to stop the withdrawal and sends Smith’s force to join him at Bladensburg. Winder himself will meet them at the village. Secretary of State James Monroe arrives at Bladensburg first though, and orders one regiment to fall back a quarter mile from the front line. This leaves the forward guns and rifles without support. By the time Winder gets there, it’s too late to make any changes. and Move Onto Washington The British have no desire to capture and occupy Baltimore and Washington. What they really want is to create a diversion. After all, the British leaders reason, if the capital of the United States is threatened, aren’t American politicians likely to move a substantial number of troops away from other regions to counter the threat?  There are other reasons for the attack on Chesapeake Bay. The Americans have burned and pillaged Canadian property during their raids on York and Port Dover, and the intensity of the war has been rising. The British want to retaliate by striking at the heart of the United States. Baltimore is also an important shipping and commercial center; if it can be sacked there, will be a considerable amount of prize money to go around. Close to 4,500 British soldiers land at Benedict, Maryland on August 19, 1814, and march towards Washington, about 60 miles away. In the August heat, General Robert Ross doesn’t push his men. They take five days to cover the roughly fifty miles to Bladensburg. On August 23, Ross receives a message from the overall leader of the British campaign, Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, advising him to turn back. But Rear Admiral George Cockburn thinks they should continue. After much discussion, Ross agrees. The Americans, after all, don’t appear inclined to defend their capital. The villages they have passed through along the way have largely been abandoned. Even the bridges are still intact, and the only force they have encountered has run away. The road to Washington appears wide open. It is noon on August 24, before the British enter Bladensburg. In the distance, they see clouds of dust and realize the Americans are marching out to meet them. Bladensburg itself is empty of American soldiers. This is good news for Ross’ soldiers who would rather not have to engage in street fighting. On the heights across the east branch of the Potomac River, they can see the enemy waiting. For some reason the Americans haven’t bothered to destroy the bridge. Colonel William Thornton and the 85th Regiment lead the charge across the river. Without waiting for the rest of the British force, Thornton impetuously orders his regiment forward. The 85th quickly drives off the American riflemen, but then finds itself facing the main body of Maryland militia. When the Americans counterattack, the 85th is pushed back towards the river and most of the regiment’s officers are killed or wounded.  By now the main body of the British force is across the bridge. General Ross orders the use of Congreve rockets. The rockets are extremely inaccurate, but they make a terrifying noise as they whistle over the heads of the terrified American militia who have never heard or seen anything like it. The militiamen drop their weapons and run. Now there is nothing blocking the path to the capital; the British reach Washington that night.
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Oops! Did I say that?
I do too. I was tickled to find that graphic with the quote included.
The United States Capitol is among the most symbolically important and architecturally impressive buildings in the nation. It has housed the meeting chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate for two centuries. The Capitol, which was started in 1793, has been through many construction phases. It stands today as a monument to the American people and their government.
An example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture, the Capitol evokes the ideals that guided the Founding Fathers as they developed the new republic. Pierre Charles L'Enfant was expected to design the Capitol, but his dismissal in 1792 due to his refusal to cooperate with the Commissioners of the Federal Buildings, resulted in other plans. A competition was suggested by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and President George Washington that would award $500 and a city lot to whomever produced the winning plan by mid-July. None of the 17 plans submitted were satisfactory. In October, a letter arrived from Dr. William Thornton, a Scottish-trained physician living in the British West Indies, requesting an opportunity to submit his plan after the competition was closed. The Commissioners granted his request and President Washington commended the plan that was soon accepted by the Commissioners.
The cornerstone was laid by President Washington on September 18, 1793. Because of Thornton's inexperience, the initial work progressed under the direction of three architects in succession. Stephen H. Hallet and George Hadfield were dismissed because of inappropriate design changes they tried to impose; James Hoban, winner of the competition for the President's House, was placed in charge and saw to the completion of the north wing for the first session of Congress on November 17, 1800. In 1803, construction resumed under Benjamin Henry Latrobe who completed the south and north wings. By 1813, Latrobe, with his job done, departed with the wings connected by a temporary wooden passageway.
On August 24, 1814, British troops set fire to the building during the War of 1812. A rainstorm prevented its complete destruction and Latrobe returned to Washington in 1815 to make repairs. He took this opportunity to make changes to the building's interior design and to introduce new materials, such as marble. Latrobe, however, resigned his post in November of 1817 because of construction delays and increasing costs. Charles Bulfinch, a Boston architect, was appointed Latrobe's successor in January of 1818. Continuing the restoration, he was able to make the chambers of the Senate and House, as well as the Supreme Court, ready for use by 1819. Bulfinch redesigned the central section, making the dome that topped the section higher. Bulfinch spent his last couple of years on the Capitol's landscaping and decoration until his position was terminated in 1829.
By 1850, the Capitol could no longer accommodate the increasing numbers of senators and representatives. Another competition was held offering $500 for the best plan to extend the Capitol. Unable to decide between the plans, Congress divided the money between five architects and Thomas U. Walter was chosen to complete the task. Walter supervised the construction of the extensions, making sure they were compatible with the existing style of the building, but using marble for the exterior instead of sandstone, which deteriorates quickly. As the wings progressed, they more than doubled the length of the Capitol making the dome too small for the new proportions. In 1856, the old dome was removed and work began on a replacement with a new, fireproof cast-iron dome. Construction was suspended in 1861 so that the Capitol could be used as a military barracks, hospital and bakery for the Civil War. However, in 1862, construction resumed, because Lincoln believed that the Capitol must go on, just as the Union must go on.
The work on the dome and extensions was completed in 1868 under Edward Clark, who had served as Walter's assistant until his resignation in 1865. Clark held the post of Architect of the Capitol until his death in 1902. Considerable modernization occurred during his tenure, as well as the construction of the marble terraces on the north, west, and south sides of the Capitol. The terraces were constructed as part of the grounds plan devised by landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. After a fire in November 1898, the need for fireproofing became evident. Elliot Woods, Clark's successor, saw to the reconstruction and fireproofing of the damaged wing.
The 20th century has seen even further changes for the Capitol. Under the direction of J. George Stewart, the appointed Architect of the Capitol, the East front extension added 102 more rooms from 1959 to 1960. The stonework was also changed from sandstone to Georgia marble during the process. After a public protest at further plans to expand in the 1970s, the plans were dismissed and the vote went to restore, rather than enlarge, the West Front. Since then, primary emphasis has been on strengthening, renovating and preserving the building.
Today, the Capitol covers a ground area of 175,170 square feet and has a floor area of about 16.5 acres. In addition to its use by Congress, the Capitol is a museum of American art and history. It stands as a focal point of the government's legislative branch and as a centerpiece of Capitol Hill and the National Mall.
The Capitol is located on Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall. The Capitol is open to the public every day of the year except for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. March through August, hours are 9:30 am to 8:00 pm and September through February, hours are 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Tours are free and tickets are not required for entry. For further information, please call 202/225-6827. Metro stop: Capitol South
* The White House, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol, and related buildings and grounds are legally exempted from listing in the National Register of Historic Places, according to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
Due to the extraordinary volume of hot air when congress is in session, these mammoth constructions of marble and granite are not infrequently seen to rise to heights of 2-300 feet, rotate clockwise, and flash strobelike in vivid colors depending upon atmospheric conditions.
When asked the principal difference between the violin and the cello, Itzak Perlman replied, "The cello burns longer."
And so it was that congress burned longer than the White House.
Amply lined with asbestos after the British raid, the structure failed to ignite though struck repeatedly by lightning bolts during the administration of the 43d president.
Regarding the so-called road map to peace, as well as another Clinton presidency, never again.
Unable to decide between the plans, Congress divided the money between five architects and Thomas U. Walter was chosen to complete the task.
The key words being "Unable to decide", nothing has changed. Thanks for the history of the Capitol.
Thanks Phil for the history, your insigtful comments on the burning of Washington and all the hot air. lol.
Just another international mess they left for someone else to clean up.
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