| Answer to September's Trivia Question:
In June of 1812, at President Madison’s request, Congress declared war against Great Britain. There were several reasons for this drastic declaration. The British had incited the Indians to fight against the U.S., had interfered with the American merchants, and had forced American sailors into service for the British. The war had its ups and downs. In August of 1814, President Madison received notice that the British had landed in Maryland and were advancing toward the American Capitol at Washington, D.C. The U.S. militia were fighting valiantly, but he feared that the British would break through their lines. President Madison felt it necessary to go to the soldiers and encourage them in their weakened state.
He told Dolley to act as if everything were fine and to continue with her preparations for the evening’s dinner party, planned for 40 guests. He promised that if all were well, he would return by dinnertime, and if he didn’t return, then she should flee to the countryside. He warned her to carefully watch and be ready in the event that the British should enter the city, cautioning her that the British must not capture the nation’s documents. Just before galloping away, he told her that these documents were in the Great Room. His only hesitation in leaving her was his concern for her safety.
Dolley stayed in the White House, and even though she feared for the President’s safety, she continued her preparations for the dinner party. When she heard the sound of cannons in the distance, she realized that it was time to act quickly to save the documents. She picked up the Declaration of Independence and gently wrapped it, placing it in one of her trunks. She resolved that the British would not set their hands to that precious paper. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered the great sacrifice the signers had made in the name of freedom.
The cannon and muskets grew louder, and Dolley was urged by the servants to flee. She returned to the Great Room and rescued boxes of James’ original notes about the Constitutional Convention (some historians agree these notes most certainly contained the original U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights), some books, a small clock, and some velvet curtains. She headed for the already heavily loaded carriage and then thought of the portrait of George Washington. She could not abide the thought of the British burning his effigy like so much garbage. She ran back into the house and, with the help of two servants, broke the frame which had been bolted to the wall. She carefully cut the portrait from the wall and removed the “Landsdowne Portrait of George Washington,” by Gilbert Stuart.41 She rolled it up and took it with her as she evacuated the White House. She did not return for her jewelry or any other personal items. She was able to escape at the last moment by using a back road. A kind farmer graciously took her in.42
The British burned the President’s Mansion, the War Building, the Treasury Building, and all other government buildings, including the Congressional Library.43 But the British plunder of the Capital was mysteriously cut short. Storm clouds that had formed over the city suddenly burst. The rain came in torrents. Hurricane-strength winds blew in from the ocean. Thunder seemed to shake the city. The courage of the British soldiers faltered as the fires, combined with the winds, caused the ravaged buildings to crumble. Many soldiers were trapped under the devastation. Lightning lit the sky, and a rumor went through the lines that the American soldiers were now surrounding the city. Overcome by fear, the British soldiers retreated from the city just one day after their huge victory.
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