The War of 1812 had been in progress for two years when, on the 19th August 1814, a British Army disembarked at Benedict, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA. Under the command of Major General Robert Ross, this small force of 4,000 troops planned to seize and burn Washington the Capital of the new Republic. The British march towards Washington though was slow in the humid August heat, and with the troops badly out of shape after being cooped up on board ships, only six miles were covered on the first day. However the American response to this unwelcome incursion was a mixture of energetic lethargy resulting in confusion and indecision.
Thus unperturbed by any US resolve, Ross's little bands perambulations continued unopposed except for a few random shots fired at them from the surrounding woods. At Bladensburg an assorted American army numbering about 7,000 consisting mainly of Militia with a few Regulars, decided to defend the road to Washington.
Unfortunately for them they were routed by the leading Brigade of the British Army who were aided in their endeavours by a fireworks display provided by Congreve Rockets.
The Battle became known to the British as the Bladensburg Races and to quote Lieutenant George Gleig of His Britannic Majesty's 85th Light Infantry, " Never did men with arms in their hands make better use of their legs ". This action also sunk home the fact into a few American heads that hastily raised Militia are not quite the best material with which to confront Veteran Regulars.
Washington was abandoned by the US Government, and the Naval Yard blown up by a few intrepid Americans who had not made any retrograde movements. The Capitol, House of Representatives, War Office, National Archives and Treasury buildings were burned down by the occupying British. Fortunately Dolly Madison, the Presidents wife managed to save the US Cabinet papers and Gilbert Stuarts portrait of George Washington, departing town with them in her carriage. She did however leave at the Presidents Mansion a table set for forty apparently in anticipation of a US victory dinner. This an appreciative British advance party gratefully found and consumed. After then toasting the Prince Regent they looted the place. If legend be true the Mansion house was later painted white by the returning Americans to hide the scorch marks left by the incendiary British.
After amusing themselves for 24 hours, Ross's army started back for Benedict, to which they arrived unmolested on the evening of August 29th. Sir George Prevost, the Governor of Canada could then inform his fellow Canadians that, ". . . as a just retribution, the proud Capital at Washington has experienced a similar fate to that inflicted by an American force on the seat of Government in Upper Canada". (An attempted American invasion had earlier in the War resulted in the burning of Newark the Canadian Capital of Upper Canada.)
Whilst the British Army occupied Washington, an inventory of captured Ordnance, Ammunition and Ordnance stores was made by Major J. Mitchell of the Royal Artillery. Two letters have survived containing this inventory. They are to be found in the PRO Kew, reference WO44/532. The contents of these letters have been transcribed below for the elucidation of the readership:
Washington 1814
Return of Ordnance, Ammunition and Ordnance Stores taken from the enemy by the Army under the command of Major General Robert Ross between the 19th and 25th August 1814.
| Date | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| August 19th | ||
| 1 | 24 pr. Carronade | English, Iron, and mounted on a ships carriage. |
| August 22nd | ||
| 1 | 6 pr. Field gun with carriage complete | This gun was taken in action and was complete with Limber, Side Arms and about 100 rounds of ammunition. The gun was iron. |
| 156 | Stands of arms with accoutrements | Complete with the Cartouches filled with ammunition. Lodged in an armoury in Upper Marlborough Court House. |
| August 24th at Bladensburg | ||
| 2 | 18 prs. | These guns were iron, were taken in action complete with Limbers, stores and about 100 rounds per gunof ammunition. The 18 prs. On Travellin and the 12 and 6 prs. On Field carriages. |
| 5 | 12 prs. | |
| 3 | 6 prs. | |
| 220 | Stands of arms. | |
| August 25th at Washington. | ||
| Brass | ||
| 6 | 18 prs. mounted on Traversing Platforms. | Some of these pieces of Ordnance were English the others were American and their weight corresponded nearly with ours. 8, 18 prs were mounted on Garrison Carriages and placed on Traversing Platforms, in a battery, complete with stores. 19, 12 prs. were on ship carriages and there were beds for 3, 13 inch Mortars of wood and carriages, Garrison and Travelling for : 2, 8 inch Howitzers, 5, 32 pr. Carronades 5, 18 pr. Carronades, 13, 12 pr. guns, 2, 9 pr. guns and field carriages complete for 2 6 prs |
| 5 | 12 prs. | |
| 4 | 4 prs. | |
| 1 | 5 1/2 inch Howitzer. | |
| 1 | 5 1/2 inch Mortar. | |
| Iron | ||
| 26 | 32 prs.. | |
| 36 | 24 prs. | |
| 34 | 18 prs. | |
| 27 | 12 prs. | |
| 2 | 18 prs. mounted on Traversing Platforms. | |
| 19 | 12 prs. on ship carriages. | |
| 3 | 13 inch Mortars. | |
| 2 | 8 inch Howitzers. | |
| 1 | 42 pr. gun. | |
| 5 | 32 pr. Carronades. | |
| 5 | 18 pr. Carronades. | |
| 13 | 12 pr. guns. | |
| 2 | 9 pr. guns. | |
| 2 | 6 pr. guns. | |
| 500 | Barrels of Powder. | Of 100lbs per barrel. |
| 100,000 | Rounds of Musquet Ball Cartridges. | |
| 40 | Barrels of Fine grained powder. | Of 50lbs per barrel. |
| A large quantity of Ammunition of different natures made up. | About 20,000 rounds of Ammunition for Ordnance of different natures. | |
| The Navy-yard and Arsenal having been set on fire by the enemy before they retired, an immense quantity of stores of every description was destroyed of which no account could be taken Seven or eight very heavy explosions during the night denoted that there had been large magazines of powder. Also a Laboratory complete with implements and some storehouses filled with stores which were burnt without being examined. The whole of the above was destroyed by order of Major General Ross and is exclusive of what was destroyed by the Americans. | ||
| N.B. The remains of near 20,000 stand of Arms were seen by several Officers of the Navy and Marine Artillery in the ruins of a battery* which was burnt by the enemy. | ||
| J.Mitchell, Major, Royal Artillery.
*(One letter states battery, the other, building) | ||
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