Within hours after Dolley Madison “rescued” the portrait of George Washington, British Redcoats marched in and torched the city.
British soldiers burn Washington, DC in August, 1814
The British Invade Washington
Politicians and military personnel alike were surprised when the British Army targeted Washington, DC. In 1814 the village was barely fifteen years old, and had no strategic importance whatsoever.
What it did have however, was symbolic importance: the capital city of Britain’s erstwhile colonies – the colonies they had lost forty years earlier. Perhaps even more galling was that the town was named for George Washington, the general who had tweaked John Bull’s nose.
For days, everyone in Washington was nervous as the British Army was in Maryland, barely 50 miles away. The town itself was practically deserted. Nearly everyone had evacuated in fear of a possible invasion. Dolley Madison had been expecting guests, and the White House dining room was still set for the luncheon party when she finally received word from her husband to evacuate as well. Days earlier, all the important documents and treasures had been sent away for safe keeping, and evacuation plans had been made.
The Redcoats entered an empty White House. The invading soldiers gladly helped themselves to the delicacies. Legend has it that they drank a toast to the popular First Lady, and Sir George Cockburn, their general, commandeered one of her cushions as a souvenir. Then they lit torches, touched them to the draperies and furnishings, and departed. The flames were visible for miles.
Aftermath of the Storm
Within hours, Providence in the form of a hurricane, put out the fire. The drenching rains may have saved the building from complete destruction, but the water damage coupled with the fire/smoke damage made the Executive Mansion uninhabitable.
During the next weeks, Washingtonians began returning to their capital city. That included President and Mrs. Madison, who returned to a house they could no longer occupy. For weeks there had been a growing hue and cry in the newspapers and legislatures around the country to move the capital farther inland and away from any path of destruction. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was frequently mentioned.
James Madison was opposed. He believed strongly that our young country should not and must not be chased away from its chosen center. He was the youngest of our Founding Fathers, but in 1814, was past sixty. While he was acknowledged as a brilliant polemicist and political philosopher, many of his contemporaries considered him a weak president. Some said he was only elected to his first term because of his great friend and mentor, Thomas Jefferson. Then there were those who said he was only re-elected because of his immensely popular wife.
Popular or not, Madison was adamant about keeping the US capital in Washington City. Mrs. Madison, who always supported her husband’s political views, was just as adamant. But while Madison would set the course, it would be Dolley who would gently steer the course to help save Washington for a second time. This time it was not George’s portrait, but the City of Washington itself.
The Octagon House
The Octagon House has been refurbished according to how it looked when the Madisons lived there in 1814. It is open to the public.
John Tayloe III was a prominent Washingtonian who owned an elegant brick house only two blocks from the President’s Mansion. Called the Octagon House because of its interesting architectural shape, it was considered one of the best-designed homes in the young capital. It had been spared from the fire.
Since the White House was far too badly damaged to permit occupancy, Tayloe offered the use of his home to the President and First Lady. Its circular reception room was a charmer, and presented an inviting atmosphere for receiving guests. The dining room of course, was smaller. It could only hold fifty – and it was tight at that. Nevertheless it would do nicely for their purposes. The Madisons accepted the offer and moved in.
No sooner had they unpacked, than Dolley opened their new digs for a reception. Caterers and confectioners were called, invitations were sent. The Presidency was back in business!
A Political Bullseye and Clear Message
James Madison may have been the political mastermind for keeping Washington DC as the capital city, but it was his wife who truly made it happen. She was arguably the most popular and influential First Lady the country has ever had. It was her true talent. The charm was natural and sincere and generally unerring.
Mrs. Madison had made a reputation for herself as a consummate hostess, who received guests from all class distinctions, countries, and even political parties with grace. Everyone knew her and everyone loved her.
By “entertaining as usual” Dolley Madison sent a message not only to Washingtonians, but to the country itself: the capital was staying put. The discreet lobbying that took place at Dolley’s soirees was focused on fixing and rebuilding – not moving away. It provided solid support for President Madison’s policy against turning tail and running. The message was sent and it was clear: The United States would not be intimidated by any foreign power.
And, of course, if Mrs. Madison was still having parties, things obviously couldn’t be that bad.
President and Mrs. Madison would never live in the White House again. The structural repair was extensive and would take more than two years to complete. By that time, President James Monroe had been inaugurated.
Sources:
Allgor, Catherine – A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation – 2006 Henry Holt and Company
Moore, Virginia – The Madisons: A Biography, 1979, McGraw Hill
Presidential History Blog 