Interpretation of Primary Sources

From www.smithsonianmag.com

I have researched two primary sources concerning the burning of Washington in 1814. One of these sources is a letter by Dolly Madison to her sister concerning the days and hours just prior to her fleeing the White House as a result of the British advance on Washington. My second primary source is a diary entry by George Gleig who "was part of the British force that attacked and burned Washington." ("The British Burn Washington D.C, 1814" EyeWitness to History.com) Both of these primary sources provide valuable detailed information about the burning of Washington. Dolly Madison's letter explains how she saved some Cabinet papers, the painting of George Washington, and other valuables from the White House before the British got there and sacked the place. The letter by George Gleig also gives us valuable information about what was destroyed by the British in their sacking of Washington. However, the most valuable historical information that these sources give us are the mood and mentality of both the Americans and the British before, and during the burning of Washington. We can see that the American mood was unconcerned arrogance toward the idea that the British would or could attack and sack Washington. This mood changed to fear and horror when the British began to approach Washington after the battle of Bladensburg. On the other hand, we can see that the British were confident, but annoyed at the fighting style of the Americans. We can also see that they were jubilant at the burning of Washington. 

The mood that I have drawn from these sources is supported by Jon Latimer in 1812 War with America. In chapter 14, Latimer discusses the burning of Washington from a British perspective.  The British mood of confidence is best exhibited by Cockburn (admiral and colonel of the Royal Marines) who proposed and led the attack on Washington. In a private letter Cockburn says, "I most firmly believe that within forty-eight Hours after the Arrival in the Patuxent...the City of Washington might be possessed without Difficulty or Opposition." (Latimer 303) The Americans were also confident of their own safety. "Although British forces had threatened Washington through much of 1813, the American government took no effective action to fortify or defend the capital in the spring of 1814." (303) The Americans believed that the British would not spend the resources to attack Washington because Baltimore was much more valuable militarily. Latimer mentions several cases where the British were angered at the American's approach to war. They were angry about attempted poisonings (305), torpedoes/submarines (306), and snipers shooting from houses (316). This frustration no doubt contributed to the British pleasure during the destruction of Washington. While Latimer notes that not every British soldier was happy at the destruction of Washington, there were many who were. This is especially evident in Latimer's discussion of how the British invaded the White House, joyously feasted on the American celebratory dinner, tried fine wines, and even took time to change clothes before burning the White House (318-319). Latimer also makes mention of the horror and fear that the Americans felt at the advance of the British and the burning of Washington. The Americans crippling panic is best described by Latimer when he recounts the American defeat at Bladensburg. Just after the British crossed the river, American militia men began retreating and fleeing in utter abandonment. (314-315) On page 318, Latimer recounts the horror that many Americans felt at the burning of Washington. One American, Mordecai Boots writes, "so repugnant to my feelings, so dishonorable, so degrading to the American character and at the same time so awful it almost palsied my faculties." (318)
The mood of both the British and the Americans during this whole conflict over Washington are well exhibited in the primary sources that I have selected. In Dolly Madison's letter, we first see the American overconfidence and sense of security in the first paragraph where President Madison asks Dolly if she has the courage to stay in the White House until he returns. Dolly's response is that, "I had no fear but for him, and the success of our army." I interpret this to mean that she was afraid for James Madison's safety at Bladensburg, but did not really worry about the threat of the British actually making it to Washington. However, this confidence is destroyed by James Madison's letters informing Dolly to be ready to leave Washington because the British were stronger than had been originally thought. Dolly is then frightened and documents how on Wednesday she had been looking with her spy-glass for her husband and his friends "with unwearied anxiety" since daybreak. When her husband does not arrive and the British approach nearer to Washington, Dolly frantically stores Cabinet papers, the now famous painting of George Washington, and other valuables from the White House. She then flees the White House with a fearful uncertainty.

From www.dipity.com

In the diary entries of George Gleig, the British confidence (at this point it is very justified) is portrayed with General Ross' attempt at a truce when the British first approach Washington. However, the Americans shove this truce back in Ross' face by shooting at him and the soldiers that accompany him. Gleig then documents that the British view this as yet another "breach of the law of nations" by the Americans. This caused the British to lay "all thoughts of accommodation...aside." Gleig then joyfully documents the burning of the governmental buildings of Washington. He says, "You can conceive nothing finer than the sight which met them as they drew near to the town. The sky was brilliantly illuminated by the different conflagrations, and a dark red light was thrown upon the road, sufficient to permit each man to view distinctly his comrade's face." Glieg also documents the joyous feast of the British at the White House before they burned it. As we can see, these two primary sources by George Gleig and Dolly Madison do a great job at relaying the mood of both the British and Americans immediately before, during, and after the burning of Washington.




Sources:

 "The British Burn Washington, DC, 1814," EyeWitness to History, eyewitnesstohistory.com (2003).

"Dolley Madison Flees the White House, 1814" EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2009).

Latimer, Jon. 1812 War with America. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 
2007. Print.