Summary
Despite American efforts, as the British turned their attention away from Europe
to the war effort against the US, British sea power asserted itself. Using this
new source of strength, on August 18, 1814, a force of about 4,000 redcoats
landed in the Chesapeake Bay area en route to Washington. The American General
William Winder knew the British were in route to Washington, which could be
approached from Maryland via one of two bridges. Winder burned one bridge and
stationed men at the other to blow it up if the British approached. The British,
seeing the telltale blaze of a night fire, figured that the bridge they wanted
to use was destroyed and decided to ford the river at Bladensburg. Winder
quickly ordered his men there, where they were quickly routed at the Battle of
Bladensburg.
With Bladensburg lost, Washington was quickly evacuated. Fleeing Americans
destroyed the Navy Yard, hoping to deprive the British of any armaments they
might find there. When the British, having rested in the midday heat, finally
entered the city, they found a city abandoned. The British looted and burned
government buildings, including both the White House and the Capitol. British
Major General Robert Ross saw to it, however, that private residences were
spared.
President Madison and his cabinet fled, to set up a government-in-exile.
Washington ablaze, British Admiral Thomas Cochrane now planned an
invasion of Baltimore. Baltimore, however, was committed to not falling as
easily as Washington had, and the citizens of Baltimore formed a Committee of
Vigilance and Safety to prepare for the British attack. The city unified command
of its forces under Major General Samuel Smith. Although General Winder
had rank in the situation, the defeated General of Bladensburg decided to
waive his right and let Smith control Baltimore. Unlike the defeatist Winder,
Smith worked tirelessly to prepare Baltimore for a strong defense. For instance,
Smith managed to divert 5 big artillery guns intended for shipment to Washington
to the defense of Fort McHenry, which protected Baltimore's harbor. On
September 11, 1814, the British ships arrived in Baltimore during Sunday church
services.
As the British infantry from Washington advanced on Baltimore, British Major
General Robert Ross was killed by small-arms fire. With Ross dead, his
forces stalled. Cochrane, sitting outside of Baltimore's harbor, grew impatient
at the delay. At around 7 PM, he began the naval bombardment of Fort McHenry.
Under constant bombardment, American gunners found that their smaller guns
didn't have sufficient range to hit the British ships. The guns and powder were
ordered well inside the safety of the fort, where the gunners and materiel
weathered the British attack. Having heard no shots from Fort McHenry, the
British assumed the American had run out of ammunition and sailed in closer.
Fort McHenry's guns suddenly opened fire, decimating Cochrane's fleet and
forcing the British to retreat to Jamaica. There, Cochrane prepared to attack
New Orleans.
