August 24, 1812 – 1st & Only Time Washington, D.C. Was Overrun by Invading Army

The “War of 1812” actually lasted until 1815, and was a conflict between the United States and Britain, and their respective allies. Britain was fighting a war against Napoleon in France, and to that end, enforced a naval blockade to cut off trade to France. Furthermore, Britain impressed American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy to help man the blockade. (Impressment refers to the act of taking men into a military or naval force by compulsion, with or without notice.)

Press gang, British caricature of 1780

In addition, the British were providing military support to Native Americans on the western American frontier, impeding American desires for expansion into that land (which was also a violation of treaties by America, but nonetheless….) Fourth, America had imperial goals of its own, such as the annexation of Canada.

Whatever the true cause, on June 18, 1812, United States President James Madison, after receiving heavy pressure from the War Hawks in Congress, signed the American declaration of war into law.

The British had a great deal of resources tied up in its war with Napoleon, but after the Treaty of Fontainebleau ending that war (and sending Napoleon into exile at Elba), Britain was free to increase the strength of the blockade on the United States coast. But not only was the U.S. government close to bankruptcy; the British were tired of fighting. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 14, 1814. The news however did not reach the U.S. until 1815, allowing for Andrew Jackson to make his mark as a hero at the Battle of New Orleans in January. The treaty was unanimously ratified by the United States on February 17, 1815, ending the war with status quo ante bellum (no boundary changes).

But the previous August, on this date in history, the British invaded Washington, D.C. and set the city ablaze. The President and his wife Dolley (who famously instructed a slave to grab the portrait of George Washington on her way out) fled to Brookeville, in Upper Montgomery County, Maryland, approximately 18 miles north of the District of Columbia. For one day during the War of 1812, it was the capital of the United States. (The portrait of Washington was actually a copy of Gilbert Stuart’s original.)

British soldiers set fire to Washington on August 24, 1814, prior to the worst storm that had been seen in Washington for years. (Image Source: National Archives)

The fires were still burning the next day. The WETA history blog reports that the mayors of neighboring Georgetown and Alexandria surrendered to British General Cockburn in exchange for their cities being spared.

Around midday on the 25th, American reinforcements arrived, and and began massing a few miles from the city to face the British lines on Capitol Hill. A true “act of God” intervened, however, in the form of a severe storm that struck the city.

Because weather terminology has changed since that time, it is unclear whether or not the storm was a tornado or a full-fledged hurricane. But as the WETA observes:

Whatever it was, however, its effect was enormous. The rain poured down, soaking troops from both sides and, incidentally, putting out most of the fires the British set.”

Moreover, severe winds uprooted trees, collapsed houses, and even lifted light cannons off the ground. The National Weather Service claims:

More British soldiers were killed by the tornado’s flying debris than by the guns of the American resistance.  . . . At least 30 Americans were killed or injured in the heavily damaged buildings and an unknown number of British were killed and injured.”

The storm lasted, according to a British eyewitness, nearly two hours without any letup. The British broke ranks, scattered, and retreated during the night.

WETA’s blog concludes:

It’s not every day that a war is called off due to the weather, but as DC residents can attest, you have to be prepared for anything; the British planned their invasion well, but they didn’t plan for Washington weather.”