THE+WHITE+HOUSE+IN+ASHES!!!


 * EXTRA EXTRA!! The White House in Ashes! **

A brave lady. “It was absolutely awful”, says Dolley Madison. “The White House was in flames and only I remained. It was very fortunate that I thought to collect the valuables, like General Washington’s painting. This event was truly tragic.” After everyone, including her body guard had fled. She gathered documents and other objects of importance. Mrs. Madison luckily left just moments before the soldiers arrived. They took souvenirs, 40 plates of food from the dinning hall, and they then set the building on fire. After considering these facts, the brave acts of the first lady were truly remarkable, and we all owe her our gratitude.  Why so much fire?! The recent event that took place at the white house was devastating to Americans. Our nation’s capital was attacked and torched by the British. This was partially our fault. Americans had burned the Parliament Building of Upper Canada. These exploits were against civilized laws. So, the British reaction was not pleasant. On August 24, 1814 British troops marched to Capital Hill, led by George Cockburn. They lit the House on fire and the Union Flag was raised over Washington. They scorched the Senate and House of Representative buildings, also the Library of Congress. The smoke was reportedly seen from as far away as Baltimore. The British also assaulted the United States Treasury and other public buildings. Damages.  After the White House was devoured in flames, only the exterior walls remained. The walls, however, had to be torn down due to the damage and weakening of the fire. The other important buildings were reported to be extensively damaged as well.

Afterwards For their defense, Americans burned many Army bases and forts, so the British wouldn’t take stores or ammunition. They spared a few structures such as the Marine Barracks. On August 25, General Ross sent 200 men to a fort on Greenleaf’s point. The fort had already been destroyed by the Americans, but 150 barrels of gunpowder remained. As the British were making an effort to dispose of the powder by dropping the barrels into a well, the gunpowder ignited. About 30 men were killed in the explosion, many others were badly injured Strange Coincidence Impossibly soon after the explosion a fierce tornado passed. It killed more British then American guns, it tossed cannons, and put out fires. It was strange how the tornado came at the time of the fires. The storm forced British troops to return to their ships, some of which were damaged by the storm, so they were only in Washington for a little over 24 hours. President Madison and the rest of the government returned to the Capital without hesitation.

 **In The End** The overall intention of the British was to burn some of the political facilities. After this was accomplished they left. There wasn’t any territory that they wanted to occupy or any other structure they wanted to attack. In the end, the acts of the British caused no American casualties. It was a somewhat h umiliating blow, but it didn’t have the effects wanted by the British.

by: Martie Swinhoe