DIARY OF MRS. WILLIAM THORNTON. CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON BY THE

BRITISH.

PREFATORY NOTE.

The subjoined account of the invasion of the city by the British on August 24, 1814, and of the scenes and incidents following it, forms a part of the journal of Mrs. William Thornton extending from 1800 to 1863 and now in the manuscript division of the Library of Congress. While this record, which with the exception of the first year is mainly an expense account, was kept in small books, the description of the capture of Washington is on sheets of paper. As it supplies a gap in the journal, it may be concluded that the Thorntons in common with a large number of the citizens of Washington, sent their papers and valuables out of the city when the situation became threatening. Owing to the circumstances as stated in the journal, Mrs. Thornton did not follow her property, which was probably sent to their farm at Bethesda, Md. In consequence she was unable to continue the record in her journal and instead used sheets of paper.

At this time, however, as was the case with the journalizing of the first year, she wrote more in detail. After this period the record again becomes meager.

This account of an eye witness, who put down each day what she saw and heard, is the only one of the kind that has been preserved. It begins with the first actual movement of troops in defense of the city after the government had learned that the British fleet with veterans from the Napoleonic war in Europe had en

tered the Patuxent. Two days after sending out this force of some 2,200 men, the British troops, numbering some four thousand, landed from the ships at Benedict, some thirty-five miles southeast of the city, and began the march which ended four days later, on August 24, in the battle of Bladensburg.

On the 18th of August, as Mrs. Thornton states, the troops from the city, mostly militia companies from Washington and Georgetown, went into camp at Woodyard, twelve miles to the east and south of the city. Falling back in the face of the steady advance of the enemy, four days later, on August 22, the American camp was at Old Fields, five miles nearer the city. On the evening of the following day as they were threatened by skirmish parties from the main body, then making its way to Bladensburg by the Marlboro Road, the Americans retired across the Eastern Branch bridge into the city where they went into camp.

The next day a junction was made with the main army at Bladensburg where the battle was fought. W. B. BRYAN.

March 4, 1916.

DIARY.

Thursday 18 our troops marched over the Eastern Branch:

Friday 19

Saturday 20
Sunday 21st

Monday 224. Mrs. Cutts1 & Forrest went away. The president went to the camp this evening with Mr. Armstrong2 etc.

Her

1 Mrs. Richard Cutts, sister of the wife of President Madison. husband was the superintendent of military supplies. The Cuttses were living in a house on the site of 1333-35 F St. northwest, where the Madisons had lived during the latter portion of Mr. Madison's service as secretary of state. The Thorntons lived in the next house, now the site of 1331 F St.

2 John Armstrong, secretary of war, who resigned shortly after the invasion of the city in consequence of the criticism of his war administration.

Tuesday 23a Dr. T. went to day with Mr. Cutts & Mr. Ra. Forrest intending to go to the Camp near the Wood Yard but met the president and suite and Dr. T. & Mr. C. went with them to dine at Mr. Williams near Bladensburg-Dr. T. rode, reconnoitering with Col. Monroe Mr Chas. Carroll Rush & Ringgold3 and returned at midnight—Mr. and Mrs Cutting slept here-Had the horses harnessed ready to go off as we had several accts. that the enemy were near Bladensburg.—Our troops all came over the bridge again. This as since proved was a great error in Winder & all engaged, for if they had had correct information they wou'd have known they were not marching towards the bridge, & instead of crossing into the city that night, (which gave the troops an opportunity of dispersing, particularly those who had families or homes in the City they ought to have sent a small party to destroy the end only of the bridge of the further side & then got their army into proper order in the neighborhood of Bladensburg by which way only they cou'd enter the City-Instead of this the troops were marched off their legs-were even late in the day in various parts of the City & were hastily gathered together to meet a regular force who tho' likewise fatigued by a long & forced march, had a regular plan, had discipline & a desperate attempt to make to succeed in a plan both bold & hazardous & it is the general opinion that if the force we had tho' inexperienced had been judiciously arranged the enemy might have been cut off or taken— It was not even attempted to rally them but they were ordered to retreat first to the capitol then over the little falls bridge & finally it was changed to Montgomery Court House a distance of at least 22 miles- & the baggage waggons sent a different route over the potomac Bridge.

One of the prisoners said he had been in 38 engagements & had never been treated with indignity & insult as he was in Bladensburg.

Wednesday 24th: No accounts at ten this morning of the course of the Enemy Almost all our acquaintance gone out

3 James Monroe, secretary of state, Charles Carroll, of Bellevue, Georgetown, a brother of Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, Richard Rush, the attorney general, and Tench Ringgold, a resident of the city and the owner of a rope walk in the vicinity of Greenleaf Point.

of town. nearly All the moveable property taken awayoffices shut up & all business at a stand.—

We heard rumours that the armies had engaged, & expected to hear the cannon &c but heard nothing-at last saw a man riding as hard as possible toward the president's house we went up soon after & found that Mrs M— was goneWe sat down to dinner but I cou'd eat nothing and we dilly dally'd till we saw our retreating army come up the avenue -we then hastened away, and were escorted out of town by our Defeated troops, Gen'l Washington's picture and a cart load of goods from the president's House in Company-(it was supposed that Mr. Custis got some of the soldiers' to take out this picture). When we got to the upper part of GeorgeT"-we met Mr. Richards who advised us not to proceed up the road, as it was crowded with troops &c & that there was a rumour that the British were to head them that way & give them Battle Dr. T. having gone round by Mr. peter's we did not know what step to take but decided to go to Mr. peter's and wait till we cou'd send for him-I sent off John on one of the carriage horses & he did not overtake him till he got to Tennely Town he supposing we were before him1 -We staid all night at Mrs peter's (Mrs. Cutting with us) and there witnessed the conflagration of our poor undefended & devoted city

Thursday 25th-Dr. T. went to the City & by his exertions, saved the patent office from destruction-They were on the point of setting it on fire & he represented to the officer (Col. Jones) that it was the Museum of the Arts & that it wou'd be a loss to all the world-The war office was not burnt till after

4 Tenleytown, as it is now written, was a hamlet in the District on the road from Georgetown to Rockville or Montgomery Court House, as it is spoken of by Mrs. Thornton. The distance from the city was about four miles. At Tenleytown the River Road begins and it was on that road a little north of Tenleytown that the American troops made their first night encampment after leaving the city.

5 It is presumed that Mrs. Thomas Peter is referred to. She was the granddaughter of Mrs. Washington and lived at Tudor Place, 31st and Q Sts.

breakfast today-The rope walks were burnt. We had a dreadful storm & gust but fortunately accompanied with rain -the weather during all the fires fortunately was very calm, but it appears almost miraculous that the whole place was not consumed.-—But great pains was taken by the English not to injure private property-It is feared that very little property had been saved out of the president's House-Dr. T.returned to dinner-& went out at 21⁄2 after 4 for our farm.—

Friday 26-Dr. T. went to town-we went over to Mr Bradley's to see Mr Cutts we there heard from Mr. Johnson that the Enemy had left the City-Dr. T. did not return till late in the Evng he had been exerting himself to prevent the property left in the ruins of the Navy Yard, Capitol-P. H. and Executive office from being pillaged & getting guards of the English & Citizens appointed to patrole & sending Carts for our wounded men who were still on the Common.-He brought us the disagreable account that the English are likely to return. They are gone it is supposed to Baltimore they have left behind some wounded men—whom Dr. J. Ewell had humanely attended, & Dr. T. directed the Expenses of Provisions &c to be charged to him—Never was there such a complete discomfiture of an army-the poor Creatures were marched to death on a dreadfully hot day before the Engage

6 The patent office was in the building at the northeast corner of 8th and E Sts. northwest, where was also the post office department and the city post office. Originally built for hotel purposes it was purchased by the government in 1810.

The war office occupied the executive building to the west of the White House and on a line with the south front. The treasury building had a corresponding position on the east side of the White House. These three were the only publicly owned executive buildings in the city.

The rope walks, two in number, were in the southern section between the navy yard and the arsenal.

7 Dr. James Ewell was a practicing physician whose house at the northeast corner of 1st and A Sts. northeast, overlooking the grounds of the capitol, was occupied by Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn during the stay of the British in the city. He was a brother-in-law of the eccentric Virginia minister, Mason L. Weems, and a brother of Dr. Thomas Ewell who married a daughter of Benjamin Stoddert and who was a resident of the city.