BGES Presents A Bicentennial Commemoration: The War of 1812, Washington in Flames November 1-4, 2012

Transcription

1 BGES Presents A Bicentennial Commemoration: The War of 1812, Washington in Flames November 1-4, 2012 The British had paid little attention to the irritations created by the American government. As was usual the intramural wars between the European powers had occupied the British and little consequence was attached to the Americans boldness. There were of course significant issues of more importance to the young Madison administration than to a historic world power like the British. The impressments of sailors from military and commercial vessels threatened the sovereignty of the new republic. Unfair trade stifled American commerce and American growth was being retarded by conflicts with Native American tribes that were being supplied and encouraged by the British. Americans had thought that Canada might be the 14 th colony and the politicians in Washington believed a war with England might inspire those separatists to align with the Americans. After two years, the British were ready to cane the insolent former colonists. By the summer of 1814, British Admiral George Cockburn had convinced ground forces commander Major General Robert Ross that the American capital, Washington, was vulnerable and might be captured in a lightning stroke which could end the war. Ross landed at Benedict, Maryland and marched overland catching the American forces unprepared. Although outnumbered nearly 2 to 1, Ross s 4,000 men attacked the Americans under General Winder at the village of Bladensburg. Just about three weeks later on September 12 th, Ross again landing his forces this time to move against Baltimore. Standing in his way were more American soldiers and a fort which would soon epitomize the spirit of the American experiment. This battle for Baltimore one of America s greatest ports would determine the future of our country. Welcome. As much as I would like to do this in chronological order this isn t practical because of the traffic in and around Washington. Rather than fight the workday crowd we will do the battle for Baltimore on Friday and Washington on Saturday. Then in a rare Sunday addition we will extend the program to visit the USS Constellation and the United States Naval Academy museum. Our 2 PM finish will still give you plenty of time to catch a flight or get well down the road towards your home. Thursday, November 1, 2012 We will gather at 6 PM at the headquarters hotel for registration, introductory comments and an opening lecture. Bert Dunkerly will introduce the War of 1812, its politics and elaborate on the practical effects of the causes on both the British and Americans. Then we will release so that you can go find some great Maryland Crab Cakes. Get a good night of sleep as we will start at 8 AM the next morning. Friday, November 2, 2012

2 We are out and about leaving the hotel at 9 AM although later than we normally leave it does allow the bulk of the DC area morning congestion to disperse. This is a two part program involving two amphibious landings. We will do the second one first and ask you to treat each as the separate event that it was. The battle of Baltimore was fought about 14 miles from Baltimore near the British landing site at North Point. The attack was not unexpected and on September 11, 1814, Baltimore militia encamped astride the North Point Road near the Methodist Meeting House. They were in three lines with a total depth of about ½ mile. General Ross flushed with success from his victory near Washington landed on September 12 th with 5,000 men. They immediately moved inland. Confronted by 2,700 militia the American position held by General John Stricker was a strong one anchored on Bear Creek and Back River a flanking maneuver was impossible. We will visit those sites and fight the battle this morning. For Ross it would be his last mortally wounded while surveying the American position, he died shortly thereafter and there is a monument to his memory near by. Although Ross was killed his men carried the line by focusing fire with rockets on one flank and then bursting through the weakened position. The victory was a bloody one and the British lost over 300 men while the defenders lost over 200 a fair proportion to holding the defensive line. The battle at North Point and the death of Ross slowed the British ground assault and with the breaking of the American line there was no pursuit. This allowed the Americans to shore up their main land defenses another few miles back. We will go to that main American line and the most troublesome aspect of it for the British, Rodgers Bastion. The next day, prior to assaulting, Colonel Arthur Brooke asked the Royal Navy to silence artillery on that point. They were unable and with the failure of the navy to subdue Fort McHenry, Baltimore was safe. We will of course finish the day with an extensive visit to Fort McHenry if you don t get goose bumps there then you are not paying attention. It will be a wonderful wrap to the day. We are providing lunch but you can get dinner on your own after Bryan Hagen, a highly regarded docent from Montpelier, presents a talk on the presidency of James Madison and the memorable influence of his wife, Dolly. Saturday, November 3, 2012 Once again we are out and about at 9 AM even on Saturday there are rush hours. This time we will set Mr. Peabody s Way back machine to August 19 th, Here in the stifling heat of a sultry August day, General Ross came ashore with approximately 4400 soldiers intent on capturing the national capital at Washington. The landing was a surprise to the Americans and General Winder mustered nearly 7,000 untrained and inexperienced militia at Bladensburg.

3 The harassed general deployed the men in three lines astride the Bladensburg Road but committed the capital sin of placing them in positions which did not support each other if effect cutting his force by two thirds. The British veterans were quick to exploit the mistake and after hitting the first line at a bridge near the east branch of the Potomac River they stampeded the Americans main line and secondary line without noticeable delay. By the time the British reached the third line they encountered land based naval forces commanded by Commodore Joshua Barney manning five heavy naval guns. The immobile nature of the position soon allowed the British 85 th Foot to overrun the position, capturing the guns, Barney and a number of Americans. The results were amazing: 2,600 British soldiers engaged nearly 6,000 men, routing them and carrying the field. Washington fell that evening. We too will now enter Washington using a Metro stop and acting like tourists. In doing so we will save much time en route and not find ourselves parking and reparking our vans. While in DC we will go to the Capitol and discuss its sacking. We will then do windscreen tours of other key sites to include the White House, the Patent office, the Octagon House, the Smithsonian Museum of History and Technology and finishing with the Washington Naval Yard and its splendid museum. This is the same site which American Commodore Thomas Tingey burned when the British entered the city. He did so to keep naval materials from being confiscated by the British. We will provide lunch and again you will enjoy dinner on your own. Sunday, November 4, 2012 We have two touristy types of things to do today. We will start at Baltimore Harbor with a standard guided tour of the USS Constellation. Built in 1799, she was not a key participant in the War of 1812 since she was blockaded in the Elizabeth River of Norfolk. She is important to visit though because this war is about maritime superiority and Constellation, like the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) and the USS United States were the state of the art vessel. Walking her decks you will get that sense. By noon, after an early lunch, we will be on our way to Annapolis and the United States Naval Academy. How can we not visit her museum in Decatur Hall. They have captured flags from the War of 1812, the greatest collection of naval war art including the classic War of 1812 naval engagements and other artifacts worth seeing. You can expect to be back at the hotel by 3 PM. You can of course follow us and leave from Annapolis if you wish. All in all I think this will agree this ignored and unknown American war deserves much more and you will be on the cutting edge of commemorative programs. Join us in 2013 at Niagara Falls. About the Faculty: Robert Bert M. Dunkerly is a historian, award-winning author, and speaker who is actively involved in historic preservation and research. He holds a degree in History from St. Vincent College and a Masters in Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. He has worked at nine historic sites, written seven books and over

4 twenty articles. His research includes archaeology, colonial life, military history, and historic commemoration. Dunkerly is currently a Park Ranger at Richmond National Battlefield Park. He has visited over 400 battlefields and over 700 historic sites worldwide. When not reading or writing, he enjoys hiking, camping, and photography. Mark Swift lives with his wife Gloria in Savannah, GA. He had been a volunteer at such sites as Monocacy Battlefield, Fords Theatre, Fort McHenry and National Shrine. He currently serves on the Cannon Crew at Fort Pulaski in Savannah, Ga. He enjoys reading about military history from the French and Indian War, to World War Two. Mark is an Independent Living Coordinator for a Center for Independent Living in Savannah. He had worked with people with Disabilities since Bryan Hagen lives with his wife, Jenny, in Charlottesville, Virginia, having relocated from Minnesota eight years ago. He is a veteran campaigner with the BGES group and works as a guide and host for the Wounded Warriors Program. He and his son, Ben (also a BGES campaigner) are proud sponsors of a cannon at the Raymond, Mississippi Battlefield. Bryan is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch and also works as a guide at Montpelier, the home of James and Dolly Madison which is located near Orange, Virginia. In his roll as an interpreter at Montpelier he has intensely studied the lives, careers, and the times of the Madisons with a special emphasis on Madison s role in the development of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the War of He is also a participant in local Charlottesville historic events as a reenactor. Site and Hotel: Join us at the LaQuinta Inn and Suites, BWI Airport, 1734 West Nursery Rd., Linthicum, MD The reservations number is We have a block of rooms and you should ask for the Blue and Gray rate of $79 plus tax (Normal rate is $89.27) single or double. This applies from November 1st through the 4th. Rate includes full breakfast and airport shuttle service 24 hours per day. Past customers rate the hotel 9.0 on a 10 point scale. Airport and Transportation Arrangements: The servicing airport is Baltimore Washington (BWI). We will select a hotel that has an airport shuttle. If you come from another airport then SuperShuttle may be your best route to our hotel. You can also rent a car or drive to the event. Key Publications and Recommended Reading (includes shipping and handling) Donald Hickey, The War of 1812, A Forgotten Conflict, $25 Mark Jenkins, David Taylor, and Douglas Brinkley,The War of 1812 and the Rise of the United States Navy $35 Anthony Pitch, The Burning of Washington, The British Invasion of 1814 $23 Charles Muller, The Darkest Day, The Washington-Baltimore Campaign of 1814 $24 Eshelman, Ralph, et. al. The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake $60 Lord, Water. The Dawn s Early Light $30

5 2012 BGES Registration Form BGES Bicentennial Commemoration, The War of 1812: Washington in Flames November 1-4, 2012 Name (s): Address: Phone: Registration $775 Additional Family Member $625 Deposit only per person $300 Net Due on or before October 30th, 2012 BGES member $725 Additional Family Member $575 Full time Teacher or student, confirmation may be required, $650 I am not a member of the BGES send me membership information Send me the books I ve indicated. I ve enclosed $. Total Enclosed: $ Make checks payable to BGES and mail to PO Box 1176, Chatham, VA or call Charge my Discover Mastercard VISA American Express $ # Exp: Vin Code: Signature: You may fax your credit card registration to or register on line at using PayPal