The Battle Begins
Aside from fighting against the Americans, the British were also engaged in war with the French. Their fighting with the French ceased in 1814. Now they would be able to focus all of their resources and attention on defeating the Americans. As a result, thousands of British soldiers from Canada invaded the United States in the summer of 1814.
American soldiers met the British head on and forced them to retreat. However, things were a little different on August 24, 1814. President James Madison and his wife, Dolly, were informed that a fleet of British ships had arrived in the Chesapeake Bay. The troops left their ships and headed towards Washington, D.C. The British went about burning and destroying the capitol, including the President’s home, the White House. Once the soldiers left Washington, they moved on to Baltimore, Maryland.
Francis Scott Key, who was a lawyer and who witnessed the attacks in Maryland, eloquently described the brutal deeds of the British, and the determination and strength of the American forces. His words would later be immortalized in the “Star Spangled Banner.” Somehow, American forces were able to ward off the British and force them to once again retreat. At this time, morale was low for the nation. Many Americans grew critical of the President and dubbed the events “Mr. Madison’s War.”
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