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The Burning Of Washington: The British Invasion Of 1814
In the hot and humid summer of 1814 British troops completed a fifty-mile march to capture the young American capital, putting to rout along the way pitiful citizen militiamen (some in winter gear, others barefoot) while President James Madison galloped out of town to safety. Among those remaining, a realization spread that Washington had been "abandoned to a horrid fate"....more
Hardcover, 298 pages
Published
by US Naval Institute Press
(first published July 1st 2000)
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While on a recent visit to Washington D.C. on business I took a few extra days to do some sight-seeing and happened by the American History Museum. As fortune would have it, the author of this book was seated at a small table near the exit with a stack of his books. Naturally unable to resist, I bought a copy of each. Now, having finished reading The Burning of Washington, I can unequivocally say that it was good fortune indeed. At the time I wondered at the mild irony of the author’s English ac...more
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The Burning of Washington by Anthony Pitch is a detailed and well written account of the British invasion of 1814 during which the British defeated the opposing American forces before marching into the Capital and putting parts of Washington to the torch, including the White House. This book is a most enjoyable read and in my mind is as good as Walter Lord's book The Dawn's Early Light which was first published in the early 1970's.
The book covers the Battle of Bladensburg, the abandonment of the...more
I knew very little about the burning of Washington, and while at Fort McHenry I saw this book. I'm always happy to buy books at little gift shops like this - better the money goes to the NPS than to Amazon.com or B&N.
Being fairly ignorant of the War of 1812, but at least familiar with the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, I was shocked to read what a small country it was. I had no idea that Lighthorse Harry Lee had nearly been killed by a mob in Baltimore, and was surprised to recognize t...more
Being fairly ignorant of the War of 1812, but at least familiar with the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, I was shocked to read what a small country it was. I had no idea that Lighthorse Harry Lee had nearly been killed by a mob in Baltimore, and was surprised to recognize t...more
The nation is impatient to go to war against the British, but has few resources to support the idea. A deficient American leadership and untrained, insufficient army fight chaotically outside the capitol before ultimately giving in to England's Major General Ross and Admiral Cockburn. The result: Washington gives up without much a fight, and a fire designed to prevent its navy yard from being captured by the British succeeds in burning large areas of the new city as well. The British, sometimes...more
This is a fascinating study of the British attack on Washington, incredilbly detailed and researched, and written with a flowing narrative. Pitch's extensive research does, however, cause him to trail off on too many side stories that muddle the pace and the intensity of the primary story. He could have been more selective or placed some of these minor tales in an appendix.
This book is extraordinary. Details of events was well explained. I could not put the book down. There was a lot of research of facts backing the historical events which had occured. I recommend any one to read this book. History in the making.
As Maryland attempts to cash in on the war of 1812, it's worth remembering how far from our finest hour it really was. This is an excellent account, with particular interest for those of us living in the neighborhood.
May 07, 2013
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