The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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MEMORANDUM |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
MEMORANDUM
In the morning, a note, by an express from General Winder
was handed me. It was addressed to the Secretary of War.
Not doubting the urgency of the occasion, I opened and
read it, and it went on immediately by the Express to Genl.
Armstrong who lodged in the Seven Buildings. Finding by
the note that the General requested the speediest counsel,
I proceeded to his Head Quarters on the Eastern Branch,
note from Winder. On my reaching his quarters, we were
successively joined by the Secretary of State [who soon with
our approbation repaired to Bladensburg] the Secretary of
the Navy, and Mr. Rush, the Attorney General. After an
hour or so, the Secretary of the Treasury arrived, and quickly
after the Secretary of War. The latter had been impatiently
expected, and surprize at his delay manifested. Gen. Winder
was, at the moment setting off to hurry on the troops to
Bladensburg in consequence of certain intelligence that the
Enemy had taken that direction. Barney's corps was also
ordered thither, leaving the Bridge to be blown up if necessary.
On Gen. Armstrong's coming into the room, he was
informed of the certain march of the enemy for Bladensburg,
and of what had passed before his arrival; and he was asked
whether he had any arrangement or advice to offer in the
emergency. He said he had not; adding, that as the battle
would be between Militia and regular troops, the former would
be beaten.
On coming out of the house and mounting our horses, the
Secretary of the Treasury, who though in a very languid state
of health had turned out to join us, observed to me privately
that he was grieved to see the great reserve of the Secretary
of War, [he lodged in the same house with him] who was taking
no part on so critical an occasion; that he found him under
the impression, that as the means of defending the District
had been committed to Genl. Winder, it might not be delicate
to intrude his opinions without the approbation of the President;
tho' with that approbation he was ready to give any
aid he could. Mr. Campbell said that notwithstanding his just
confidence in Genl. Winder, he thought, in the present state
of things which called for all the military skill possible, the
Military knowledge and experience of the Secretary of War
ought to be availed of, and that no considerations of delicacy
ought to jeopard the public safety. With these impressions
he said, he had thought it his duty to make this communication,
steps in the case. I told him I could scarcely conceive it
possible that Genl. Armstrong could have so misconstrued his
functions and duty as Secretary of war; that he could not
but know that any proper directions from him would receive
any sanction that might be necessary from the Executive;
nor doubt that any suggestions or advice from him to Genl.
Winder would be duly attended to [in this case it had been
requested in writing] I told Mr. C. that I would speak to the
Secretary of War explicitly on the subject; and accordingly
turning my horse to him, expressed to him my concern and
surprise at the reserve he shewed at the present crisis, and
at the scruples I understood he had at offering his advice or
opinions; that I hoped he had not construed the paper
of instructions given him some time before, [see the paper of
Augt. 13, 1814] so as to restrain him in any respect from the
exercise of functions belonging to his office; that at such a
juncture it was to be expected that he should omit nothing
within the proper agency of Secretary of War, towards the
public defence; and that I thought it proper particularly
that he should proceed to Bladensburg and give any aid to
Genl. Winder that he could; observing that if any difficulty on
the score of authority should arise, which was not likely, I
should be near at hand to remove it [it was my purpose in
case there should be time, to have the members of the Cabinet
together in Bladensburg, where it was expected Genl. Winder
would be, and in consultation with him to decide on the
arrangements suited to the posture of things.] He said in
reply that he had put no such construction on the paper of
instructions as was alluded to; and that as I thought it
proper, he would proceed to Bladensburg, and be of any
service to Genl. Winder he could. The purport of this conversation
I communicated to Mr. Campbell who remained near us.
The Secretary of War set off without delay to Bladensburg.
After a short turn to the Marine barracks whither the
Secretary of the Navy had gone, I mentioned to Mr. Rush
my object in so doing. He readily accompanied me. On
approaching the Town, we learned from William Simmons,
that Winder was not there, and that the enemy were entering
it. We rode up to him [Winder] instantly. The Secretaries
of State and War were with him. I asked the latter whether
he had spoken with Genl. Winder on the subject of his arrangements
and views. He said he had not. I remarked that
tho' there was so little time for it, it was possible he might
offer some advice or suggestion that might not be too late,
to be turned to account; on which he rode up to the General
as I did myself. The unruliness of my horse prevented me
from joining in the short conversation that took place. When
it was over, I asked Genl. Armstrong whether he had seen
occasion to suggest any improvement in any part of the
arrangements. He said that he had not; that from his view
of them they appeared to be as good as circumstances
admitted.
When the Battle had decidedly commenced, I observed
to the Secretary of War and Secretary of State that it would
be proper to withdraw to a position in the rear, where we
could act according to circumstances; leaving military movements
now to the military functionaries who were responsible
for them. This we did, Mr. Rush soon joining us. When
it became manifest that the battle was lost; Mr. Rush accompanying
me, I fell down into the road leading to the city
and returned to it.
It had been previously settled that in the event of the
enemy's taking possession of the city, and the necessity of
Executive consultations elsewhere, Fredericktown would be
the proper place for the assembling of the Cabinet.[86]
The memorandum was evidently written contemporaneously with
the events it describes. It was copied by Madison's direction in 1824
for the Armstrong statement (see ante p. 280 n.), the portions in
brackets being then inserted.
It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, when the President
and Rush started for Washington. As they rode along slowly, the
stream of flying militiamen and civilians poured past them, and they
realized what had happened. The President reached the White
House about three o'clock, and at six crossed the river in a boat, taking
a carriage on the Virginia shore, accompanied by Secretary Jones
and Attorney General Rush, and drove to a house a few miles above
the Little Falls of the Potomac, where he passed the night. The next
morning, August 25th, he went on further for six miles to an inn,
where he found Mrs. Madison awaiting him. There he remained all
day and part of the night, and was insulted by some of the refugees,
who held him responsible for their misfortunes. In the dead of night
a report came that the enemy was approaching, and the President
left the inn, going to a hovel deeper in the woods, where he spent the
rest of the night. The next day he crossed the river and went to
Montgomery Court House, Maryland, and then on to Brookville, a
Quaker settlement, whence he sent notes to his Cabinet to rejoin him
at Washington, the enemy having left the city. He himself reached
the city at five o'clock, having been absent three days. The White
House having been burned and partially destroyed by the enemy,
he went to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Anna Cutts's, house on F street about
a block from the Treasury Department, where he remained for a
month, when he moved into the Octagon House belonging to Col.
John Tayloe, at the corner of New York Avenue and Nineteenth
Street.—Hunt's Life of Madison, 331 et seq.
| The writings of James Madison, | |