The Burning of the White House: James and Dolley Madison and the War of 1812

by Jane Hampton Cook

Overview

It's unimaginable today, even for a generation that saw the Twin Towers fall and the Pentagon attacked. It's unimaginable because in 1814 enemies didn't fly overhead, they marched through the streets; and for 26 hours in August, the British enemy marched through Washington, D.C. and set fire to government buildings, including the U.S. Capitol and the White House.

Relying on first-hand accounts, historian Jane Hampton Cook weaves together several different narratives to create a vivid, multidimensional account of the burning of Washington, including the escalation that led to it and the immediate aftermath. From James and Dolley Madison to the British admiral who ordered the White House set aflame, historical figures are brought to life through their experience of this unprecedented attack. The Burning of the White House is the story of a city invaded, a presidential family displaced, a nation humbled, and an American spirit that somehow remained unbroken.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621574781
Publisher:	Skyhorse Publishing
Publication date:	08/15/2016
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	818,736
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

The list of Regnery authors reads like a "who's who" of conservative thought, action, and history.

Table of Contents

Author's Note xi

Part 1

1 The Pirate 3

2 Mighty Little Madison 11

3 Hello, Dolley 23

4 Dueling Strategies 33

5 Knickerbockers 45

6 Torpedo 59

7 Chesapeake Fever 67

8 Snubbed By Dolley 73

9 Washed Up at Craney 91

10 Atrocious Hampton 99

11 Dear Dolley 107

Part 2

12 The White House 123

13 Hospitality and Hostility 131

14 Noses For News 141

15 Not Your Average News Day 151

16 Superabundant Force 161

17 Twenty Thousand Reinforcements 173

18 Hanging Madison 183

19 Invasion 189

20 The British are Coming 201

21 Spyglasses 213

22 Bladensburg Races 225

23 Capitol Conflagration 235

24 White House Inferno 246

25 Displaced Or Conquered? 255

Part 3

26 Phoenix Spices 265

27 Phoenix Multitude 275

28 White House Phoenix 287

29 Dawn's Early Light 299

30 Relocating The Capital City 309

31 Poor Mrs. Madison 323

32 Presidents' Club 333

33 Uplifting News 341

34 Rise of the First Lady 353

Epilogue 361

Acknowledgments 369

Bibliography 371

Notes 381

Index 421

Editorial Reviews

" The Burning of the White House is an important look at one of the most underappreciated and perilous periods in our past. This book does a wonderful job of capturing the great leadership of not only President Madison but First Lady Dolley as well . . . Great job!"


— BRIAN KILMEADE, cohost of Fox & Friends, host of Kilmeade and Friends , and author of Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates



"Jane Hampton Cook once again brings to vivid life stories of the White House and its occupants and the times in which they lived. In her latest book, we learn about the figures around James and Dolley Madison—both historical and ordinary—who were witnesses to the divisive time in our nation’s history when we came dangerously close to losing the capital city and perhaps the Union itself."


— ANITA MCBRIDE, assistant to President George W. Bush and chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush, and executive in residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, School of Public Affairs at American University


" The Burning of the White House tells the exhilarating story of a pivotal moment in American history. Jane brings to life the fascinating men and women who helped our nation survive its second war for independence, and offers a captivating look at the burning of our capital city."


— CALLISTA GINGRICH, president of Gingrich Productions and author of the New York Times bestselling Ellis the Elephant Series


"Never have I read a more compelling rendition of the plots and subplots leading up to the dastardly burning of Washington, D.C. by the British in 1814, and its horrific destruction followed by the somber aftermath to rebuild a city by those whose very lives had been broken. The author is a master storyteller who makes history a true page-turner that contains all of the elements of a drama. She cleverly weaves pages seamlessly filled with quotes that become readable dialogue to flesh out protagonists, antagonists, intrigue, and conflict. This is real history that allows the reader to feel the emotions nearly always lacking in nonfiction."


— LUCINDA J. FRAILLY, director of education and special events coordinator, First Ladies National Historic Site, National First Ladies’ Library


"From the moment Jane Hampton Cook first toured the White House as an employee there, she herself was lit by a fire to tell the untold story of the woman who could be called our Founding Mother, Dolley Madison. Jane possesses both the scholarship and storyteller’s passion for bringing new generations into the intimate, immediately daring intrigues of our nation’s history. In short, she brings The Burning of the White House story alive in a way that emboldens us now to be better citizens, and to count our blessings for our forebears’ acts of great courage and prescience to imagine a better world for future Americans who will find themselves surprisingly inspired by the tales of those who built our democracy."


— BOBETTE BUSTER, story guru, former adjunct professor, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, writer/producer, and author of Do Story: How to Tell Your Story So the World Listens



"Author Jane Hampton Cook has done it again! She has written a well-researched new book entitled The Burning of the White House—James and Dolley Madison and the War of 1812. It is filled with historic facts, figures, and insightful stories about the buildup to the war, the lives of the fourth President of the United States and the First Lady, and the Executive Mansion. It is a wonderfully documented study of one of our nation’s early historical events."


— NANCY THEIS, presidential writer for President Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush


"Jane Hampton Cook has emerged as one of America’s leading and important historians, especially on the country’s early days. In her new book, The Burning of the White House, Cook reveals new facts about that awful event which were previously unknown. Her writing is lively and engaging, honest and fresh. Cook asks the reader to simply enjoy her book and no doubt many will. I did!"


— CRAIG SHIRLEY, Reagan biographer and presidential historian


"Jane Hampton Cook’s latest book proves to the reader to look to our past for the strength to guide us in our country’s future. In The Burning of the White House , the Madisons, through their commitment, bravery, and love of country, provide us an excellent lesson in hope and a determination to save our beloved nation. This book is more than an excellent tribute to people of substance; it is a reminder of what we nearly lost and must preserve."


— DR. LINDA SUNDQUIST-NASSIE, retired American history teacher and author of The Poetess of Song: The Life of Mary Shindler



" The Burning of the White House is a lively, engaging read. It’s told through some characters we don’t often meet, such as Senator Rufus King—Federalist and bitter opponent of President Madison—and offers a unique, fresh twist on a familiar story."


— MATTHEW GILMORE, editor, H-DC, Washington, D.C. History Network

From the Publisher

This audiobook comes along at an interesting time in our history. In 1814, as in 2001, this country was attacked by a hostile force that destroyed our people and our self-confidence. As in 2001, the United States fought back and repelled the immediate threat. But 1814 was also very different, and this audiobook uses new sources to tell the story of one of the most harrowing events in our past. Narrator Marguerite Gavin’s energetic, animated voice makes the story interesting, vital, and relevant. She mixes in some character voices, such as Dolley Madison’s, but generally reads this book in a straightforward manner. Gavin doesn’t get carried away by the battle scenes, giving us the opportunity to carefully follow the action and think about its consequences. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2016 - AudioFile