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Doubt, Confusion, and Dismay Saving the Records of Congress During the War of 1812

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Doubt, Confusion, and Dismay Saving the Records of Congress During the War of 1812 W Doubt, Confusion, and Dismay Saving the Records of Congress during the War of 1812 Location: ORIGINAL SENATE + HOUSE WINGS • Era: 1791 - 1814 Jane Armstrong Hudiburg — historical writer, specializing in the history of Congress and the Capitol Three days “before the destruction of the Capitol by the British, all in the City was doubt, confusion, and dismay.” The once crowded streets were now desert- ed. Able-bodied men had left for military service. Women, children, and the elderly escaped to the countryside. The busi- nesses were closed, and “every means of transportation” was in use. So wrote the Senate clerk, Lewis Machen, as he recalled the fearful atmosphere in Washington just This fanciful engraving from Richard Miller Devens’s Our First Century (1876) depicts the Capitol ablaze but includes the central prior to the British invasion on August 24, section of the building that had not yet been constructed. 1814 during the War of 1812.1 Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division Expecting an attack, the Capitol’s few account listed what was lost. The Sen- remaining House and Senate assistant ate account listed what was saved.2 The clerks worked hard to remove their cham- wealthy chief Clerk of the House was bers’ records. They lacked enough wag- forced to resign in disgrace, while an Afri- ons, though, to carry them all to safety. can American messenger won high praise Without supervisors to direct them, they on the Senate floor.3 frantically gathered the most important documents. Then, they fled for their own *** safety. After the Capitol burned, the clerks returned to salvage items from the ashes. The invasion occurred two years after They found there was little left to recover. Congress declared a state of war between the United States and Great Britain. In one The clerks’ efforts to save the congressio- of the early battles, American troops trav- nal records had mixed results. In both the elled to York, the colonial capital of Up- House and the Senate wings of the new per Canada (present-day Ontario). There, Capitol, priceless records were destroyed they captured the British fort. Then they and priceless records were preserved. burned the Parliament Building, governor’s However, the House of Representatives’ residence, and other public and private UNITED STATES CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Capitol Stories . uschs.org 1 W Doubt, Confusion, and Dismay • Saving the Records of Congress during the War of 1812 buildings. One year after the “Battle of They lacked enough wagons ... to carry York,” the British sought revenge in Washington. them all to safety. Without supervisors to direct them, they frantically gath- At the time of the attack, Patrick Magrud- er served as both Clerk of the House and ered the most important documents. Librarian of Congress. Illness, though, Then, they fled for their own safety. often kept him from his duties. In late July 1814, he departed the hot, humid city in an attempt to restore his health. His brother, had Burch released from military service. George, the principal clerk and an army Magruder ordered him back to the Capitol colonel, took charge of the Clerk’s Office. to collect documents “in case the enemy Another clerk maintained the Library of should get possession of the place.”8 Congress, then located in a grand room in the Capitol’s Senate wing.4 In a frantic burst of energy, Burch and Frost began gathering files on Monday. According to the assistant clerks, Samu- Still, they were not certain of an invasion, el Burch and John T. Frost, that July, the so they set aside committee reports that Capitol did not appear to be in danger. A needed updating. They also decided not few British vessels had been spotted in the to break into Col. Magruder’s locked desk, Chesapeake Bay. However, there were no which held a set of financial documents.9 reports that they were headed to Wash- ington. By the middle of August, though, Burch tore off in search of a vehicle to news arrived that the “enemy was in the transport the books and papers, but could bay, in great force.”5 not find an unused wagon or carriage. Finally, a House messenger obtained a Burch was called into military service cart and four oxen six miles from the city, and was forced to march from Washing- returning to the Capitol after dark on ton on August 20th.6 Two other House Monday night. The clerks and messengers clerks joined their artillery company, while shuttled the most valuable books and Col. George Magruder took command of papers to a “safe and secret place” nine the District of Columbia’s 1st Regiment. miles in the country. They repeated the This left Frost, an older man, alone in the process until they had to stop the morning Clerk’s Office.7 of August 24.10 Soon, Col. Magruder received word that At that time, Frost had the Library of Con- Burch was desperate to protect the House gress’s books ready for removal, but no records. On Sunday, the 21st, he boxes to contain them.11 Rushing from the UNITED STATES CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Capitol Stories . uschs.org 2 W Doubt, Confusion, and Dismay • Saving the Records of Congress during the War of 1812 the authority of the Senate, though, the clerk not only convinced the driver to turn over both the wagon and the hors- es, but also had the man travel back to the Capitol to help remove the records. Machen and the unnamed “waggoner” joined a Senate messenger, later identi- fied by Machen as “a black man named Tobias.” The three men packed the books and papers Machen found most valuable. As the sun set, and the wagon could hold no more, they headed to Machen’s coun- This mural by Allyn Cox illustrates the burning of the Capitol in try residence in Prince George’s County, the background. The Cox Corridors in the House wing, such as 14 the Hall of Capitals, which contains this image, are not included Maryland. on regular tours of the Capitol. USCHS Along the way, they faced two difficulties. building, he took the committee reports to While still within the city borders, a wagon a nearby home built by George Washing- wheel broke. “Without leave of the owner,” ton.12 In his haste, however, he forgot “the the men “borrowed” a new wheel from a Secret Journal of Congress,” as well as the blacksmith’s shop. Then, two miles from locked desk, containing the Clerk’s busi- Machen’s home, the wagon overturned, ness receipts. The loss of these receipts spilling its contents along the road. De- would lead to the Magruder brothers’ layed several hours, they finally reached downfall.13 their destination.15 Meanwhile, on the other side of the Capi- “The Fate of War has befallen the City of tol, Machen was busy collecting the Sen- Washington,” a newspaper reporter de- ate’s documents. He was one of the few clared on August 30th. The enemy de- men left in the Secretary of the Senate’s stroyed “the interior and combustible part Office. The first Secretary, Samuel Otis, of the Capitol.”16 Torched by the invading had died the previous April. Other clerks British, the “combustible part” included had left for military service, but Machen the remaining House and Senate records was not currently assigned to an army reg- and most of the Library of Congress’ 3000 iment. books and documents. On August 21, Machen tracked down a The British invaded Washington after de- wagon driver he knew, but the man was feating Col. Magruder’s troops at the reluctant to loan out the vehicle. Claiming nearby Battle of Bladensburg. Storming UNITED STATES CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Capitol Stories . uschs.org 3 W Doubt, Confusion, and Dismay • Saving the Records of Congress during the War of 1812 the Capitol, they built a bonfire in the had mismanaged the House accounts. ornate House Chamber. In the basement, They found that local businesses had they set fire to the committee rooms and overcharged the Clerk’s Office by several the Clerk’s Office. Soon, the remaining thousands of dollars.21 Since the receipts papers and furniture, including Magruder’s had burned, there was no way for George desk, burned so hot, the soldiers had to to confirm the expenses. leave the wing.17 In January 1815, the committee considered On the Senate side, the Library’s books removing Patrick from office.22 Furious, created a tremendous blaze. The flames Magruder quit before he could be voted engulfed the Senate chamber, fueled by out. In his resignation letter, he wished his the elegant drapery and carpets. The replacement “an easier and happier time” soldiers then burned the White House in the job and stated his belief that “truth and the Treasury building. They set fire to is great, and will prevail.”23 a number of private residences, as well, including the George Washington house Unlike the House, the Senate did not that sheltered the now doomed House examine its clerks’ efforts to save docu- committee reports.18 ments. In fact, official records make no mention of those efforts, except for one Weeks after the catastrophe, Burch and reference to the messenger named Tobias Frost provided Patrick Magruder with a Simpson. On March 1, 1815, the Senate list of the items destroyed. They noted the committee reports and the Secret Journal of Congress (much of which was printed elsewhere). The loss also included manu- script papers dated before 1799, several printed books, and all of George Magrud- er’s expense records. With sadness, they concluded, all the records, as well as the Library of Congress’s books, would now be safe “if carriages could have been pro- cured.”19 In the fall and early winter, a House com- mittee reviewed the loss of records.20 The members criticized Patrick for not provid- This engraving appeared in William Cullen Bryant’s A Popular History of the United States (1881).
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