Thomas-Bentley House (Brookeville White House)

The War of 1812 took place between the young United States and the British Empire over British violations of US maritime rights. Due to constant waring between France and the UK, the US was often attempting to trade with both countries whilst each tried to get the US to stop trading with the other. With conflicting french and British decrees in the early 1800s, a neutral American ship that obtained a British license would be captured by the French, and if the same ship complied with the French, they could face capture by the British.

With increased tensions due to American Indians siding with the British in local conflicts, Americans believing the British were the cause of tensions with American Indians, and the British believed the US was complying with the French maritime system, war was declared by James Madison on June 18, 1812, with heavy support in the west and south, although New Englanders had less support for the war.

Due to the English already fighting the French, forces for the North American war were scarce. Opening American attacks on Canada were unsuccessful. Through 1813, continued assaults on Canada continued with mixed results. Although single ship battles were often won be Americans, the Royal Navy blockaded the whole East Coast by 1814. After the defeat of Napolean in 1814, many more forces were available to come to the United States.

Directed by British Admiral Alexandar Cochrane, the British conducted assaults against the Chesapeake Bay Area. On August 24, 1814, Cochrane's forces captured Washington and burned government buildings like the Capitol and White House (Executive Mansion), in retaliation for the US burning of Toronto in 1813. On August 22, James Madison had left the White House to his wife to meet his generals on the battlefield because British forces were nearing Washington. Before leaving, James Madison had asked his wife Dolly to gather important state papers and be ready to abandon the White House at a moment's notice. On August 23, Dolly Madison and servants spotted British soldiers in the distance, and Dolly Madison decided to save the portrait of First President George Washington.

On August 24, British soldiers reached the White House and feasted on food using the President's china and silverware and then burned it down. After the President had left, when the British had burned the White House, he had headed south, into Virginia, but later turned North towards Maryland in hopes of encountering more American troops. On the evening of August 26th, the President arrived by carriage in Brookeville asking for accommodations.

However, at the first house, the house of Mr. James Pleasants, President Madison was turned away, as Mr. Pleasants refused to wake, even for the President! The next house, the house of Mr Richard Thomas, also turned away the President! Thomas was a Federalist and had no wanting to accept a President who started the distasteful war in the first place. Finally, he was invited to the Thomas Bentley home where Caleb Bentley resided. He asked for only one room for his officers, and he himself did not even take a room, instead, sitting in an armchair (which later became a family heirloom) the whole night attending to business, dispatching orders and letters. Troops stationed around the house reportedly destroyed Ms. Bentley's flower garden with their constant marching.

On the morning of August 27, the President was informed that the British troops had left Washington, and were going to Baltimore to take Fort McHenry. Later, the British bombardment of Fort McHenry would lead Francis Scott Key to pen the Star-Spangled Banner, National Anthem of the United States.

Bacon, Kyle. Caleb Bentley (1762-1851), Archives of Maryland. 2012. Accessed January 4th 2021. https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/015800/015889/html/15889bio.html

Bacon, Kyle. Bentley Property, Archives of Maryland. 2012. Accessed January 4th 2021. https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc6000/sc6023/brookevillelots/bentleyhouse/html/bentleyhouse.html

Hughes, Will. Capital for a Day, Boundary Stones. November 14th 2012. Accessed January 4th 2021. https://boundarystones.weta.org/2012/11/14/capital-day

History.com Editors. Dolley Madison saves portrait from British, History. August 20th 2020. Accessed January 4th 2021. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dolley-madison-saves-portrait-from-british

Heidler, Jeanne T. War of 1812, Encyclopedia Britannica. September 10th 2020. Accessed January 4th 2021. https://www.britannica.com/event/War-of-1812.