E. J. Harrison to William Harrison with news of the surrender of Washington, D.C. to the British - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC05783
From Archive Folder	Documents Relating to 1814
Title	E. J. Harrison to William Harrison with news of the surrender of Washington, D.C. to the British
Date	30 August 1814
Author	Harrison, E. J. (fl. 1814)
Recipient	Harrison, William Henry
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	During the War of 1812, a soldier writes to his father with news of the British attack on Washington, D.C. and the shameful behavior of Americans who surrendered.
Subjects	Military History War of 1812 Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Washington, D.C. Surrender
People	Harrison, H. (fl. 1814) Harrison, William (fl. 1814)
Place written	Richmond, Virginia
Theme	War of 1812; Foreign Affairs
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Richmond Aug 30, 1814 My Dear Father, I am very unexpectedly at this place - got here then night before last, & am just setting off [for] home - my business was the arrangement of some large money matters which I have completed. You have undoubtedly heard of the Capture of Washington, by the British - no official a/c of which[,] strange as it is, has yet been Recd.! The report from a variety of private Letters however is that they [illegible] against the City on Wednesday last with 8,000 men - that we had about 5,000 - that we sent them 5 miles below the City, & after a short Engagement our Troops gave way & the Enemy took possession of the City the same Evening - that they have paid great respect to [private] private property - Destroyed the Capitol, presidents house, and other publick property only! Then they left the City on Thursday night, Destination unknown, but supposed their shipping (about 30 miles off) or Baltimore, the former thought Generally believed - that not many lives are lost on either Side - but most on the Side of the Enemy - no prisoners taken on either side - The president, & all the officers of Government, were in the action. A letter Recd. here [2] from Genl. Parker states, that Alexandria surrendered on Sunday last, without opposition &c &c all what is Convened highly disgracefull to our Army & the constituted Authorities - There is Considerable alarm here - though I don't apprehend, an attack at this place at all - there are [a] Vast number of troops coming in Every hour, and there is no doubt but there will be 10,000 men here in the course of a week - the best blood of the Country, Christian Volunteers - if they make an attack on this place I have no doubt, of their meeting with defeat. I am uneasy about Jordan & Ghiha, but suppose, but suppose your neighbourhood, is land quite safe - as they will not attempt to come by water - I shall however[,] for fear of the worst, send [illegible], [illegible]. As soon as [they] get up - as you may [illegible]. the John Adams , Frigate, is hourly expected, with dispatches from our ____ I just most Ardently She would Arrive, as I think it would put an end to the war. In great haste, I remain with Love EJ Harrison

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