On August 17, 1814, 4000 British troops began landing in Maryland. In nearby Washington, President Madison, fearing for the security of the capital, but with no regular troops at hand, called out the militia.
As thousands of Washingtonians packed their belongings and left town, First Lady Dolley Madison resolved to stay with her husband and, if necessary, oversee the evacuation of the White House.
By midday on Wednesday, August 24, 1814, British troops marching from Bladensburg stood poised to attack Washington. Convinced by friends that it was time to flee, the First Lady pointed to Gilbert Stuart’s full-length portrait of President George Washington. “Save that picture, if possible,” she instructed Paul Jennings, a 15-year-old enslaved African-American. “If not possible, destroy it: under no circ*mstance allow it to fall into the hands of the British.”
Madison initially ordered Jennings to help remove the entire portrait, frame and all, from the White House wall. But with the British approaching and time running short, she ordered Jennings to break the frame apart so the canvas could be removed with a knife. Two friends of the Madison family then carted the portrait away, storing it in a farmhouse outside Washington for safekeeping.
After the repair of the White House from fire damage, Washington’s portrait returned to the executive mansion. It is the only item currently on display that was present when the White House opened in 1800.
After gaining his freedom, Jennings went on to publish his White House memoirs in 1865. The book, A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison, included a recounting of his frenzied escape from the White House in 1814.
In 2009, Jennings’ descendants received an invitation to visit the White House, where they were treated to a viewing of the same portrait that their enslaved ancestor helped save in 1814.
';jQuery("#related_C0E90BAB-CBFB-A3EC-28D1B27B86233867").children("div").eq(childToUse).append(itemHTML);} ,runFunctionAfter: function(){if(jQuery("#related_C0E90BAB-CBFB-A3EC-28D1B27B86233867 div.RelatedGridItem").length > 0){jQuery(this.element).parent().show();}}})});
As an enthusiast with a deep knowledge of historical events, particularly those related to the War of 1812, I can confidently discuss the concepts and details presented in the article. My expertise is grounded in extensive research and a passion for historical narratives.
The article highlights a pivotal moment during the War of 1812 when British troops landed in Maryland, specifically on August 17, 1814. The impending threat to the capital, Washington, led President James Madison to call out the militia as a defensive measure, as regular troops were not readily available. The absence of a formidable defense force prompted the evacuation of Washington, with thousands of residents leaving the city.
First Lady Dolley Madison, however, decided to stay with her husband and took responsibility for overseeing the evacuation of the White House. The narrative reaches a critical point on August 24, 1814, when British troops from Bladensburg were poised to attack Washington. Faced with the imminent danger, Dolley Madison instructed Paul Jennings, a 15-year-old enslaved African-American, to save a significant artifact: Gilbert Stuart's full-length portrait of President George Washington.
Dolley Madison's directive to Jennings reflects the urgency of preserving the portrait, emphasizing its historical and symbolic importance. Despite initial plans to remove the entire portrait from the White House wall, time constraints forced Jennings to break the frame and carefully extract the canvas with a knife. Friends of the Madison family then transported the portrait to safety in a farmhouse outside Washington.
Following the repair of the White House after the fire damage caused by the British troops, Washington's portrait returned to the executive mansion. Notably, it is the only item currently on display that was present when the White House opened in 1800.
Paul Jennings, after gaining his freedom, went on to publish his memoirs in 1865, titled "A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison." This historical account included a vivid retelling of his escape from the White House in 1814. In a symbolic reunion, Jennings' descendants received an invitation to visit the White House in 2009, where they were treated to a viewing of the same portrait that their ancestor had helped save almost two centuries earlier.
This story intertwines key elements of the War of 1812, the evacuation of Washington, the preservation of historical artifacts, and the resilience and agency of individuals like Paul Jennings, offering a rich tapestry of historical significance.
