British Campaign of 1812 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

British Campaign of 1812 - Essay Example The war of 1812 between the U.S. and British Empire (Great Britain, Upper Canada- Ontario, Lower Canada-Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfound land, and Bermuda) has started in June 18, 1812 and ended in December 24, 1814 officially though the unofficial records shown that the war ended only in March 23, 1815. On 19 August, a British force landed at the mouth of the Patuxent River. By 24 August they had marched north and captured Washington, almost without a fight. The British sat down at a captured White House banquet and, after a pleasant dinner, set fire to the White House and much of the city in retaliation for the American burning of a number of small villages in Upper Canada, contrary to an earlier agreement. On the morning of 13 September, British warships began the bombardment of Fort McHenry. The Bombardment failed to shake the defenders of Fort McHenry. The British completed their withdrawal on 15 September1. Baltimore was next on the schedule, but that city had been given time to prepare its defenses. A rather formidable line of redoubts covered the land approach; the harbor was guarded by Fort McHenry and blocked by a line of sunken gunboats. On September 13 a spirited engagement fought by Maryland militia, many of whom had run at Bladensburg just two weeks before, delayed the invaders and caused considerable loss, including General Ross, who was killed. When the fleet failed to reduce Fort McHenry, the assault on the city was called off. The burning of Washington marked a turning point in the war. The image of their capital in flames had the effect of rallying Americans to a spirited defense of their country, and the British were soon turned back in their attempts to capture the city of Baltimore. America won a great victory in their defense of Fort McHenry–the battle which was the inspiration to onlooker Francis Scott Keys poem, "The Star Spangled Banner," which would become t he lyrics to Americas National Anthem. The British attacks in