The British Government
Already
At War With Napoleonic France
Adopted
A Defensive Strategy Against
The United States When
The Americans Declared War
In 1812
Reinforcements Were Held Back From Canada
And Reliance Was Instead Made On Local Militias
And Native Allies
To Bolster
The British Army
In Canada
However
After
The Defeat
And Exile Of Napoleon Bonaparte
In April 1814
Britain Was Able
To Use Its Now Available Troops
And Ships
To Prosecute Its War With
The United States
In Addition
To Reinforcements Sent
To Canada
The Earl Of Bathurst
Secretary Of State
For War And
The Colonies
Dispatched
An Army Brigade
And Additional Naval Vessels
To Bermuda
From Where
A Blockade Of
The US Coast
And Even
The Occupation Of Some Coastal Islands Had Been Overseen Throughout
The War
It Was Decided
To Use These Forces
In Raids Along
The Atlantic Seaboard
To Draw American Forces Away From Canada
The Commanders Were Under Strict Orders
However
Not
To Carry Out Operations Far Inland
Or
To Attempt
To Hold Territory
Early
In 1814
Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane Had Been Appointed Commander-in-Chief Of
The Royal Navy's North America
And West Indies Station
Controlling Naval Forces Based At
The New Bermuda Dockyard And
The Halifax Naval Yard Which Were Used
To Blockade US Atlantic Ports Throughout
The War
He Planned
To Carry
The War Into
The United States
By Attacks
In Virginia
And Against New Orleans
An encounter was noted between Sir George Cockburn and
a female resident of Washington
"Dear God!
is this
the weather
to which you
are accustomed to
in this infernal country?" enquired
the Admiral
"This is
a special interposition of Providence
to drive our enemies from our city"
the woman allegedly called out
to Cockburn
"Not so
Madam"
Cockburn retorted
"It
is rather
to aid your enemies
in
the destruction of your city"
before riding off on horseback. Yet
the British left right after
the storm completely unopposed
by any American military forces
What makes this event even more serendipitous for
the Americans
is that
as
the Smithsonian reports
there have only been seven other tornadoes recorded
in Washington D.C
in
the 204 years since with probably
a similar rare occurrence
in
the years prior
to this event; 16.1 National
and comparative studies
Washington D.C
during
the later stages of
the War.
3 D.C
Military formations
Food
and Agriculture Organization: Rome
3 1790
to 1860. .
#1 Postcard Marketing Mail House Letter snap packs mortgage mail