As they prepared to sally forth at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, a carriage and cart came racing across the bridge. In the carriage, accompanied only by a manservant and a single Dragoon of the Presidential Guard, was Mrs. Madison. The President’s wife hastily informed us the American Army has been defeated at a place in Maryland called Bladensburg and British troops were now on the march into the Capital. Further, she said, “My Husband was at the fight and is now in flight, whereabouts unknown, with the Remnant of our Army.”

Mrs. Madison acknowledged She departed the Executive Mansion in great haste bringing little more than some Presidential Correspondence and a Portrait of our First President, General George Washington, rolled up in a tablecloth. She also revealed a Courier, dispatched by her Husband, had instructed her to meet the President at Wiley’s Tavern on the Georgetown Turnpike once he escaped the clutches of the British.

Since Georgetown Turnpike was the Route the Pleasonton expedition would be taking to Leesburg, and fearing She would be captured, I convinced Mrs. Madison and Her Escort to join Lt. Binns’ Motley caravan. He placed Her carriage near the Van of his unit with four of our Militiamen as Mounted Guards and they departed up the hill in the midst of a terrible downpour.

Less than an hour afterwards there was a tremendous Explosion from East of the Capital. At dusk, a newly arrived Refugee from the City informed us the Blast had come from our Sailors blowing up the Magazine at the Navy Yard on the Anacostia River. By dark it seemed the entire City was ablaze.

My now depleted Militia unit spent the night soaking wet at the Chain Bridge on High Alert. Thanks Be To God, the British stopped their advance after looting and burning nearly all the Government buildings in the Capital. The Executive Mansion, the Treasury, the Offices of State, War and Navy and the Capitol Building are now but smoking Ruins. The only Official Structure left unscathed in the City seems to be the Marine Barracks.

This morning we have finally been Ordered into the Fight. A British flotilla is making its way up the Patomack heading for the city of Alexandria. Col Minor has directed my Virginia Militiamen to ferry over the River tonight to reinforce our Maryland Militia Brethren at Fort Warburton, across the Patomack from President Washington’s home at Mount Vernon. To our great Misfortune & Dismay, we no longer have Daniel Morgan to rally more Patriots against this Vicious, Unconscionable Assault.

Now, should Misfortune befall me on this Mission, once the British have been defeated and order is restored, you must do your Utmost to retrieve two sets of Most Important papers: