After seeing my friend Trinh’s story for Dolly Madison saving the portrait of George Washington, I was inspired to write my own little version of what went on that night. However, I’ll be telling the story from President James Madison’s point of view. Now what I’m writing is not the exact thing that was going through his head (after all I’m no mind reader) but after the research I’ve done, I’m pretty certain that I’ve captured most of what he must have been feeling and what he was thinking about that night. I’ve tried to keep it as real as possible so if some things are wrong or not true, I’m sorry. (after all, nobody’s perfect!)
It was August of 1814 when I watched in horror and sorrow, the white house burn to ashes. I remember it like it was just yesterday. I remember when I was first notified that British troops were on their way to my home to burn it to the ground. Everything happened like this…
“Sir! Sir!” I turned around to see a young man jumping off his horse and dashing his way over to me.
“What is it son? I’m very busy at the moment so please make this fast,” I said, in a hurry to finish this conversation. The young man took a few quick breaths to attempt to steady his breathing.
‘It’s the British, Sir. I was on my way over here when I saw an army of them. They’re on their way to the white house, Sir. You must do something!” and with that he hopped back up onto his sattle, and left. I was stunned for a moment. All I could think about was my dear, sweet Dolley being caught and held captive by one of those monsters. I need to warn her and everyone else in the white house, I thought. I wont let anyone else I care about get harmed. I turned around feircly practically running towrds my horse. I was about to jump on when a thought occured to me. You idiot! What are you thinking? You can not just ride back down there to save your wife, you’ll get shot! I hopped back down just as a young soldier was heading my way.
“Excuse me, soldier! Come here boy I need your services!” I yelled to him. He jogged over to my side.
“What is it Mr. President, Sir?” he asked.
“Wait right here and don’t move a muscle,” I ordered him. I didn’t even wait for a reply before running off to find some parchment and a Quill. I quickly jotted down that the white house needs to be evacuated immediately and my dearest Dolley must be taken to a safe place where there will be plenty of soldiers to watch over her for me while I was away. When I finished, I ran faster than I thought possible back to the soldier. He was still sitting where I left him, just standing there petting my horse.
“Here,” I said shoving the parchment at him, “take this to Mrs. Madison at the white house and don’t stop for anything! Hurry lad, she’s in trouble! Hurry!” I yelled at him.
Hours later I jumped onto my horse and rode down to Virgina. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I rode faster and faster. The wind was sharp against my face, but I hardly cared. All I could think about was whether or not my love had made it out on time. I could feel my stomach heaving at the thought of her in the hands of a British soldier. I shivered. No! I told myself. I wont let that happen.
As another adrenaline rush kicked in I kicked my horse and felt her start to move faster. I rode in silent fear for what seemed like hours until I saw it. It started off as just a light glow off in the horizon. Then as I got closer, it seemed to grow bigger and brighter with every gallop of my horse.
“Oh no!” I gasped. “Whoa there girl, whoa!” I said and my horse came to a halt.
I sat there on my horse and saw all the panic and chaos down below me. Women were running, carrying there screaming children. Men were trying in there best effort to keep their families together. People were running around lit on fire and some women were lying over they’re husband’s ashy remains. The worse thing out of all of this though, was the white house. Technically, it wouldn’t even count as a house anymore. All that was left was a bunch of wood covered in a huge fiery trench. As I looked out at the fire it seemed to be mocking me with its fiery tongues licking the sky I once admired. I sat there staring out at the disaster going on below, the same questions flowing through my head. Where is the rest of the government? Where is my Dolley? How can I show that the Government can still function and exist in an effective form? I sat there for a few more moments before turning around.
I whispered to myself quietly as my thoughts continued, “I’ve failed.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/1721837998/
What the fire might have looked like to James Madison from the distance.
