An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 22, 2014

Historical look: 200-year anniversary of Battle of Bladensburg

By Bill Boehm National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. - On Aug. 24, 1814, the Battle of Bladensburg (Maryland) took place.  This campaign of the War of 1812 directly preceded the advance of the British army into Washington, D.C., that evening, where advancing forces burned the Capitol building, the White House and the Library of Congress.

Hurricane-force rains the following day helped extinguish the blazes around the nation’s capital.  Prior to the British incursion, State Department officials helped spirit documents of the Founding Fathers into hiding in Virginia. 

The burning of Washington proved a humbling defeat, and the Bladensburg episode became synonymous with the failure of the American forces to hold back the British. Ultimately, poor leadership and battlefield preparation stood at the core of the American defeat at Bladensburg. 

Yet deeper scrutiny of events before and during the battle lends support that it should not be viewed as an abject failure on all levels.  This conflict demonstrated how the militia system could muster troops from multiple community and state-organized military forces under the pressures of a battle campaign. Section 1 of the Militia Act of 1792 expressed that the ability of the president of the United States to call forth “state or states… as [may be judged] as sufficient,” particularly with the threat of the national capital being threatened by  British forces.  So militia forces from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania assembled according to this statute.

Two active National Guard units received battle participation credit in the Battle of Bladensburg, among 12 existing units in the Army National Guard.  Maryland’s Fifth Regiment, lineal predecessors of  today’s 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, Maryland National Guard, and the First Brigade of the Columbian Division, today’s 372nd Military Police Battalion, District of Columbia National Guard, fought among the first and second lines of defense respectively.

Maryland realized that its militia forces offered the best hope to defend the port city of Baltimore.  By engaging in an active defense, the Maryland militia was later able to harass the British advance during the Battle of North Point.  This delaying engagement and the Battle of Baltimore that lasted through Sept. 14, 1814, marked the turning point of the war. 

The state of Maryland is commemorating bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore and the composition of “The Star Spangled Banner” in September 2014.  All this pageantry would not be taking place had the city of Baltimore fallen to British forces 200 years ago.

 

 

 

 

Related Articles
Tech. Sgt. Megan Brasley, a deployed aircraft vehicle data operations specialist originally assigned to the 124th Maintenance Group, Idaho Air National Guard, FaceTimes with her family while deployed in support of overseas operations, April 7, 2025. As the Department of Defense celebrates the Month of the Military Child, the Idaho Air National Guard honors military children like Brasley’s sons, Ryker and Rhett, who demonstrate resilience through the challenges of military life. Programs and initiatives led by the Airman and Family Readiness Office aim to support military families year-round, recognizing the sacrifices and strength of these young heroes.
Honoring Military Children: The Resilience of Military Families
By Tech. Sgt. Mercedee Wilds, | April 29, 2025
BOISE, Idaho – April marks the Department of Defense’s annual observance of the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize the unique challenges and enduring resilience of children of military members. With more than...

A C-130 (MAFFS 9) from Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing performs a water drop April 24, 2025, during Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Spring Training 2025, hosted by the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing. This particular part of the training was conducted in the Angeles National Forest near Green Valley, California from April 21-27, 2025. Training included classroom sessions, flying and ground operations for Air Force aircrews, civilian lead plane pilots and support personnel from the USDA Forest Service, other federal agencies and CAL FIRE. First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), U.S. Northern Command's Air Component, is the DoD's operational lead for the aerial military wildland fire fighting response.
Air Guard Units Join Forces for Aerial Wildfire Suppression Training
By Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber, | April 29, 2025
NEVADA AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Reno, Nev. — Military and civilian flight crews wrapped up a week of aerial wildfire suppression training on April 27, concluding the annual Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems spring...

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs, the 23rd Director of the Army National Guard and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Kendrick, visited the U.S. Army Pacific on April 17, 2025, and met with the U.S. Army Pacific's Deputy Commanding General for Homeland Affairs, Maj. Gen. Lance Okamura to discuss the Army Guard's role in the
Forging Partnerships: The National Guard in the Indo-Pacific
By Sgt. 1st Class Daisy Broker, | April 28, 2025
Honolulu, Hawaii — Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs, the 23rd director of the Army National Guard, visited the U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) and the Hawaii National Guard, then traveled to Guam to visit the Guam National Guard, Task...