I once asked the kids in that Seniors government High School advanced class “When was the War of 1812?” They thought it was a trick question, and didn’t know at first. Someone finally realized that 1812 was the date of the War of 1812. It was a fun class!

In June of 1812, President Madison was fed up with the British attacks on our ships, and on their violations of the treaty ending the Revolutionary War. He asked Congress to give him a declaration of war. They did. The war had its ups and downs. In 1814 the British Army was marching to Washington, D.C. President Madison felt it was necessary for him to visit the front lines, see the state of things and encourage the soldiers.

He explained his plans to Dolley, and told her to continue her preparations for the scheduled dinner that evening. But if he didn’t return in a timely manner, and if she felt threatened, she should get in the family station wagon or carriage and high-tail it out of town. But please don’t forget the box of papers in my study.

The fighting got worse. James didn’t return. Dolley told the servants to get a few things into the carriage. She remembered James’ advice and packed the trunk of papers in the carriage as well. Then she remember that beautiful, larger than life painting of George Washington hanging on the wall in the East Ballroom. Dolley wouldn’t allow the British to destroy that piece of artwork. She and one of the servants removed it by breaking the frame, which had been bolted to the wall, rolling it up and placing it in her transportation.

She escaped just in time. The British army advanced to the city, burned the library of Congress, and the building, the Treasury building, and the Armory. They were beginning to burn the President’s Mansion, and destroy the rest of the city, when a huge storm arose, dousing the soldiers, and the buildings, and causing great fear. The British left the city.

James and Dolley met up later and a friends farmhouse. James was happy to learn that Dolley had made it out safely, and had saved some precious items from their home.

The President’s Mansion was restored and whitewashed to remove the blackened exterior. That’ how it got the name “The White House.” Some historians conjecture that the box of papers Dolley saved held the originals of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. You see, there was no National Archives yet.

The War ended in 1815. Madison was replaced in office by another Virginia stalwart, James Monroe. The Madisons retired to Montpelier. James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, lived another 20 years. He moved his bed, in his later, feeble years, down to be outside of the dining room so that he could still participate in dinner conversations with guests, who were plentiful.

James Madison died at the age of 85, on June 28, 1836. Dolley decided to move back to Washington, D.C. to enjoy the society that wholeheartedly welcomed her. She passed away in 1849, at the age of 91.

What a noble couple!