History of Washington, D.C. problems, and plans for further construction to reach the Ohio River were abandoned. During the War of 1812, British forces conducted an expedition between August 19 and 29, 1814, that took and burned the capital city. On August 24, the British routed an American militia, which had gathered at Bladensburg, Maryland to protect the capital (see Battle of Bladensburg). The militia then abandoned Washington without a fight. President James Madison and the remainder of the U.S. government fled the capital shortly before the British arrived. The British then entered and burned the capital during the most notably destructive raid of
HMS Pictou (1814) HMS Pictou (1814) HMS "Pictou" was the American letter of marque schooner "Zebra" that the Royal Navy captured in 1813. The Admiralty purchased her in 1814 and she served on the North America station during the War of 1812 before the navy sold her in 1818. On 20 April 1813 the British frigates and captured "Zebra" off the west coast of France as "Zebra" was sailing from Bordeaux to New York. At the time the British frigate was in sight. "Zebra" carried ten guns and a crew of 38 men under the command of Captain L. Bourne. By 26 July