The Man Who Captured Washington: Major General Robert Ross and the War of 1812 by John McCavitt and Christopher T. George (review)

Americans familiar with the sole instance of occupation of the nation's capital by a foreign power know well the role Britain's Robert Ross played in that event. After pushing aside a hastily assembled American force composed mainly of militia, Ross entered Washington, D.C., on August 24, 1814. Though in the city for only twenty-four hours, the British burned most of the public buildings while sparing almost all of the private dwellings. Ross's brief presence left its mark on the United States. Congress briefly considered relocating the capital city, the Capitol and the Executive Mansion underwent significant reconstruction, and Congress approved a program to improve coastal fortifications so that another foreign incursion would never take place. Despite the influence Ross's victory had on the United States, he has mostly been forgotten in the United States and in his home country.

John McCavitt and Christopher T. George shed new light on General Ross and the significance of his triumph in their recent biography of this somewhat overlooked commander. McCavitt and George trace Ross's life from his childhood in Ireland to his death just outside Baltimore, Maryland, only weeks after he victoriously entered Washington. Included in their coverage of the general'slife is a chapter dedicated to his service in the Napoleonic Wars. The authors believe this portion of Ross's career has failed to receive the attention it deserves.

McCavitt and George cast Ross as a popular leader who demonstrated efficiency and personal bravery in battle. They also argue that Ross fiercely protected the soldiers he commanded from censure whenever they stood accused of harassing or abusing civilians. His time fighting the French provided Ross with numerous opportunities to demonstrate these characteristics. While stationed in Malta, Ross did not hesitate to stand up for subordinates accused of damaging civilian property. McCavitt and George also praise Ross for leading his men in a successful rearguard action against the French during the Peninsula War.

The bulk of this biography focuses on Ross's three-week campaign in Maryland during the late summer of 1814. McCavitt and George portray him as a brave, decisive soldier who keenly evaluated the strength and condition of the American militia facing him at the battle of Bladensburg just outside the District of Columbia. The authors characterize Ross's behavior in Washington as somewhat chivalrous. Although he obviously ordered the destruction of public buildings, he spared civilian property and burned government structures only because his superiors ordered him to do so. Even Ross's death less than a month later outside Baltimore is depicted as another moment of gallantry, as the young general rode well ahead of his troops to determine the strength and position of American forces defending the threatened city. According to McCavitt and George, Ross's early demise cast a pall on his recently acquired fame resulting from his capture of Washington.

This biography accomplishes its goal of introducing readers to Ross's military skill and accomplishments. Using veterans' memoirs, government records, a wide array of newspapers, and recently composed secondary sources that focus on the Chesapeake invasion, McCavitt and George have consulted a very reliable collection of sources. The result of their research familiarizes readers with the talents and personality of the British general who did what no other military leader has done since—captured the capital of the United States.