Alexandria — Whoever named the War of 1812 clearly did not work in the marketing industry. For one, it wasn’t confined to the 12 months of 1812. The Treaty of Ghent didn’t end the war until 1815, and even then, the Battle of New Orleans occurred after the treaty was signed. But despite being poorly named, the War of 1812 affected the everyday lives of ordinary Alexandrians in a way that only the Civil War rivaled. For five days in 1814, Alexandria was occupied by the British Navy, and it’s the occupation that our city is celebrating 200 years later. Two centuries is long time, and yet, an eyewitness account published in the Oct. 9, 1851 Alexandria Gazette shows that perhaps the Alexandrians of 1814 weren’t so different from those of us who live here today. Today’s readers should be warned that an account 37 years after the event should be taken with a grain of salt. But the writer’s enduring memories, though romanticized, show what incidents stuck in the mind of one Alexandrian in a way that we might recall them today.
Indeed, what would have been our reaction to the sight of seven British ships off of our coast when “Our four or five companies of militia were then absent on duty in Maryland and Virginia; but, if present what could they or an army of forty thousand veterans have done against six [British records show there were seven] armed ships lying a half mile off in the stream, that in five minutes could have set our combustible town in a blaze?” The writer, E. Gilman, argued that “For permitting this invasion, our town was ridiculed and lampooned by many ignorant simpletons, for suffering what it was totally impracticable to prevent.” Later historians have argued that the conflict over whether Alexandria was prudent or cowardly in surrendering to the British hinged on the politics of the time, with Democratic-Republicans who supported Madison and Monroe eager to find a scapegoat in the Federalist Mayor Charles Simms.
PERHAPS THE MOST remarkable aspect of Gilman’s account is how unremarkable the occupation was. According to Gilman:
“The Commodore observed that his thousand hungry fellows lived partly by eating, and he would have to trouble us for some flour, and as they would always go to their death for
tobacco, he would want some of that also; and if we decided to make no resistance he would take the articles quietly, and no soldier or sailor should be seen in the streets to annoy anyone …This compact was strictly adhered to on both sides, and during the five days’ visit there was perfect quietness; almost too much so …”
Despite the quietness of the occupying fleet, Gilman and other Alexandrians did find the occasion of a foreign fleet on Alexandria’s waterfront too seductive to be missed. The writer waxed lyrically that: “curiosity carried many of us from our own business to the wharves to see the enemy, … Our moonlight evenings were all cheered by exquisite music from the fine band on board the flag-ship, drawing multitudes to the wharves and banks.”
And this is where many of us can put ourselves in the shoes of those Alexandrians. Curious to see the enemy as it packed away provisions meant for us. Who wouldn’t be enchanted by exotic music played on the waterfront on moonlit evenings? But as captivating as the British Navy and their music proved, Gilman asserted that Alexandrians were always reminded “of the soft, soothing wing of the famed vampire, entrancing our rapt spirit in the Elysian fields, while extracting the fountain of life from our veins.”
THE RESIDENTS of Alexandria must have felt a myriad of emotions during the occupation. Fear and frustration, as they were abandoned by both the army and the militia, curiosity, as the British were much better behaved than anticipated, and then righteous indignation, as others harangued Alexandria in an attempt to score cheap political points. And really, 200 years, aren’t we still frustrated with dithering in Washington, scared of foreign invaders, however unlikely they might be, and curious when we hear live music at the waterfront?
Enjoy a special screening of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World at Old Town Theatre, 815-1/2 King Street, complete with cocktail reception, exhibition of clothing worn on the film set, and a pre-screening film discussion on Thursday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. to mark the launch of the City of Alexandria’s War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemoration.
Catered reception with cash bar begins at 6:30 p.m. and movie starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 each, or purchase sponsor-level tickets at $75 each; $30 of each sponsor ticket will be donated to the American Wounded Warrior Project and British Help for Heroes foundations in honor of the commemoration. To purchase tickets, visit shop.alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-4242.