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Look no further than Officer Harry Dunn who defended the Capitol and his own life against Trump’s thugs and the far-right terrorist Ashli Babbit! Blue Lives Matter left him in the wind and Law And Crime insulted him. Many wanted him to be charged with murder! I wonder why? Blues Lives don’t matter when life is wrapped in BLACK skin!
BURNING OF THE CAPITOL 1814, part 2 “The enemy are in full march for Washington.”
Letter from James Monroe to President James Madison, August 22,1814. (Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Archives, online here)
By Miriam Kleiman, Program Director for Public Affairs.
In August 1814, British forces occupying the Chesapeake Bay started to sail up Maryland’s Patuxent River. Then-Secretary of State James Monroe feared an attack on DC, reached out with concern to President Madison, and offered to journey to Maryland to assess the situation. When he saw the number of British troops advancing towards DC, Monroe sent an urgent note to Madison. Excerpts follow:
The enemy are advanced six miles on the road to the wood Yard, and our troops retiring.
Our troops were on the march to meet them, but in too small a body to engage.
The enemy are in full march for Washington.
See also:
Flashback: Burning of the Capitol 1814, Part 1
P.S.: You Had Better Remove the Records: Early Federal Archives and the Burning of Washington during the War of 1812, Prologue story by NARA Historian Jessie Kratz.
Rescue of the Papers of State During the Burning of Washington, White House Historical Association, by NARA Historian Jessie Kratz.
Tornado saves capital, scares British, Pieces of History, by Rob Crotty.
Last hours near the end.... to all my fellow American comrades, I wish you resilience and strength on the road for healing.... . . . . #capitol #trump #capitolattack #capitolriots #bidenharris2020 #bidenharris #inauguration #shipoffools #nefdesfous #america #amerikkka #outsiderart #thefall #minamond #naifnoir https://www.instagram.com/p/CKROPjogM_F/?igshid=12c6nbanhtdsa
This is the individual the FBI is seeking as a person of interest in connection with the murder of the Capitol Hill police officer. Twitter, do your thing. https://t.co/KUKliu9zhp FIND HIM This man wanted by FBI as person of interest in death of Capitol police officer. 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) https://tips.fbi.gov/ #magaCopKiller #maga #CapitolInsurrection #CapitolRiots #copkiller #CopKillers #PersonOfInterest #hunthimdown #MAGATerrorists #trumpTerrorists https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ7O1uOAxbM/?igshid=1wwd7wz7hr6fj
Archivist David S. Ferriero Responds to Capitol Riots
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero today responded to yesterday’s riots at the U.S. Capitol that took place as Congress took up the presidential election certification process. He stated that the National Archives is taking appropriate measures to protect its employees and property, including the Charters of Freedom – the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights – and shared this statement with National Archives staff:
Yesterday I stood at my office window overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue and watched the angry mob make its way from the Ellipse rally to Capitol Hill. Waving Confederate flags and Trump 2020 campaign banners, chanting “Stop the Steal,” “Four More Years,” and “USA, USA, USA,” these fellow Americans were on their way to disrupt a sacred ceremonial rite of transition in which the National Archives plays an important role. Having watched and listened to the charged language of the rally speeches, I was even more concerned as I watched this mob move by. They were on a mission.
My pride in the work that our Office of the Federal Register does in administering the Electoral College process was very much in my mind as was the role that we all play in defending and supporting the Constitution of the United States every day. And special pride in the role that our Agency plays in the orderly transition of administrations. As members of the National Archives staff, I hope you share that pride in our mission and the role we play in our democracy.
As my attention shifted to the televised Joint Session of Congress called to certify the vote, I was horrified to watch the storming of the Capitol and the increased agitation of the mob still streaming by our building. Not since 1814 have the hallowed halls of Congress been breached and those were foreign troops. Yesterday, our own countrymen invaded the Capitol.
With order restored, at 3:44 this morning, Congress certified the election of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of the United States. This morning from my office, as the sun warms the limestone of buildings around us, I am reminded of the words attributed to Benjamin Franklin at the end of the Constitutional Convention when asked “…what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” to which he responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Yesterday we passed the latest test.
The National Archives’ Role in the Electoral College The Archivist of the United States is required by law to perform the following functions relating to the Electoral College, and delegates the authority to carry out the administration of the Electoral College process to the Director of the National Archives Office of the Federal Register (OFR). This process includes the following:
Before Election Day In advance of each Presidential election, the Archivist contacts each Governor and the DC Mayor outlining the States’ Electoral College responsibilities. OFR prepares to receive the Electoral College Certificates from the States and contacts Congressional staff to arrange for the delivery of these Certificates to Congress.
After Election Day In the week following the general election, OFR contacts each State and the DC Mayor’s Office to speak with the person responsible for the Electoral College process.
Receipt of Certificates of Ascertainment Certificates of Ascertainment arrive at the National Archives and OFR within a few weeks after election day. The Certificates are noted, transmitted to OFR, logged, and checked for accuracy. Problems are noted and reported to the states for clarification. Once determined to be accurate, they are posted on the OFR website. 2020 Electoral College Results here.
Receipt of Certificates of Vote Certificates of Vote begin arriving at the National Archives and OFR after the Meeting of the Electors, and the process is the same as the receipt of Certificates of Ascertainment (noted, transmitted, logged, checked, posted).
Certificates of Vote Subject to the Call of the President of the Senate OFR holds one of the two original Certificates of Vote subject to the call of the President of the Senate (in the event that they do not reach the Senate on time). If the Archivist does not receive a Certificate of Vote from a State within a week of the meeting of the electors, OFR contacts the State to confirm that the votes were sent. If OFR does not receive any Certificates by the deadline, it gets a duplicate original from the Secretary of State of the State or the Federal District judge.
Preserving Certificates After the Joint Session of Congress for the official counting of electoral votes, all Certificates of Ascertainment and Certificates of Vote remain available for public inspection at OFR for public inspection for one year following the election. Afterwards, the Certificates become part of the National Archives collection.
See also: Presidential Elections & Inaugurations outlining the National Archives’ extensive related online resources.
Soldiers on the roof of a building near the Capitol with an anti-aircraft weapon, 1942, FDR Library, NARA ID 598402.
Extra security at the Capitol on Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Image courtesy of Library of Congress, online here.
Office of War Information, Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services. NARA ID 515731.
FLASHBACK: DEFENDING THE CAPITOL/CAPITAL
By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs
Heightened security helped ensure this week’s peaceful transfer of power. While this level of mobilization is unprecedented, it’s not the only time additional troops helped protect our nation’s capital/Capitol. See below, in addition to the more customary shots of soldiers in DC celebrating victories, marching in inaugural and other parades, and participating in the time-honored tradition of posing on the Capitol steps.
Civil War Defense of DC
Union Army fortifications surrounded and protected DC from rebel attack during the Civil War. By 1865, DC was one of the most heavily fortified cities in the world - with 68 forts and 93 batteries (armed with over 800 cannons). From here.
Fort Totten, DC image by Matthew Brady, NARA ID 524908.
DC Arsenal Grounds (now Fort McNair), NARA ID 525153.
World War I Defense of DC
A military officer “guarding National Capital’s only railway bridge” (Aqueduct Bridge) 1917, NARA ID 45500542.
Military tents on 8th St. SE in DC, WWI, NARA ID 55162995.
World War II Defense of DC
Auto cannon on the roof of the Government Printing Office, from the DC Public Library, online here.
Three Sentries guard the War Dept. Building in DC (Constitution Ave. near the Ellipse), NARA ID 599062.
Defense of Washington, Munitions Building (near the White House at Constitution Ave.), 1942. NARA ID 598922.
“This is Washington at War... Soldiers on Guard, the Capitol Dome serene as ever,” Click Magazine 1942, online here.
Civil War parade on Pennsylvania Ave., NW. NARA ID 518225.
WWII Victory Parade honoring Admiral Chester Nimitz, 10/5/1945, NARA ID199203.
Marines march past the National Archives, Army Day Parade in DC, 4/6/1937. NARA ID 12168482.
"AMERICANS ALL" Detachment standing at attention in front of the Capitol, 10/21/19, NARA ID 86734566.
First Division Parade, 28th Infantry on the Capitol steps, 9/17/19. NARA ID 86732339
First Division Parade, 18th Infantry, on the Capitol steps, 9/17/1919. NARA ID 86732337.
Showing WWI “War Trophy” on the Capitol steps, NARA ID 45555610.
See also:
Archivist David S. Ferriero Responds to Capitol Riots
Washington During Wartime story by Eliot Carter, Architect of the Capitol,
The National Guard Assists the US Capitol Police, US House of Representatives
Lantern Slide of the U.S. Capitol after burning by the British in 1814, NARA ID 183514856.
The Taking of the City of Washington 1814. Copy of engraving. NARA 532909.
Ruins of the Capitol After the Fire. 1814. Copy of print, NARA ID 518221.
"Capture of the City of Washington," August 1814. Engraving from The History of England by Paul de Rapin -Thoyras. NARA ID 531090.
FLASHBACK: BURNING OF THE CAPITOL, 1814
By Miriam Kleiman, Program Director for Public Affairs.
On August 24 and 25, 1814, British troops occupied DC, and burned the Capitol, the President’s house, and other public buildings (in revenge for U.S. troops burning government buildings in Canada during the Battle of York). Despite the growing number of troops and show of force, President James Madison’s Secretary of War John Armstrong downplayed the possibility of such an attack in DC, convinced that Baltimore would be the likely target: “They certainly will not come here. What the devil will they do here? No! No! Baltimore is the place, sir. That is of so much more consequence.”
The destruction was so extensive (an estimated $30 million then, equivalent to $586 million today) that when Congress returned in September 1814 it considered moving to another city. What saved DC from further destruction? What insurance companies call an “act of God”; a freak storm brought torrential rains that extinguished the fires. British account from George Muller’s The Darkest Day:
Of the prodigious force of the wind it is impossible for you to form any conception. Roofs of houses were torn off by it, and whisked into the air like sheets of paper; while the rain which accompanied it resembled the rushing of a mighty cataract rather than the dropping of a shower.
The darkness was as great as if the sun had long set and the last remains of twilight had come on, occasionally relieved by flashes of vivid lightning streaming through it; which, together with the noise of the wind and the thunder, the crash of falling buildings, and the tearing of roofs as they were stript from the walls, produced the most appalling effect I ever have, and probably ever shall, witness.
This lasted for nearly two hours without intermission, during which time many of the houses spared by us were blown down and thirty of our men, besides several of the inhabitants, buried beneath their ruins.
Our column was as completely dispersed as if it had received a total defeat, some of the men flying for shelter behind walls and buildings and others falling flat upon the ground to prevent themselves from being carried away by the tempest…
See also:
P.S.: You Had Better Remove the Records: Early Federal Archives and the Burning of Washington during the War of 1812, Prologue story by NARA Historian Jessie Kratz.
Rescue of the Papers of State During the Burning of Washington, White House Historical Association, by NARA Historian Jessie Kratz.
Tornado saves capital, scares British, Pieces of History blog post by Rob Crotty.
