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THE CAPITOL DOME to congregate just outside the capital at Bladensburg, Maryland on August 24, 1814. 17 President Madison and sev- eral cabinet secretaries had been on the battlefield, with the president only making a hasty retreat when the American sec- ond line anchored by sailors and marines under Commodore Joshua Barney was forced to give way after inflicting heavy casualties on the British. 18 Ross had at least one horse killed under him in the battle, and his uniform was pockmarked in four places by spent American fire, which did not wound him but undoubtedly badly bruised him. 19 e American capital now appeared to be at his mercy (figs. 5 and 6). e moment of truth or reckoning had now arrived. Would the Americans offer further resistance in defending their capital? And if they managed to seize the city what did the British in - tend to do there? To burn or not to burn; that was the ques- tion. Before moving into the District, Major General Ross made arrangements to ensure that private property and citi- zens were to be respected. Major Norman Pringle of the 1/21st regiment was summoned to the British commander soon after the army arrived at the outskirts of the District. He was ordered to take command of one hundred rank-and-file sol- diers to act as the advance guard entering the city. Pringle was further instructed to place sentries at various points, send out regular patrols, and prevent soldiers and seamen from entering the city or local homes. 20 Not wishing to send his troops into the city by storm and risk atrocities, Ross was still keen to take precautions in case American forces decided to mount a last ditch effort to defend Washington. In the darkening night, Ross and Cockburn, with men on either side of them, rode from the outskirts of the city to Capitol Hill at approximately 8:00 PM. 21 A parley to discuss terms of surrender had been sounded by drum and by trumpet. According to the British they carried a flag of truce. 22 No response was received to the sounding of a parley. As Ross's Fig. 6. An enterprising London engraver captured the entire British conquest of Washington in this busy image showing the Battle of Bladensburg, the sinking of the American flotilla, and the burning of the public buildings. 6 L IB R A RY O F C O N GRE S S PRIN T S A ND PH OTO GR A PH S D I V I SI O N