Fragment of a Memorandum on Reports of the Battle of Bladensburg, [post–6 September 1814]
Fragment of a Memorandum on Reports of the Battle of Bladensburg
[post–6 September 1814]
8. National Advocate (N.Y.) by Mr Wheaton1 of 2 date, containing an anonymous account of Battle of Bladensbg. &. (by Genl. Armstrng)
9. do. of shortly subsequent date by do. containing a varied account thereof3
Ms (NN: Monroe Papers). In JM’s hand. Undated; filed at 24 Aug. 1814; conjectural date supplied here based on evidence in n. 3.
1. Henry Wheaton (1785–1848) graduated from the College of Rhode Island and established a law practice in Providence. From 1812 to 1815 he was editor of the pro-administration National Advocate in New York City. He served as U.S. Supreme Court reporter, 1816–27, during which time JM provided copies of correspondence for Wheaton’s book Some Account of the Life, Writings, and Speeches of William Pinkney (New York, 1826). Wheaton subsequently held several diplomatic posts, the last being that of minister to Prussia, 1836–46. Elements of International Law (Philadelphia, 1836) was the best known of his numerous works on the subject ( 2:238 n. 1).
2. Blank left by JM.
3. The National Advocate published reports of the Battle of Bladensburg on 29 and 31 Aug. and 6 Sept. 1814.