The burning of Washington : the British invasion of 1814

Taken from first-hand sources including letters, diaries, journals and newspapers, the author has produced a narrative of the 1812-1815 war between America and Great Britain. Particular emphasis is on the attack and burning of Washington by the British. He also describes how Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the epic poem which later became the national anthem and reveals the sense of pride that the Americans felt after winning this Second War of Independence.