Thornton, William (1759-1828) to William Thornton
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07367 Author/Creator: Thornton, William (1759-1828) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 June 1815 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses British General Thornton's valor and wounds received at the Battle of Bladensburg and the Battle of New Orleans. Also critically discusses European politics and war, and assesses Napoleon at length. Notes that Thornton's capture and burning of Washington, D.C., may have saved the capital, since "Great exertions were repeatedly made in different years to remove the seat of government" but now Congress was determined to repair the damage. The author, also named William Thornton, had served as the architect of the United States capitol building, which General Thornton burned, until 1802.
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