CHARACTERS

Secretary of War John Armstrong, Jr.

President Madison appointed the extremely abrasive John Armstrong as his Secretary of War in 1813. Armstrong's commission had been arranged by his father during the Revolution. He served on Horatio Gates staff and was notorious for being the anonymous author of the Newburgh Addresses, a document that recommended soldiers go into armed rebellion if they were not paid for their services at the end of the war. Washington famously denounced the document and the unknown author.

Armstrong was so disliked that two officers he attempted to promote to Major General, turned the offer down.

In general, his selections of senior officers left the country in a sad state, although he did manage to promote Zebulon Pike. Much of what befell the city of Washington in 1814 can be laid at Armstrong's feet. Although Madison did not ask for his resignation, he arranged for Armstrong to retire to New York after the battle.