HISTORY

Private Predictions

Just before the Battle of Bladensburg the Secretary of War, John Armstrong, related his opining of the coming engagement . . . "as the battle would be between Militia and regular troops, the former would be beaten."

So here you have the man ultimately responsible for defending the capital of the United States and the man who rejected all calls to defend the city with regular troops saying . . . oh, and now were are going to lose.