| Notes |
- 1800 Federal census:
Individual: Winder, William, Jr.
County/State: Somerset Co., MD
Page #: 39
Year: 1800
Age ranges in household: 00100-1001006
1 male 16-26 (1774-1784) William
1 fem 0-10 (1790-1800) Gertrude
1 fem 16-26 (1774-1784) John
6 slaves
According to Christine Thacker:
Born on his father's plantation, Bower Hill, in the Rewastico district near Broad Creek .
Died of "Bilious Catarrh" a lung ailment contracted 1814 while in a Canadian prison cell.
Services were held at his home on Chathan Street, and the funeral procession was immense and unprecedented. More than 15,000 citizens of Baltimore. It was by far the largest funeral procession in the history of the city and was to remain so until well after the Civil War.
From Historical Magazine, Vol 5, No 8, Aug 1861: War of 1812 / Gen Winder and capture of Washington
The conduct of General Winder having been often called in question in regard to the loss of Washington; it will be of some service to the cause of historic truth to put on record, in your columns, the following official papers: D.
New York, Dec 17, 1814. SIR: Since my arrival at this place, I have seen the report of the committee on the causes and particulars of the invasion of the city of Washington, &c. &c.
The scope of that report and of the statements received by the committee from various persons, tends so directly to injure my character as Commander of the 10th Military District, that it has imposed upon me the necessity of demanding that my conduct be subjected to the investigation of a military court of inquiry; the only tribunal which, as an officer, I can recognize as competent or authorized to decide the question which the honorable committee have thought proper to raise by their report.
It is unnecessary for me to impress upon you who are so sensible of it, how important it is to the nation and the army that the officers should protect their reputations with the most zealous vigilance; and thence the necessity of my being indulged, without unavoidable delay, with the opportunity of submitting my conduct to the investigation of a court of inquiry. It will also be superfluous for me to say that the question raised by the committee, will require that this court should consist of officers whose services, talents, and skill, are the most unquestionable.
I am here, under an order from the war department, as a witness on the trial of Colo. Coles, and an interval of a fortnight, which has occurred, I shall spend, by the permission of the court, with my family at Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania, to which place please direct your communications and orders to me.
For your information, I inclose a letter which I have deemed it necessary to address to Mr. Johnson, the chairman of the committee, and beg that you will permit me to go to Washington, should I find it necessary, where, by my presence, I may be enabled with greater certainty to place this subject in a train to insure a just decision, whatever course may be taken.
I beg leave however to state, in the most distinct manner, that whatever decision they may take on this subject, I shall still insist upon the right to have my military conduct judged of by military men. The position in which the report of the committee has placed this subject, has rendered it indispensably necessary.
I am anxious to return to my command with the least possible delay, where, notwithstanding all that has been done to give the country a different belief, I trust I shall be able to prove, that the confidence heretofore reposed in me has not been misapplied.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir, Your Ob'd Serv't, Wm. H. Winder
Hon'able James Monroe, Sec'y of War, Washington City
Mr. Monroe has the pleasure to inform Mr. Fromentin that the President will have no hesitation in granting the court of inquiry, provided it is approved by the committee charged with the investigation. Mr. M. has written to Col. Johnson on the subject, on the receipt of whose answer, if favorable, the measure will be immediately adopted. Mr. Fromentin would promote the object if he would have the goodness to communicate with the committee concerning it. Dec 23, 1814.
SIR: Herewith inclosed you will receive a warrant appointing a court of inquiry, at your request; for further information relative to the court and evidence, I have to refer you to the President.
I should transmit a copy of the report referred to, if one could be procured at this time.
I have the honor to be, Sir, Very respectfully, Your mo. ob. Serv. D. Parker, Adj-gen'l Jan 23, 1815.
Brig-Gen'l Winder, U. States Army.
Adju't and Inspect.-Gen. Office, Feb 25, 1815
GENERAL ORDER
The Secretary of War directs the following warrant, with the report of the court of inquiry in the case of Brig-gen. Winder, be published to the army.
WARRANT
Brigadier-gen. W. H. Winder, of the United States Army, having applied for a court of inquiry to examine and inquire into his conduct as Com. Gen'l of the 10th Military District, during his command thereof, in the summer of 1814, a court of inquiry, to consist of Major-general W. Scott, President, Col. John R. Fenwick, and Col. Wm. Drayton, members, is hereby appointed to meet at Baltimore, on the 26th day of January, 1815, to examine into the conduct of Brigadier-gen. Winder, as embraced in the report of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the U. States by their committee appointed to inquire into the cause and particulars of the invasion of the city of Washington, by the British forces, in the month of August, 1814, and such other evidence and documents as may be laid before the court, by Lt. J.M. Glassell, who is hereby appointed recorder of the same. The court is hereby empowered and required to give its opinion as to the merits of the case for the information of the President of the U.S.; and for so doing, this shall be sufficient warrant.
Given under my hand and the seal of the War Office, theis 21st day of Jan'y, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the independence of the U.S., the 39th.
By command of the President of the U. States, Js. Monroe, Sec'y of War
REPORT
The court of inquiry, ordered to examine into the report upon the conduct of Brigadier-gen. Winder, so far as it is connected with the capture and destruction of Washington, in August, 1814, unanimously submit the following as a result of their investigations:
The court, with great attention and much labor, have perused the numerous papers and documents referred to them, from whience the collect that Brigadier-gen. Winder was appointed to the command of the 10th Military Dist. of which Washington was a part, on the 2nd day of July, 1814, that immediately thereafter he took every means in his power to put that District under a proper state of defence; that from the period when well-grounded apprehensions were entertained that the enemy meditated an attack upon the capital, his exertions were great and unremitted; that through these exertions, he was enabled to bring into the field on the 24th of August, 1814, the day on which the battle of Bladensburgh was fought, about 5 or 6000 men, all of whom, excepting four hundred, were militia; that he could not collect much more than one half this force till a day or two previously to the engagement, and 6 or 700 of them did not arrive until fifteen minutes before its commencement -- that from the uncertainty whether Baltimore, the city of Washington, or Fort Washington, would be selected as the point of attack, it was necessary that Brigadier-gen'l Winder's troops should frequently change their positions, owing to which, and alarms causelessly excited in the night of the 23rd of August, they were much fatigued, and many of them nearly exhausted at the time when the hostile army was crossing the bridge at Bladensburgh; that the officers commanding the troops were generally unknown to Gen'l Winder, and but a small number of them had enjoyed the benefit of military instruction or experience.
The members of this court, in common with their fellow-citizens lament, deeply lament, the capture of the capital; and they regard, with no ordinary indignation, the spoliation of its edifices, those public monuments of art and scence, always deemed sacred by a brave and generous foe; but amidst these mingled and conflicting sensations, they nevertheless feel it to be their duty to separate the individual from the calamities surrounding him, and to declare that to the officer upon whose conduct they are to determine, no censure is attributable. On the contrary, when they take into consideration the complicated difficulties and embarrassments under which he labored, they are of opinion, notwithstanding the result, that he is entitled to no little consideration; before the action he exhibited industry, zeal, and talent, and during its continuance a coolness, a promptitude, and a personal valor, highly honorable to hmself and worthy of a better fate.
The Court adjourned sene die. W. Scott, Major-gen'l and President
Attest: G.L. Nicholas, Lt. and Recorder
The President of the United States having been pleased to approve of the foregoing opinion of the court of inquiry, Brigadier-gen'l Winder will honorably resume his command, and report to the major-general commanding districts Nos. 4 and 10.
By Order of the Sec'y of War, D. Parker, Adj.-general
Adjustant and Inspector-General's Office, Feb. 8, 1815
SIR: I have the honor to inclose to you a certified copy of the Report of the court of inquiry, appointed to investigate you military conduct as commanding general of the 10th Military District, during the summer of 1814.
I am directed by the Secretary of War to advise you, that the President has been pleased to approve the report and opinion of the court; and to express to you the very favorable opinion which the executive entertains of your military and civil character.
I hope you will do me the favor to accept the new assurances of my respect and regard.
D. Parker, Adj.-gen'l
From Historical Magazine, Vol 2, No 2, Aug 1867: Winfield Scott to W H Winder 1814 letter (footnote: communicated by W.H.Winder, Esq., of Philadelphia)
PLAINS OF BUFFALOE MAY 6TH 1814
My Dear General,
Permit me with heartfelt gladness to congratulate you on your happy return to your family the army your country. Lieut Smith has brought us the pleasing intelligence, nothing can be more auspicious -- the return -- the exchange -- the opening of the campaign. Write me my dear General to inform me how these happy changes have been brought about, and shall I not have the happiness of seeing you soon on the frontier? I know your predilection for this theatre from what passed between us at Albany the past Winter.
I have a handsome little army (M.Gen Brown has been absent int he direction of the Harbour since the 21st past) of about 1700 total, to wit the 8th 11th 21st & 25th Regts and two campnies 2nd arty. Brig Gen Ripley who received his notification last evening is with me. If many recruits are not forwarded he will be without a Brigade. I am most partial to these Regts. The men are healthy, sober, cheerful and docile. The field officers highly respectable, and many of the platoon officers are decent & emulous of improvement. If of such material I do not make the best army now in service by the first June, I will agree to be dismissed the service.
Our friend Capt Towson is with me. With the manly tears of joy he heard of your return. But a few days since he learned from my aid Lieut Worth that a report had prevailed in Baltimore said to be derived from Capt. T. somewhat to this this effect, that he Capt T. very much censored your conduct at Stony Creek &c &c &c. Towson is most indignant at the foul aspersion of himself, for so he considers the report and holds you in the highest esteem and respect as he has uniformly expressed himself with all the engergy of his honorable and high-toned sensibility. I also assert that not a man in the army at Fort George last summer ever expressed within my hearing or to my knowledge a whisper to your prejudice. This said not on your account for you do not Stand in need of my support, but on account of my friend Towson lest you should imagine he is less than what he professes.
I write to you my dear General in haste int he first flush of joy
I am with esteem ever yrs. W. Scott
Tell me how you left my friend Roach? Vandeventer, Machesney &c. I calculate certainly on having the happiness of receiving a letter from you W.S.
Brig Gen W. H. Winder [1]
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1775 - 1824 (49 years)
[1]