CSPAN3 American History TV September 5, 2014
Americans of this high cost of this war and to so humiliate the government of James Madison that they would be forced to make peace on british terms. In the summer of 1814, john stewart skinner, who was an american prisoner of war agent, who incidentally would later be Francis Scott keys companion watching the bombardment of ft. Mchenry, skinner travels out, sales into the potomac to meet with cockburn to exchange some letters and gossip. And cockburn mentioned to skinner as theyre walking along the deck of albeon, the flagship, that he doesnt see much way out for the president. He says, quote...