Monroe says the President crossed the Potomac on the evening of the 24th, accompanied by the Attorney-General and General Mason, and remained on the south side of the river, a few miles above the lower falls on the 25th.
On the morning of the 26th Madison, General Mason, Rush, Attorney-General, and others of his party rode to Brookville, Montgomery County, Md., intending to join General Winder, who had rallied his troops near the court house, where they spent the following night at the home of Caleb Bentley.
Madison sat most of the night on the porch in an old-fashioned desk chair, writing his dispatches. Sentries guarded the house, pacing to and fro around it. They found no enemies in this peaceful neighborhood, but ere morning came they had trampled under foot the garden flowers and vegetables of their hostess.
At daybreak (27th) a messenger arrived from the Secretary of State with the news of the evacuation of Washington, and the President and his party, joined by Monroe, Secretary of State, left soon afterward, arriving at Washington at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
Ingersoll's History of the War of 1812 contains the following reference:
"The night following came some compensation for such punishment, the last night of Madison's exile, and eve of his restoration to almost universal favor. It was spent in the family of Quaker hosts, strangers to him, and conscientious adversaries of all war, who with primitive hospitality welcomed friend Madison and entertained him and his outcast comrades in misfortunes with the kindest and most touching attentions. Refreshed by sweet repose under the Quaker roof they returned next day to Washington (the 27th)."
The unfortunate battle[62] of Bladensburg was long called by its contemporaries, "The Bladensburg Races!"
After the burning of the Capitol, the White House being in ruins, Madison rented the Octagon House,[63] yet standing at the corner of New York avenue and 18th street, built by Colonel John Tayloe, 3d, in 1798, and then considered one of the finest houses in the country. It was built of brick with trimmings of Acquia Creek sandstone, on a triangular lot, with a circular tower in front, to which the fine Ionic portico with its delicate tracery leads. Once inside you notice the curved doors, sash and woodwork, and the perfect preservation of their shape; the quaint urn-like wood stoves in niches, and the rich, solid mahogany doors.
The Octagon House. Photographed by Samuel M. Brosius.