William H. Winder papers

William Henry Winder (1775-1824), a Baltimore lawyer, volunteered to serve in the army during the War of 1812. He was given the rank of colonel and sent to the Niagara frontier early in the war. Within a year, he became a brigadier general. In July 1813, he and fellow commander John Chandler were captured at the Battle of Stoney Creek in Ontario.

A prisoner exchange in 1814 brought Winder back to Washington. In early July, when rumors that the British would soon invade the capital seemed credible, Winder was given command of the Tenth Military District that included the cities of Washington and Baltimore. This is likely to have been politically motivated (his uncle was Governor of Maryland, and it was hoped that he would send troops aid in the defense of Washington) rather than a sound military decision. Winder’s appointment was strongly opposed by Secretary of War, John Armstrong, who provided Winder with little logistical support.

At the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, Winder’s forces were soundly defeated by the British. That evening the capital was invaded by the British who set fire to the unfinished capitol and other buildings. A court martial later acquitted Winder of blame; Secretary of War, John Armstrong, was forced to resign.

After serving in the defense of Baltimore, September 12-14, 1814, Winder returned to the northern frontier for the remainder of the war. He was discharged in 1815 and resumed practicing law in Baltimore. Nine years later, at age 49, he died from tuberculosis.