00:00The British have captured Fort Mackinac, and there has been a massacre of US soldiers and civilians at Fort Dearborn.
00:13More bad news, Clay?
00:15General Hull has surrendered Detroit.
00:19Our forces outnumber them two to one, and that old fool raises the white flag.
00:26Defeat after defeat after defeat.
00:31These reverses cannot be sustained, Mr. President.
00:35People fear a return to British rule in America!
00:40Never allow that to happen.
00:51Don't look so downcast, Jimmy.
00:54Our troops are making some headway.
00:57It's not enough, Tully.
01:00We've been routed too many times.
01:05Look at them.
01:07Smiling when they see that I'm looking their way, but whispering and plotting the second of my back is turned.
01:14The War of 1812 is the second time the United States has declared war against Great Britain.
01:22And one of the challenges they faced was how unprepared militarily they were.
01:27And really, the United States is soon wracked by a series of losses and defeats.
01:33And there's real fear in the United States that they may lose this war.
01:40Hell's teeth.
01:41Hell's teeth.
01:42We've got to deal with that low-hardened chief.
01:45Mrs. Madison.
01:48Mr. Madison.
01:50Mr. Madison.
01:51Mr. President.
01:52Is what I think you mean to say.
01:54Of course, sir.
01:55Mr. President.
01:56Mr. President.
01:57I am surprised to see you so publicly celebrating.
02:00Is this some great victory of which we have yet unaware?
02:03Who?
02:04Has Canada fallen?
02:05Well, when that happens, Clay, you'll be the first to know.
02:10Oh.
02:10That is a shame.
02:13People need to be fed a steady diet of victories.
02:16Currently, they're being served scraps.
02:19Pretty soon, they may turn on the chef.
02:23It was often called Mr. Madison's war, particularly by his enemies.
02:29He's the president.
02:31He approved of it.
02:33There's also some sarcasm in it because James Madison has never heard a shot fired in anger.
02:41And now he's a war leader.
02:45What in the name of hell?
02:52I agree.
02:53More bad news.
02:55I knew that old man was too weak.
02:58Too old.
03:06I'm waiting to receive this.
03:16Yeah.
03:19Ladies and gentlemen, this brave sailor has brought news of a great victory.
03:28The USS United States engaged the British frigate HMS Macedonian off the coast of Madeira.
03:36Despite being outgunned, the United States defeated the Macedonian and captured her crew.
03:43Victory!
03:46Blood live the United States!
03:49The funny thing about the War of 1812 is that the very few victories that the Americans had over the
03:55British were naval,
03:56which was very surprising on both sides, may I say, since the British Navy was just sort of world-celebrated.
04:02But there it is.
04:03That victory really gives Americans hopes that they can beat the British, that there is a path forward, and that
04:10all is not lost.
04:15Please excuse me.
04:27James, what did we talk about avoiding the French ambassador?
04:33Well?
04:35James?
04:38It seems our moment of triumph is short-lived.
04:41The ambassador just told me that Napoleon's armies are in full retreat in Russia.
04:48Unfortunate for the French, but how does that hurt us?
04:52As if Napoleon falls, the British will be able to divert all their forces away from the French and towards
05:02us.
05:04We will face the greatest military power alone.
05:08Keep everyone entertained.
05:10I mean, I...
05:11I need a few minutes.
05:13Just wait for myself.
05:14Please.
05:21Oh, it's an outbreak.
05:24It's a goddamn war crime, Hampton.
05:26Look.
05:26On the night of the 25th of June, British troops landed near Hampton.
05:30The 400 local militiamen gathered to oppose them put up a tough, brief resistance before being beaten back and propelled
05:35to flee through the nearby woods.
05:37While rounding up prisoners, one captured American uncle was relieved of his epaulets by several foreigners and murdered.
05:44While another militiamen was robbed, led into a false sense of security, and then deliberately executed in cold blood.
05:50Goddamn it!
05:51Caught on the heels of the retreating militia, the British troops quickly moved into Hampton, dispersing to plunder in every
05:57direction.
05:58They inflicted brutal treatment upon several peaceable inhabitants whose age or infirmities rendered them unable to get out of the
06:05way.
06:05They're committing every horror with impunity, rape, murder, pillage.
06:11The British are laughing at us!
06:13They think our army and our president are weak!
06:16Madison is living on borrowed time.
06:27The President is worse today.
06:41They come back to work.
06:43has so much to do
06:45in the war.
06:49Shh.
06:51Your cabinet
06:53and the chiefs of the army
06:55and navy have everything under control.
07:01Oh, I did.
07:09Tuesday.
07:12In the summer of 1813,
07:14James Madison is going to fall violently
07:16ill. He has diarrhea,
07:18he's vomiting bile, he's got
07:20fevers.
07:22Congress.
07:24I'm ready to be attending
07:26Congress.
07:27You need to think of an excuse for me.
07:43Wait a minute.
07:45Please tell Mr. Monroe
07:46to draft a letter to Congress.
07:48Tell them the president
07:50won't be able to attend today
07:53because...
07:56What would you like me to tell them,
07:58Mrs. Madison?
08:01Tell Mr. Monroe
08:02to think of a suitable reason.
08:22Come back to me, James.
08:27Please.
08:30I need you.
08:35Our nation needs you.
08:40Please.
08:45The president must be given more time.
08:47More time?
08:48The president hasn't been seen
08:50in weeks.
08:51Where is he?
08:52I am assured that the president
08:53is working from the president's house.
08:55The British are beating us bloody.
08:59We want the truth!
09:03Rumors of Madison's illness
09:05spread far and wide.
09:07Even John Adams
09:08hears that
09:08Madison is taking so much laudanum
09:10that he is delirious
09:12and may not live
09:14much longer.
09:15And in this war
09:16that was already divisive,
09:18his illness only
09:19kind of strengthened
09:20the voices of his opposition.
09:27Stand out of the way.
09:29The president
09:29has not admitted
09:30to the search
09:31that Bersada
09:31hasn't played a lot.
09:36What is the meaning of this?
09:38Mrs. Madison,
09:41so it is true.
09:45Dear God,
09:45he looks half dead.
09:47You must not judge
09:49the president
09:49as you see him now.
09:51He suffers badly today,
09:53but most days
09:54he is busy at his work.
10:01Don't ruin him.
10:04You misjudged me,
10:06Mr. Madison.
10:11James?
10:14Hey.
10:16There he is.
10:19There he is.
10:27Don't say anything.
10:28You just listen now.
10:31There's talk about
10:32an amendment
10:33to the Constitution.
10:35The nation is in peril,
10:37and many in Congress,
10:38not just your enemies,
10:39but men in your own party.
10:43They think it's time
10:44to act now
10:45before the worst happens.
10:48They think James will die?
10:52It's something
10:52he's already dead,
10:53and you're just
10:54hiding the fact.
10:56At the time,
10:57the Constitution
10:57is very clear
10:59on what happens
10:59if a president
11:01passes away.
11:02It's not clear
11:03on what happens
11:04if a president
11:05is incapacitated.
11:06And so,
11:07the question
11:08is very much open
11:09about who should be
11:11leading this war effort
11:13in the absence
11:13of the commander-in-chief.
11:16James,
11:17you need to get well.
11:20You need to come back
11:21to Congress
11:22and show those naysayers
11:23that you are still
11:24in command of your body,
11:26of your faculties.
11:27You're a fight,
11:29James.
11:29You're a fight.
11:30There's a war to be won.
11:32We need our commander-in-chief.
11:51I'll go back to Congress.
11:53I'll tell them
11:54that I've seen the president,
11:55that he's still alive.
11:58Now,
11:58we'll buy some time,
12:00but you need to rouse him
12:01not that bad.
12:02I shall.
12:06You know what I thought,
12:07Senator.
12:10I'm a man
12:11who loves this country,
12:12Mrs. Mervis.
12:36Gentleman.
12:38Sad to say,
12:39I have no new updates
12:40on the president's condition,
12:42so we must press.
12:59Mr. President,
13:00happy to see you.
13:06Who would like to begin?
13:12Mr. Munro,
13:14what news
13:15from the Atlantic Theater?
13:21The war still
13:22isn't going very well.
13:24The ground forces
13:25are going nowhere.
13:26With Napoleon's defeat,
13:28the British can start
13:29to focus more
13:30on the United States,
13:31and as part of that,
13:32Britain starts to go
13:33on more of an offensive war.
13:44John,
13:47is it true?
13:54It's true.
13:56The British have landed
13:57in Benedict.
13:59And where are they headed?
14:01The president was
14:02home from Baltimore,
14:03but no.
14:05Looks like they're
14:06fixing to head our way.
14:08And if they march
14:09on Washington,
14:11how long before
14:12they arrive?
14:15Four days.
14:17Five tops.
14:22The British realize
14:23that D.C.
14:24may be vulnerable.
14:25It is still
14:26a young city.
14:27It does not have
14:28the same fortifications
14:29or natural defenses
14:30that some other ports
14:31in the United States have.
14:32And so they decide
14:33to launch an invasion
14:34of the Capitol.
14:39America's last line.
14:42Local boys
14:43with guns and knives.
14:45During the War of 1812,
14:47the White House
14:47really sat
14:48as an open target.
14:50It didn't have
14:51any of the security
14:52that you'd associate
14:53with what is
14:54the president's home.
14:55There is just
14:56a small militia force
14:58guarding the White House.
15:00If there was no fence,
15:01you could just walk
15:02onto the lawn.
15:04What the hell?
15:15A message from
15:16the British High Command.
15:18Oh?
15:19What is it?
15:20That's not for me.
15:21It's for you, Dolly.
15:24From Admiral
15:26Sir George Cockburn,
15:28commander,
15:29British forces
15:30in Maryland.
15:31What does it say?
15:36That he soon
15:37expects to take
15:38his bow
15:38in my drawing room.
15:40How dare he?
15:42You can tell
15:43the Admiral
15:43will see him soon enough.
15:45But he can kneel,
15:47not bow.
15:49Aren't you Quakers
15:50supposed to be pacifists?
15:52Yes.
15:54But it never suited me
15:55anyway.
16:02You don't have
16:03to do this.
16:05You have generals,
16:08admirals.
16:09They must fight
16:10the battle
16:11and you must
16:11guide the nation.
16:13If you are injured
16:14or killed,
16:15it will serve no cause
16:16other than the
16:17British kings.
16:18Dolly,
16:18we've been through this.
16:20Imagine how it would
16:21look,
16:22me asking all
16:23fellow Americans
16:24to lay down
16:24their lives
16:25if I will not.
16:27Anyway,
16:28my lack of height
16:29will finally be
16:29an advantage
16:30of all those
16:31British bullets
16:32flying over my head.
16:43I love you.
16:47I'll go and kick
16:49those British
16:49bastards
16:50all the way
16:50back into
16:51the Potomac.
16:52Yes,
16:53ma'am.
16:55James Madison
16:56is going out
16:57into the field
16:59to try to
17:00gather intelligence
17:01about where
17:02the British
17:03are going
17:03to attack.
17:09He has to
17:10borrow a horse
17:11and he has to
17:12borrow a dueling
17:13pistol
17:14because he doesn't
17:15own any weapons
17:15himself.
17:17James Madison
17:18becomes the first
17:19and only president
17:20to ride into battle.
17:41We're all
17:41going to die,
17:42ain't we?
17:46Yes,
17:48but only the
17:49Lord above us
17:49knows the day.
17:51Maybe he ain't
17:52ready for us
17:52just yet.
18:00I heard
18:00some of the
18:01English soldiers
18:01here in our ways
18:02free black folk
18:04sign up on the
18:05same pay as
18:06white soldiers.
18:07Same pension too.
18:09All they got to
18:10do is sign a bit
18:11of paper and
18:11there it is,
18:12they're free.
18:13They're free.
18:27Now,
18:28I wouldn't judge
18:29a man for doing
18:30it.
18:31For me,
18:33I'm sticking
18:34by the mistress.
18:36Make sure she
18:37doesn't get into
18:37any mischief.
18:39See,
18:39Mrs. Madison
18:40is too damn
18:40brave for her
18:41own sakes.
18:44She'll be running
18:45towards the
18:46redcoats with
18:46a pair of
18:46pistols.
18:52For me,
18:53African-Americans,
18:53it had to be
18:54a huge temptation.
18:56But instead of
18:57joining with
18:59the British
18:59when they
19:00invaded
19:00Washington,
19:01D.C.,
19:02the enslaved
19:03Africans owned
19:04by President
19:05Madison,
19:05they stay
19:07with the
19:07First Lady.
19:19Good
19:19early in the
19:20day for
19:20stargazing,
19:21Mrs. Madison.
19:22I was hoping
19:23to catch
19:23sight of
19:24my husband
19:25or maybe
19:26the British.
19:28But all
19:29I've seen
19:29so far
19:30is a lot
19:30of our
19:30fellow
19:31Washingtonians
19:32fleeing.
19:34And
19:34an
19:36impressively
19:36randy bull
19:37having fun
19:38in the
19:38lower
19:38fields.
19:41What's
19:41on your
19:41mind,
19:42John?
19:43I came
19:43up to
19:43see if
19:44you wanted
19:44to continue
19:44with the
19:45preparations
19:45for dinner
19:46tonight.
19:46Of course.
19:48Why would
19:48not?
19:494 p.m.
19:51It must
19:51all be
19:51ready for
19:524 p.m.
19:53She's
19:54determined
19:54that she's
19:54going to
19:55receive
19:55James Madison
19:56back in
19:56the White
19:57House and
19:57they're
19:57going to
19:58have
19:58dinner
19:58together
19:58that
19:59night.
20:02Oh,
20:02damn.
20:04She wasn't
20:04lying about
20:05that bull.
20:15Madison's
20:16decision to
20:16visit the
20:17troops,
20:18it's a
20:19daring,
20:20risky
20:21decision.
20:22He would
20:23have seen
20:24a ragtag
20:26outfit of
20:27U.S.
20:28militia who
20:29are trying to
20:29put up the
20:30best fight
20:30they can
20:31against
20:31trained
20:32British
20:32regulars.
20:33But by
20:34about 2 o'clock
20:34p.m.,
20:35it's very
20:36clear that
20:36the American
20:37forces are
20:38not going
20:38to win
20:39this battle.
20:41Did these
20:42men stand
20:42if the
20:43first lines
20:43of defense
20:43were breached?
20:45I can't
20:45swear to it,
20:46Mr.
20:46President.
20:49How far is
20:49the
20:49president's
20:50house from
20:50here,
20:51would you
20:51say?
20:52Seven miles.
20:53About that.
20:55Dolly.
20:58Dolly.
21:01Dolly.
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