When I started thinking about your prompt, at first I thought maybe I'd do something creative and have the story happen at sea. Then I thought, "Nahh," because the British attack on Washington DC is one of the bitchiest attacks I can think of in all of Western history, and how could I pass up the chance to write about it. That thing about the British soldiers eating James Madison's dinner? And somebody stealing one of the president's hats? Those things really happened.
Of course, Alfred conveniently forgets that he also attacked civilian targets (American forces sacked York--the one that's Toronto now, not the other one). But conveniently forgetting things is a very American trait, and anyway, Britain didn't seem to care about that, eithe. Some historians have said that DC was in reprisal for York, but the dispatches from the time just talk about hitting DC to demoralize the Americans. So Alfred was right to guess that England was just in the neighborhood to kick his dog.
Maybe you already know all of this, but...I thought it was interesting!
I am glad you enjoyed the story, since that was sort of the whole reason for writing it! XD
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Date: 2009-02-20 12:21 am (UTC)Of course, Alfred conveniently forgets that he also attacked civilian targets (American forces sacked York--the one that's Toronto now, not the other one). But conveniently forgetting things is a very American trait, and anyway, Britain didn't seem to care about that, eithe. Some historians have said that DC was in reprisal for York, but the dispatches from the time just talk about hitting DC to demoralize the Americans. So Alfred was right to guess that England was just in the neighborhood to kick his dog.
Maybe you already know all of this, but...I thought it was interesting!
I am glad you enjoyed the story, since that was sort of the whole reason for writing it! XD