WI: British Forces find Dolley Madison

[QuoProQuid]

In the War of 1812, the United States found an unlikely beacon in Dolley Madison. Although her husband's administration was tinged with controversy, Dolley inspired a strange sense of respect from most members of government and public. In December 1812, the American navy honoured its victory over the British frigate Macedonian by laying the flag of the defeated ship at the First Lady's feet. Dolley succeeded at "destroy[ing] rancorous feelings, then so bitter between Federalists and Republicans" and encouraging compromise within a deeply divided Congress. As one of the most popular and public women of the period, Dolley Madison transformed her relationship with the President into an office and a semipublic position. The First Lady became a de facto part of the President's administration.

Dolley Madison's most famous moment came two years after the war's start as British forces marched toward Washington. Although urged by her friends and allies to flee, Dolley refused to leave her husband and instead showed her confidence in his administration by throwing a dinner party. As people abandoned the city in droves and her servants started preparing public documents for evacuation, she refused to leave until receiving word from her husband. Only Major Charles Carroll, acting on President Madison's orders, was able to convince her to evacuate. The British arrived at the Presidential Mansion several hours later and Dolley's story was dramatically retold by press in the United States and England.

So, what if Major Charles Carroll is somehow incapacitated and Dolley Madison cannot evacuate before the British arrive to burn the Presidential Mansion? What will the reaction be within the Madison administration and general public if the First Lady, one of the most popular figures in the country, is captured or killed?

 

[TFSmith121]

Female martyrs in this era were not

Female martyrs in this era were not good moves by those doing the martyring...

Really depends a lot on the circumstances, but not a wise decision by the British.

Best,

 

[Lateknight]

Female martyrs in this era were not good moves by those doing the martyring...

Really depends a lot on the circumstances, but not a wise decision by the British.

Best,

I doubt the British who would doing the martyring where the most calculating state of mind.

 

[TFSmith121]

Sure, but is it a heat of battle sort of thing by some

Sure, but is it a heat of battle sort of thing by some enlisted man who can be quickly tried and executed or something else?

It was not the Victorian Age, but crimes against elites, especially elite women, especially English-speaking elite women, were not generally accepted, even in the second decade of the Nineteenth Century.

This pre-dates the Cult of Victorian Womanhood, but still; it's not that far off.

Best,

 

[Lateknight]

Sure, but is it a heat of battle sort of thing by some enlisted man who can be quickly tried and executed or something else?

It was not the Victorian Age, but crimes against elites, especially elite women, especially English-speaking elite women, were not generally accepted, even in the second decade of the Nineteenth Century.

Best,

If it's not in the heat of battle I don't really think would do anything to her that terrible. If was in heat of battle and she end up dead and the solider responsible keep quiet then we could have a situation .

 

[TFSmith121]

A "Jennie McCrea" with the first lady as Jennie is

If it's not in the heat of battle I don't really think would do anything to her that terrible. If was in heat of battle and she end up dead and the soldier responsible keep quiet then we could have a situation .

A "Jennie McCrea" with the first lady as Jennie is pretty much going to spark a reaction of horror, in the US and the UK.

More volunteers, more troops, etc from the US; even less support for continuing the war in the UK once Bonaparte is out of the picture...

Best,

 

[Anaxagoras]

The British would keep her safe and have her escorted back into the American lines at the earliest opportunity.

 

[Major Crimson]

Actually, I think the British returning her unharmed and in good health good be very interesting. It puts the Brits on a moral high ground and might sway opinion, hell she herself might become less anti-Brit.

 

[Redhand]

The Jane McCrea incident was not done by British troops, so the parallel doesn't quite fit. It was done by Native Americans, who were known for this kind of thing already due to the savage nature of frontier warfare. I don't think that Dolly would be killed by the British, unless she got caught up in an isolated incident of street violence or she just got really unlucky and ran into a sadistic soldier. The Victorian concept of respect for elite women would make sure that any British officers on scene would stop this kind of crime.

If she was killed, I can imagine that Madison would be in no mood for negotiations and treatment of British prisoners would substantially decline.

 

[Gurroruo]

The British would keep her safe and have her escorted back into the American lines at the earliest opportunity.

Hartford here we go

Hm. In the interest of keeping things interesting, let's assume the worst possible scenario where a British soldier high on adrenaline finds Dolley Madison while looting the White House and kills her. In the chaos, he manages to slip back among the ranks or there are disputing accounts of whom is responsible.

You forget the part where she is raped