Southworth’s Connection to America’s Most Forgotten War

British soldiers marched into Washington City where they raided and burned many buildings, including the White House and the Capitol.

Many of E.D.E.N. Southworth’s novels were set during the War of 1812, the second between America and Britain, likely because of her father’s service during that time. Her father, Charles LeCompte Nevitte, became a successful flour merchant in Alexandria, Virginia; however, America’s involvement in the French Revolution would reverse his fortunes. The newly-formed American government wanted to remain neutral in the war between Britain and France, but both countries repeatedly attacked American merchant ships.

Charles was one such merchant who had his ships and cargoes seized by the French. His business plummeted into debt. By 1801, his creditors demanded payment. Unable to do so, he was sent to a debtors’ prison in Washington county. In spite of these hard times, he’d at least partially recovered from his financial crisis, and by 1810 had been elected to the Common Council in Alexandria, Virginia where he helped revise laws concerning tax collections and served on a committee to build water wells for the town.

He helped improve his community until the outbreak of the second war between Britain and America in 1812 when he joined Captain McGuire’s company of volunteers as “Alexandria was represented by nearly all of its able-bodied citizens.” Charles served as ensign under McGuire from November 30, 1812 until March 30, 1813 when it was mustered out.

However, on May 8, 1813, troops were reorganized in an effort to protect Washington from a British invasion. Charles joined the first Regimental District of Columbia Militia as a captain of infantry under Adjutant-General Walter Smith, and on August 24, 1814, this regiment fought against the British in the Battle of Bladensburg. By that evening, the British overwhelmed the American regiment and stormed into Washington, burning and looting much of the city, including the White House. American militia men suffered heavy losses, and Charles was wounded in the chest which left him disabled for the rest of his life. Even though it was an embarrassing loss for America, the battle provided a renewed quest in American’s desire for independence and freedom and subsequent battles turned in favor of the American citizen soldiers. From this loss, the US also realized a need for a better trained and prepared military, even though the concept of the citizen soldier lives on in the American ideal.

It was this ideal that showed up in Southworth’s novels again and again. Because Charles died when Southworth was very young, most of what she knew about him came from hyperbolized stories told by family and friends. Hearing these stories of valor and bravery led Southworth to idolize her father, and it influenced her notion of the perfect American hero. Her fame and popularity helped fuel this vision, and understanding this heritage makes her an important figure in American history today. The more we recognize where we’ve been, the better we can determine where we should go, and neither the War of 1812 nor E.D.E.N. Southworth should be forgotten.