Barney Circle in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Heroes of 1814

Star-Spangled Banner Historic Trail

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Heroes of 1814 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 25, 2015

1. Heroes of 1814 Marker

Inscription. Congressional Cemetery, founded 1807, is the resting ground for many War of 1812 figures. Among them are Navy Yard Commandant Thomas Tingey, the first architect of the Capitol, Dr. William Thornton, State Department Clerk Stephen Pleasonton, and National Intelligencer newspaper editor Joseph Gales. Chocktaw Indian Chief Pushmataha, who served with Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans, is also buried here.

Joseph Gale’s grave marker memorializes the editor of the National Intelligencer as “a journalist of the highest integrity.” Congressional Cemetery

Saving the Declaration
Thanks to Stephen Pleasonton, the Declaration of Independence escaped the flames of August 1814. Just before the British arrived, Pleasonton rounded up 22 carts, loaded them with the nation’s most precious documents, and led them to safety in Leesburg, Virginia. Stephen Pleasonton, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Choctaw Chief Pushmataha, Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Basement chamber in Leesburg, VA that stored precious federal documents. Photograph by Ralph Eshelman

In the summer of

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1814 the United States had been at war with Great Britain for two years. Battlefronts had erupted from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. On August 24, following their victory over the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland, British troops marched on Washington with devastating results.

The Star-Spangled Banner Historic Trail reveals sites of the War of 1812 in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland. Visit ChesapeakeExplorerApp.com or download the Chesapeake Explorer App.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson, and the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1807.

Location. 38° 52.962′ N, 76° 58.745′ W. Marker is in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Barney Circle. It is on E Street Southeast just east of Potomac Avenue Southeast, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or

Wide view of Heroes of 1814 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 24, 2015

2. Wide view of Heroes of 1814 Marker

The marker is directly to the right of the entrance gate to the cemetery.

near this postal address: 1801 E Street Southeast, Washington DC 20003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom (a few steps from this marker); Welcome (a few steps from this marker); Ann G. Sprigg (within shouting distance of this marker); Mountjoy Bayly (within shouting distance of this marker); Alain LeRoy Locke (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Flora Adams Darling (about 300 feet away); Commemorating The American Revolutionary Service of General Peterson Goodwyn (about 300 feet away); Mathew Brady (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southeast Washington.

Choctaw chief Pushmataha image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

3. Choctaw chief Pushmataha

Close-up of Charles Bird King painting on marker

Stephen Pleasonton image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

4. Stephen Pleasonton

Close-up of photo on marker

Basement Chamber in Leesburg, VA that stored precious federal documents image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

5. Basement Chamber in Leesburg, VA that stored precious federal documents

Close-up of Ralph Eshelman photo on marker

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 14, 2015

6. Stephen Pleasonton

Died
Feb. 1855

Push – Ma – Ta – Ha image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

7. Push – Ma – Ta – Ha

A Choctaw Chief Lies Here. This Monument to his memory is erected by his brother chiefs Who were associated with him in a Delegation from their nation, In the year 1824, to the General Government of the United States

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

8. Push – Ma – Ta – Ha

Push – Ma – Ta – Ha was a warrior of great distinction. He was wise in council — eloquent in an extraordinary degree, and on all occasions & under all circumstances the white man's friend.

He died in Washington, on the 24th of December, 1824, of the croup, in the 60th year of his age. Among his last words were following: “When I am gone, let the big guns be fired over me.”

Sacred to the Memory of<br>Commodore Thomas Tingley image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

9. Sacred to the Memory of
Commodore Thomas Tingley

Sacred to the memory of<br>William Thornton image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

10. Sacred to the memory of
William Thornton

who departed this life on the 28th of March 1828 Aged 67.

Joseph Gales Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 14, 2015

11. Joseph Gales Monument

In Memory of<br>Joseph Gales image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 14, 2015

12. In Memory of
Joseph Gales

For more than half a century the leading editor of The National Intelligencer. A journalist of the highest integrity, ability,and accomplishments. Born in Sheffield, England. April 10, 1786. Died at Eckington, D.C. July 21, 1860.

This Monument is erected by representatives of the American press in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.

Commodore John Rodgers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

13. Commodore John Rodgers

Commodore Rodgers fired the first shot of the War of 1812. He participated in the recapture of Washington and the defense of Baltimore.

Born 1772 Died Senior Officer of The United States Navy August 1st 1838 after forty one years of brilliant and important service.

General Alexander McComb image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

14. General Alexander McComb

Commander at Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814.

William E Dulin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 7, 2015

15. William E Dulin

Private 60th Regiment (Minor's) Virginia Militia War of 1812.
1790–March 28 1830

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,036 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 26, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. submitted on February 15, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.