Reminder that most of the fires of Washington were started by the fleeing Americans so the British wouldn't get control of the city (particularly use of the Washington Navy Yard). It's rather similar to what the Russians did to Moscow when the French invaded just two years prior.
When the British subsequently abandoned Washington to occupy the much larger and more important city of Baltimore, the nation's third largest, the commander of all British forces in the continent was killed in action and the battle was a decisive American victory.
When the British then tried to occupy New Orleans, the nation's 7th largest city, the new commander of all British forces in the continent was killed in action and the battle was a decisive American victory.
>>17806101Do you really think that the British would have simply given up such an important city like New Orleans had they won that battle?