In the smoldering twilight of August 1814, a dark cloud billowed over the nation’s capital. A triumphant British force, fueled by retribution, set fire to Washington, D.C. Flames devoured the Capitol, the White House, and other symbols of American democracy.

The cityscape erupted into a roaring inferno, illuminating the night sky with an eerie glow. Panicked residents fled their homes as the relentless flames consumed everything in their path. The once-bustling streets were now a desolate wasteland, a testament to the fragility of human endeavor in the face of war’s destructive fury.