William H. Winder

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A promising Maryland lawyer, William Henry Winder (1775-1824) was an American soldier, born in Somerset Co., Md. He was the nephew of Levin Winder. He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, and from 1798 to 1812 practiced law in Baltimore.[1] He was commissioned as a colonel in the U.S. Army at the start of the War of 1812. Promoted to brigadier general, he was one of two acting commanders of the American army at the Battle of Stoney Creek in July 1813, where he was captured, along with fellow commander John Chandler.

Exchanged the following year, Winder was appointed commander of the defenses of Washington and Baltimore by president James Madison on July 4, 1814. In August General Ross with several thousand troops advanced upon Washington. Winder had only a few hundred regulars, and a mob of some thousands of militia to oppose them. The Americans met the British at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814. He failed to show effective command in the battle, retreated in the ensuing rout, and the Capital fell into the hands of the invaders. Winder was afterward court martialed, but was acquitted of all blame.[2]

Winder also testified at the impeachment trial of Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase.