Step two centuries back in time to a very different America on the Washington Is Burning! August 1814 walking tour from Washington Walks. On August 24, 1814, Washington, D.C. was invaded. Led by Rear Admiral George Cockburn, British soldiers marched methodically from site to site, setting fire to government buildings. Cockburn was hellbent on crushing the American spirit and bringing the fledgling republic to its knees, and he also held a particular dislike for the editor of one D.C. newspaper. Follow the path of the British during this walking tour that brings to life the incredible story of the nation’s capital, its brave citizens and an infamous night during the War of 1812. This historical tour features sites on Capitol Hill and downtown Washington, D.C.