William H. Winder

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A promising Maryland lawyer, William H. Winder (1775-1824) 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. When the British invaded Maryland that year, he sent his forces to meet them at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814. He failed to show effective command in the battle, and he retreated in the ensuing rout.

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