Today in History: From Washington in Flames to Battles That Shaped Two World Wars

From Washington in flames to clashes in Lorraine and the Solomons, August 24 marks turning points that reshaped wars across history.

Certain dates echo across the battlefield of history, and August 24 is one of them. From the smoke-filled streets of Washington in 1814 to the fields of Lorraine in 1914 and the waters off the Solomons in 1942, the day marks three defining episodes in military history.

The Burning of Washington, 1814

Also known as the Capture of Washington, the War of 1812 brought its most humiliating chapter for the young United States on August 24, 1814.

British forces under Major General Robert Ross marched on Washington, D.C., after routing American militia at the Battle of Bladensburg. President James Madison had personally gone to observe the fighting but, like his army, was forced to retreat.

That evening, British troops entered the capital. They set fire to the Capitol building, the White House, and other key government structures.

The destruction was swift and devastating, a symbolic blow meant to break American resolve.

British_Burning_Washington — The *Capture of the City of Washington*, a portrait of the burning of Washington, D.C., on August 24, 1814. (Wikimedia Commons)

Though the flames scarred the nation’s pride, they also sparked a determination to rebuild, and Washington’s landmarks would rise again from the ashes.

The Battle of Lorraine, 1914

A century later, Europe was locked in the opening frenzy of World War I. The French army launched its Lorraine offensive in mid-August 1914 as part of Plan XVII, the strategy to push into German territory at the outbreak of the war.

General Joseph Joffre ordered French forces forward across the border into Alsace-Lorraine, hoping for a quick victory that would reclaim lost provinces and disrupt Germany’s timetable.

At first, the French advance met stiff but scattered resistance. By August 20, however, German forces under Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria counterattacked in force. With superior artillery and machine guns, they halted the French push and began driving them back. Entire divisions reeled under the weight of German firepower, and the offensive unraveled.

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French withdrawal map, August 20-23, 1914. (Wikimedia Commons) It was on August 24 that the retreat turned into a broader withdrawal. French forces fell back toward the Moselle River, abandoning hopes of breaking through into Germany. The day marked the collapse of the Lorraine offensive, with French casualties mounting into the tens of thousands. German troops regained ground and pressed the French lines westward, underscoring how quickly early-war offensives could crumble in the face of modern firepower. The Battle of Lorraine, fought from August 14–25, ended in failure for France. While it secured German control of the region for the moment, it also locked both sides into the grinding logic of trench warfare. The clash highlighted the deadly mismatch between 19th-century offensive doctrines and 20th-century weapons, setting the stage for four years of attrition on the Western Front. The Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 1942 August 24, 1942, brought the third major carrier battle of World War II, and a turning point in the struggle for control of the Pacific. The Battle of the Eastern Solomons unfolded in the midst of the Guadalcanal campaign, where US Marines had seized an airfield critical to Japanese ambitions in the South Pacific. Determined to dislodge the Americans, Japan dispatched reinforcements and carriers to cover their advance. American coastwatchers hidden in the Solomon Islands reported the Japanese movements, giving U.S. commanders advance warning. Two US carriers, USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Saratoga (CV-3), with their escorts, maneuvered into position to intercept. On August 24, aircraft from both sides launched waves of strikes. American dive-bombers scored hits on the Japanese light carrier Ryūjō, crippling her before she sank. Japanese aircraft retaliated, managing to land damaging blows on USS Enterprise, which took three bomb hits but stayed afloat thanks to damage control crews. The air battle was fierce. Japan lost dozens of planes and, more importantly, experienced pilots it could not easily replace. The US Navy, though bloodied, maintained its carrier strength and prevented Japanese reinforcements from reaching Guadalcanal. The Japanese convoy ultimately turned back, leaving the Marines on the island in control of Henderson Field. The Eastern Solomons did not deliver a knockout blow, but it was a strategic American victory. It stalled Japanese efforts to retake Guadalcanal, preserved US naval presence in the South Pacific, and reinforced the growing American advantage in carrier warfare. The loss of skilled Japanese aviators further eroded Japan’s ability to mount offensive operations, a trend that would deepen with each subsequent battle. From torched government buildings in Washington to trenches in Lorraine and warships clashing near the Solomons, August 24 has witnessed moments that tested nations and redirected wars. Each battle, separated by a century and a world apart, offers a reminder of how quickly the tide of conflict can shift, and how the lessons of the past remain relevant to understanding the costs and consequences of war today.