as paul jeng rejenning recounts, james smith, an african-american freeman sent by the president to the battlefield galloped up crying, clear out. the general has ordered a retreat. dolley took her small draw-string purse and she and suki climbed aboard a carriage with her sister anna, and driven by an impant charles carroll. as she later told henry latrobe's wife mary, "i left the house where mr. latrobe's elegant taste had been justly admired and where you and i had so often wandered together." they took off. stopping that day first at navy secretary jones' house and then carroll's own bellevue, now dumb barton house and finally spending the night across the river in virginia. paul jennings and john were the last to leave, poignantly french jean locked the front door and carried polly, the beloved mackaw, over to the octagon house. james madison finally arrived at the white house in the latest afternoon. james set out to the catch up with his wife and not before he ordered jean to give up the brandy to the weary troops. it was almost the last party the house would see. paul jennings h