Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words That Built America

It’s 1814, and Stephen Pleasanton serves as a clerk for Secretary of State James Monroe, which primarily means “Stephen lived and breathed paper.” When, on a scouting expedition during the War of 1812, Secretary Monroe discovers the British plan to march on America’s newly established capital, Washington, D.C., he sends urgent news to Pleasanton to “Remove the records.” Thus begins Pleasanton’s urgent task of transporting the founding documents of the young nation, including the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, to a safe location outside the capital. This undertaking requires securing any wagons available and carting load after load of linen sacks stuffed full of rolled parchment. It also requires defying the most powerful military leader in the country, Secretary of War John Armstrong, who is convinced the British won’t attack the capital. As Pleasonton recovers in a tavern room once all the documents are safely hidden, Washington can be seen out the window, alight in orange and yellow flames. Some commentary by Redding and the inclusion of details bordering on minutiae make this story about an unknown but interesting piece of history about America’s founding documents a little long, but overall Redding’s storytelling is engaging and easy to read. Fotheringham’s (A Home for Mr. Emerson) busy illustrations match the urgency of Pleasonton’s rescue mission and even include instances of hand lettering that add a historic, substantive feel to the story otherwise cheapened by his cartoonish caricatures with their oversized heads and exaggerated features.