Who was the only sitting American president to lead the country in battle? What battle was it?

Abraham Lincoln (and his wife!) were present to watch the battle of Fort Stevens on July 12, 1864. This is the only account I can find of a sitting American President being present under enemy fire, but I am not sure this is what you are looking for.

I believe that James Madison also observed a battle as a sitting president. But I will be very surprised to find out that any sitting US president actually led anyone into battle.

The source I have, states that this president took actual command of the army in the field. Not observerving a battle.

Hint: The battle never ended up taking place.

quote:

Originally posted by Leppi:
Hint: The battle never ended up taking place.

So how was it a battle? There's either a fight or there isn't and if there isn't there's no battle !

By the way, a check shows no trace of an American president visiting Battle (a town in East Sussex,so named because the Battle of Hastings was there) either, so being a leader of his country and Commander in Chief of its army, in Battle (and in a field, the field of a battle, there, too)

This president took command of the army in the field and started marching toward the battle. But the opposing side "could never be found."

In 1794, George Washington invoked martial law to repel the Whiskey Rebellion. He took personal charge of the troops, along with his friend Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee, assembling in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and marching into the western part of the state. Though the enemy, as Lip has told us, could "never be found," they rounded up 20 prisoners in a show of federal authority.

Of note, the Wikipedia article on the subject indicates that James Madison also commanded our military in the field, while fleeing British occupation of Washington, DC during the War of 1812.


Source

Nice piece of trivia Leppi, nice finding Coldfuse.

I think Madison's commands were primarily things like "Get Out of my way!"

By the way, when Truman had extensive repairs done to the White House (Basically, it was re-built inside, keeping the outside walls. The story is told that a piano on the second floor started going to the first floor on its own.), he mentioned that he should send the repair bill to England.

quote:

Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
I think Madison's commands were primarily things like "Get Out of my way!"

I was thinking, "Private! Go back and fetch Miss Dolly's bedroom slippers!"

I was actually reading this book a while ago which was called something like... fun intresting facts to read in the bathroom. Don't remember the exact title. Anyways, this was written in the book, so I verified it and found it to actually be true.

Fuse, I saw what you wrote about James Madison also on wikipedia, but I couldn't find another source to back up the claim. And unfortuantly, wikipedia isn't always correct. if someone could find a source for it, I would be greatful.