Alan’s TTIM Stories #36

“And the rockets’ red glare, the bomb bursting in air”

Two-hundred ten years ago an event changed American history in action and remembered in legend and song. But do we know all of the story?

After burning Washington D.C. on August 24, 1814, British forces focused on Baltimore. An important target, the port town was known as a nest of privateers and location of the Fells Point Navel Yard. Admiral Alexander Cochrane’s British fleet, coming from the Chesapeake Bay, took aim at an obstacle in the harbor – Fort McHenry.

The bombardment marked only one part of the military strategy. A lesser-known infantry invasion accompanied the attack by the fleet. Major General Robert Ross landed on a peninsula between tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay on September 12^th. Troops traveled up a road through a wooded wetlands with the intention of attacking Baltimore from the east.

General John Stricker led a force of Maryland Militia to meet the invaders.

Expecting to have supper in Baltimore, an impatient General Ross rode his horse to the front lines to press the attack.

A well-established Maryland legend involves teenage military sharpshooters, Private Daniel Wells and Private Henry G. McComas. They balanced their rifles in tree branches with a clear shot at the General. Two shots found their target. A wounded Ross was helped from his horse and carried behind the front lines and soon perished. Colonel Arthur Brooke took command to continue the attack.

The two heroes did not live long enough to enjoy glory as both were killed in action.

The outnumbered Americans used a slow retreat to regroup at a strong defense line in a small hill near the town, now part of Patterson Park. Colonel Brooke waited for word of Fort McHenry’s demise before pressing the attack.

On the morning of September 14^th, Francis Scott Key noticed the American flying over Ft. Henry signaling the fort survived the bombardment. The bombardment failure led to the “Star Spangled Banner.” The British fleet withdrew from the harbor. Without support of the British fleet, Brooke withdrew the British infantry. Baltimore was saved.

Not as impressive as the preserved Ft. Henry National Monument, scattered reminders of  Battle of North Point are found in the form of small parks, plaques, and murals along North Point Road with much of the battlefield under Interstate 695, a roadway ending abruptly at the remains of the destroyed Francis Scott Key Bridge.  

Sources:
Wikipedia
Army History.com
National Park Service

Photo Credit: the author

Follow announcements of Alan’s TTIM Stories at Facebook.com/alan.vandervoort or Instagram & Treads vandervoort_author, with all available posts at www.alanvandervoort.com. Novels by the author include: Sandhills – A Novel and Key Largo Summer, found at Booklocker.com and other online booksellers.