Citizen Soldiers In Maryland

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The Citizen Soldiers at North Point and Fort McHenry, September 12 and 13, 1814.

British At The Chesapeake

From Leading Events of Maryland History:

In August, 1814, another British fleet arrived in the Chesapeake, commanded by Admiral Cockrane. On board this fleet were three thousand veteran soldiers under General Ross. An expedition for the capture of Washington was planned at once. Sir Peter Parker was sent up the bay with several vessels to threaten Baltimore and annoy the people as much as possible.

A map of the U.S. Troops' attempt to protect Washington.

Aquila Randall Monument

From the State of Maryland's Star-Spangled 200 organization's website:

"On Baltimore County’s historic Patapsco Neck near the intersection of Old North Point and Old Battle Grove roads stands the second oldest known military monument in Maryland, the third in the United States. It is also the least known and visited War of 1812 monument."

The Allen Browne blog also has a post about the monument and the events surrounding it.

An historical marker database also included the marker, and indicated that it was the "Aquila Randall Obelisk, Also Known as the Ross Monument."

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Rodger's Bastion, Baltimore

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From the Friends Of Patterson Park website:

On Hampstead Hill, the ridge where the Pagoda now stands, Baltimoreans rallied on September 12, 1814 to protect the city from the threat of a British invasion. By water, British troops entered the Patapsco River and bombarded Fort McHenry. By land, they amassed forces at North Point. As they marched on to Baltimore and looked up to Hampstead Hill they saw Rodger’s Bastion – including 100 cannons and 20,000 troops. This sight led the British to return to their ships and leave the Port of Baltimore.

This blog has a nice map on the post entitled "The British Route from Washington to Baltimore in 1814," including Hampstead Hill.

General John Stricker

The Battle of North Point included  portrait of General John Stricker (1758-1825).

General Stricker was instrumental in the Battle of North Point.

British General Robert Ross

British General Robert Ross, the man who captured Washington, D.C., was killed at the Battle Of North Point (a part of the larger Battle Of Baltimore).

Part of the poem about the Battle Of North Point depicting the fallen General Ross who was said to have been shot by American soldiers Wells and McComas:

With sunshine streaming face

McComas walk'd the steps through air.

With Wells departed out of sight.

They passed to distant climes afar.

 Unbounded by the shades of night 

The wounded Ross by friendly arms 

Was laid beside the crimson road.

General Ross's body was preserved in a barrel of rum with the intent of being returned to Ireland.  The war interfered with those plans and his body was shipped to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Poem Of The Battle Of North Point

The Battle of North Point: a poem commemorative of September 12th, 1814...

By William Matthew Marine (excerpted below):

THE BATTLE OF NORTH POINT 

The clouds hung o'er the threatened coast,

Above the bluff the shore the strand,

 Where the imperial red-coat host,

 In barges rowed toward the land.

 Upon the beach strewn pebbles lay,

 Smoothed by the water's polishing.

 Where ebbs and flowing tides held sway,

 To dashing breakers murmuring.

 The river rolled great waves of scorn,

 Indignant at the sight beheld;

 Its wrath was roused that early morn,

 And troublous billows dashed and swelled.

 The Briton crossed the deep to siege,

 To storm the heights of Baltimore,

 And wreak his malice and his rage,

 To light the torch upon this shore.

 From decks of oak the soldier proud,

 Marched in the ranks to serve his King.

Defenders Day In Maryland

September 12th is Defenders Day which is celebrated in Maryland.  It commemorates the Battle of Northpoint (and encompasses the Battle of Baltimore and the events at Fort McHenry).

According to the National Park Service site:

On September 12, 1914, the 100th anniversary of the British attack against Fort McHenry, 6500 local school children cloaked in red, white and blue, formed a giant replica of the Flag, which was appropriately named, “The Wonderful Human Flag.”

Here was the itinerary for Defenders Day 2012.

A YouTube video of the Defenders Day celebration in 2001 here and 2011 here.

Battle Of North Point

A portrait from The Battle of North Point: a poem commemorative of September 12th, 1814..:

Battle details here.