Baltimore's Defenders Day-- Part 3: The "Old Defenders"

While the "Old Defenders" survived, they were the ones who fought the battle, the commemorations of Defenders Day revolved around them.  Following the War of 1812, many of the "Old Defenders" became civil leaders of Baltimore.

While they were still alive, ceremonies began with rallies and speeches at Baltimore's Battle Monument and then the militia units marched out to the North Point Battlefield (on occasion taking a steamboat)where a sham battle would take place.

One of the unfortunate results of this was that more militia died from the exertion   A few even died when actual musket balls were fired during the sham battle.

In 1822, an unusually hot day in Baltimore the combination of heat and the wool uniforms produced a significant loss that caused the cancellation of it the following year.and heat than died on the actual battlefield in the war.

--Brock-Perry

Baltimore's Defenders Day-- Part 2: To Celebrate the Victories At the Battle of North Point and Fort McHenry

The early celebrating of Defenders Day started soon after the event and centered on the American victory at the Battle of North Point on September 12 with people going out to the battlefield for picnics.  Later the celebrations came to include the entire city of Baltimore. with parades and speeches.

Initially the celebration of Defenders Day  was divided between the Battle of North Point and the Star-Spangled Banner Fort McHenry.  It also developed along the role of militia which had been involuntary prior to the War of 1812, to voluntary militia that emerged during the war itself.

there were a lot of politics involved with the militia units and the celebration of the victory.

--Brock-Perry

Last Survivor of the Battle of Baltimore-- Part 2

Elijah B. Glenn was the "last survivor" of the "Old Defenders" who had saved Baltimore from the British attack in September 1814, which led to the writing of "The Star Spangled Banner."

He died July 25, 1898, at the age of 102 at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. John Barcklow.

He joined the Maryland Militia as a private at the age of 18 and served in Captain Peter Pinney's company of the 27th Maryland Regiment and also fought the British at the Battle of North Point.

--Brock-Perry

Last Survivor of the Battle of Baltimore-- Part 1

From the November 4, 2017, Cecil Whig  "Ask the Historical Society: Last 'Defender.'"

Someone had heard that the last survivor of the Battle of Baltimore was from Cecil County and asked the question.

In 1896, the Utica Morning herald reported that only 14 pensioners remained from the War of 1812.

One of them was Elijah B. Glenn, a centenarian.

He was born at Carpenter's Point in 1796  (There is some confusion as to his last name in the article as it was given originally as Green and then Gleen.  I also found it listed as Glenn.  I am going with Glenn.)

--Brock-Perry