This Month in the War of 1812: A Big Month for the Star-Spangled Banner

SEPTEMBER 10, 1813

**  The Battle of Lake Erie

SEPTEMBER 11, 1814

**  Battle of Lake Champlain, New York

SEPTEMBER 12,1814

**  Battle of North Point, Maryland

SEPTEMBER 13, 1814

**  Bombardment of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland

SEPTEMBER 14, 1814

**  The flag was still there.

--Brock-Perry

This Month in the War of 1812: Two Big Naval Victories and 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

From the September 2021 American Battlefield Trust calendar.

These events took place in September during America's "Forgotten War."  I say it's not so forgotten.

SEPTEMBER 10, 1813

Battle of Lake Erie, Ohio  "We have met the enemy...."

SEPTEMBER 11, 1814

Battle of Lake Champlain, New York

SEPTEMBER  12, 1814

Battle of North Point, Maryland

SEPTEMBER 13, 1814

Bombardment of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland

--Brock-Perry

Samuel Smith of Baltimore-- Part 4: Victory At Hampstead Hill and Fort McHenry

The British, led by Major General Robert Ross until his death landed on North Point by Baltimore on September 12, 1814,  with 4,000 soldiers and encountered a delaying force led by Brigadier General John Stricker.

The delaying tactic worked and Smith was able to fortify Hampstead Hill, a fortified position  east of Baltimore.  He congregated thousands of militia men and whatever guns he had.  British attempts to flank the position were foiled by Smith.  He also positioned his troops so that a frontal assault would get caught in a crossfire.

The British retreated September 14 and boarded their ships.

The British also assaulted Baltimore with their Navy warships but Fort McHenry and its covering forts (Covington and Babcock) successfully withstood the famous bombardment. and they also withdrew.

--Brock-Perry

Wells and McComas Monument-- Part 2: Both Killed At Battle of North Point

Although evidence that they fired the shots that killed Robert Ross is scant, they have received credit for it.  There were other sharpshooters in their unit.  Regardless, the loss of General Ross was a heavy blow to the British.

Sadly, McComas and Wells could not confirm or deny the story as both were killed on the battlefield.  Two of the 24 who died at the Battle of North Point.

It wasn't until some 40 years after the battle that the two boys gained local celebrity status.  In the 1850s two military companies formed the Wells and McComas Monument Association and solicited subscriptions  from citizens to erect a monument in their honor.

They had the bodies exhumed from their vault in  Baltimore's legendary  Green Mount Cemetery and lay in state at the Maryland Institute building at Market Place.  Thousands came to pay their respects.

--Brock-Perry

Baltimore's Battle Monument-- Part 1

Another reason for Baltimore being called "The Monumental City."

From Wikipedia.

Located on Calvert Street between  Fayette and Lexington streets.  On one acre.  Built in 1815.

Commemorates the Battle of Baltimore which included the bombardment of Fort McHenry and the Battle of North Point. in September 1814.  It honors those who died.  It sits on the site of the first Baltimore County court house.  The site was originally picked for the city's Washington Monument, but it was feared that would be too tall, so its construction was moved to another site.

The monument was designed by Baltimore architect J. Maximilian M. Godefroy and built between 1815 and 1825 and stands 39 feet high.

--Brock-Perry

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

George Armistead-- Part 5: The British Withdraw

Because the British fleet was unable to get Fort McHenry to surrender in order to enter Baltimore Harbor and bombard the American defensive line east of the city, the British commander-in-chief Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane wrote to the British Army commander approaching those defenses, Colonel Arthur Brooke that it would be up to him to determine whether to attack.

Brooke had taken over command of the British Army after British Major General Robert Ross had been mortally wounded just before the Battle of North Point on September 12.  He decided to withdraw.

Baltimore was safe.

--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

200 Years Ago: Battle of North Point and Bombardment of Baltimore

SEPTEMBER 11, 1814:    British capture Fort O'Brien and Machias, District of Maine.


SEPTEMBER 12-15, 1814:  Also the death of British Major General Robert Ross.

After sacking Washington, D.C., British commanding officer Robert Ross led a force of roughly 4,000 men north to Baltimore.  On 12 September, during the Battle of North Point, Ross was mortally wounded;  Colonel Arthur Brooke then assumed command and defeated Brigadier General John Stricker's 3,200 American troops.

The British advanced until they came upon recently prepared fortifications around Baltimore.  Judging the defenses too strong to be attacked, the British withdrew.

Meanwhile, Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane led an unsuccessful naval attack on Fort McHenry.  The spectacle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

As for Ross. his comrades preserved his body in rum and sent it to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for burial, where his remains received a hero's welcome.

--Brock-Perry