Baltimore Fencibles Wounded at Fort McHenry-- Part 2

From Monumental .City.

Besides Lt. Clagget and Sgt. Clemm, these Fencibles were in Fort McHenry during the attack and were wounded.

Private James Granger (1788-1874)  Died near Zanesville, Ohio.  Seriously wounded.

Private James L. Hawkins  (1778-1849)  Slightly wounded.

Private Abraham Lerew   (1795- ?)  Seriously wounded

--Brock-Perry

Baltimore Fencibles at Battle of Fort McHenry-- Part 1: Casualties

From The Monuments of the City (Baltimore) site.  "The Baltimore Fencibles."

Members of the Fencibles at Fort McHenry during the attack.

Lieut. Clagett (1780-1814) and Sergeant Clemm (1780-1814) of Capt. Nicholson's Volunteers.  Both killed.

3rd Sgt. Samuel Harris (c1774-1858)  slightly wounded.

Private Thomas Claggett   Not a casualty, but I am wondering if he might be related to Lt. Clagett.  I have seen Claggett/Clagget/Clagett spelled several different ways.

I have seen the name spelled Claggett and Clagett.

Casualties At Battle of Fort McHenry

From the September 26, 2016, Burlington County Times  "There were few American deaths at Fort McHenry"  Leon C. Czartoryski  "Opinion."

Of the Americans in Fort McHenry, around 1,000 under the command of Major George Armistead, at the time of the attack, only four were killed. including Lt. Levi Claggett and Sgt. Clemm, were a black soldier, Private William Williams, and a woman who was cut in half by a bomb as she carried supplies to the troops.

There were also 24 wounded.

I had read in several places that four Americans were killed and knew two of them were Claggett (Clagett) and Clemm and was wondering who the other two were.I'll find out some more about these other two.

--Brock-Perry

Lt. Levi Claggett and Sgt. John Clemm Died at Fort McHenry

Lieutenant Levi Claggett was killed at Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814.

He was a part of the Baltimore Fencibles, a militia composed of local merchants, business owners and prominent citizens of Baltimore.  Claggett was a 34-year-old flour merchant when he died.

While the British fleet was bombarding the fort, he was standing on Bastion #3.  According to eyewitness accounts, a British mortar shell hit the bastion and dismounted the 24-pounder long gun.  It broke the wheel of the cannon and the cannon fell on the lieutenant, crushing him.

Almost immediately after this, a bomb burst overhead and a piece of the shell "the size of a dollar and two inches thick" struck sergeant John Schultz Clemm in the abdomen.  He died within a matter of minutes.  It is said that friends took the piece of shrapnel out of him as a momento of the battle.

--Brock-Perry

Fort McHenry Hauntings and War of 1812 Casualties

From the July 8, 2017, The Dead History Blog "The Phantom Soldiers of Baltimore's Fort McHenry."

Fort McHenry is one of the most haunted places in Baltimore..  The fort has several layers of history that tend to cause these hauntings.

Construction of Fort McHenry took place between 1798 and 1800 on the site of former Fort Whetstone.  Then it became famous during the Battle of Baltimore.

The fort's commander, Major George Armistead reported that four defenders had died in the battle.  The men killed were 3rd Lt. Levi Claggett, Sergeant John Clemm, Private Charles Messenger and Thomas V. Beaston.  That is four possible hauntings right there.

An additional 24 men were wounded.

Then, it was a prison during the Civil War and a hospital for soldiers returning from World War I with the Spanish flu.

--Brock-Perry

Major Armistead's Fort McHenry Battle Report-- Part 5: "Did Their Duty To My Entire Satisfaction"

"The Bombardment continued on the part of the Enemy until seven OClock on Wednesday Morning, when it ceased and about nine, they Ships got under weigh and Stood down the River.  During the Bombardment which continued 25 Hours, (with two slight intermissions) from the best calculation I can make, from fifteen to Eighteen hundred Shells were [thrown] by the Enemy, a few of them fell short, a large proportion burst over us, and threatening destruction, many passed over, and about four hundred fell within the Works.

"Two of the public buildings are materially injured, the others but slightly.

"I am happy to inform you (wonderful as it may appear) that our loss amounts to only four Men Killed, and twenty four Wounded, the latter will all recover.  Among the Killed, I have to lament the loss of Lieut. Clagget, and Sergeant Clemm. both of Capt. Nicholsons  Volunteers, two Men whose fate is to be deplored, not only for their personal bravery,, but for their high Standing, amiable Demeanor, and spotless integrity in private life.

"Lieut. Russel of the Company under Lt.  Penington received early in the attack a severe contusion in the Heel, notwithstanding which He remained at his post during the whole Bombardment.

"Was I to name any individuals who signalized themselves, it would be doing injustice to others, suffice to say,  that every Officer and Soldier under my Command did their duty to my entire satisfaction.

"I have the honor
to remain respectfully
Your Ob. Servt

H. Armistead
Lieut. Col. U.S.A.  (Evidently, he had already been promoted in the ten days since the battle.)