Gen. John Stricker to delay the advance by provoking an engagement.Īround midday, while the British halt for a meal, Stricker orders 250 riflemen and cannon to draw the British toward his forces. After landing unopposed, they advance toward Baltimore. The British land a combined force of soldiers, sailors, and Royal Marines at North Point, a peninsula at the fork of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay, on September 12, 1814. The British plan to land troops on the eastern side of the city while the navy reduces the fort, allowing for naval support of the ground troops when they attack the city’s defenders. The imposing Fort McHenry, at the mouth of the inner harbor, provided the linchpin for the American defenses.įort McHenry, a large star fortress built in 1800, guards Baltimore’s inner harbor at a bend in the Patapsco River. However, the citizens and militia of Baltimore had been preparing for such an assault for more than a year. The British hoped the loss of both Washington and Baltimore would cripple the American war effort and force peace. Militarily, Baltimore was a far more important city than Washington because of its thriving port and strategic location. Major General Robert Ross was sent to command all British forces on the East Coast of the United States, with Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane leading a fleet of warships.Įncouraged by their victory at Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, and the subsequent burning of Washington, D.C., the British turned north, intent on capturing the major port city of Baltimore, Maryland. This changed on April 6, 1814, with the defeat and abdication of Napoleon, which freed up veteran troops for a more aggressive strategy. The British were more concerned with defeating Napoleon in Europe than fighting a minor war with the United States. Initially, the British strategy during the War of 1812 had been defensive. The exploding shells and rocket fire from British warships inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the lyrics to the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Seeing no way to penetrate American defenses, the British withdrew their troops and gave up their Chesapeake Campaign. American forces resisted the dramatic British bombardment of Fort McHenry and proved they could stand up to a great world power. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenry forced the British to abandon their land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. Saved Land Browse Interactive Map View active campaigns.Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History.Support the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act.Protect the Heart of Chancellorsville Battlefield.Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States.Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields.Help Acquire 20 Sacred Acres at Antietam.Help Us Save Hallowed Ground in Tennessee and Kentucky.Help Restore History at Gettysburg, Cold Harbor & More.Help Save 125 Battlefield Acres in Virginia.Help Preserve 32 Acres at Chickasaw Bayou and Champion Hill.Virtual Tours View All See Antietam now!.National Teacher Institute July 13 - 16, 2023 Learn More.USS Constitution In 4 Minutes Watch Video.African Americans During the Revolutionary War.The First American President: Setting the Precedent.
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