The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-09-08
Written for the Democratic Advocate,
BY CHARLES l. sHIPLEY.

Written for the Democratic Advocate,
CHARLES L. sHIPLEY.
on Wednesday next occurs the eightieih anniver-
sary Of the Battle of North Pona battle fought for
the defense of Baltimore city against the British
invader. To give to our readers the thrilling ac-
count of this campaign on the soil of our native
State we will be compelled to carry them back to
the year 1914. We then engaged in fierce
struggle with Great Britain and in the third year of
the contest, which we still term as the "War of
1sI2-14." In the month of May 1874 piece of news
was borne across the Atlantic which momentariy
filed with fear and apprehension every American
heart. The great Napoleon Bonaparte had at last
been crushed by the combined powers of Europe,
and was now safely imprisoned on the Isle of Elba
This startling intelligence notified our people that
the fleets and armies OF Great Britain, who had for
twelve years been waging war with France, were
now free, and their energy would now be concen-
trated this side OF the Atlantic to try TO over
whelm and crush the American Republic. 1t was a
summer of ALARM but the spirit of our forefathers
showed itself in their descendants and we bravely
prepared to meet the threatened invasion, and the
whole Atlantic coast bristled with the preparations
of defense.
The invasion came. About the middle Of August,
1874 Admiral Coehrane arrived off the coast of Vir
ginia with feet of d vessels, conveying General
Ross and 1000 veterans, who had been trained ON
some of the most noted of European battle fields.
Before this large force the small fotilla with which
Commodore Barney had tried TO protect the coast
retreated up the Patuxent river just north of the
Potomac. The British feet divided, part ascending
the Potomac and a second division moving up the
Chesapeake as ifto attack Baltimore, while the re-
! mainder followed Barney into the Patuxent and
anchored on the 18th at Benedict Here Ross and
his army disembarked. On the 2lst they set out ON
the river-road and the next day reached Upper
Marlborough seventeen miles from Washington.
Near thispoint Barney had moored his boats. Blow
| ing them up on the enemy's approach. he fastened
with his marines to join General Winder. who was
organizing force for the defense of the National
| Capital.
| CONSERVATION seized on the inhabitants, and the
enemy cautiously advancing found their whole
line of march deserted. The first resistance they
encountered was on the 9th of August, at Bladens
burg, six miles northeast of Washington, where
their passage was disputed by an American army,
consisting mostly of militia, and hastily collected
under the command of General Winder. The Eng
lish soldiers were almost overcome by the forced
march and intense heat they charged the Ameri-
lines with vigor, however and at the first onset
the militia gave way in disorder some without even
discharging their muskets Commodore Barney
with his eighteen Founders, and Captain Miller's
guns, double loaded with grape and canister checked
the enemy for time. but their men, exposed on
the flank by the flight of the militia, were driven
back and both of these brave officers were taken
prisoners. The routed army carried terror with it
to the Capital. Washington at that time contained
about 10000 inhabitants, most of whom, including
the President and his cabinet, left the city. On the
evening following the battle General Ross entered
Washington BY the order of his government he set
fire to the Presidents House, the Capitol and other
public buildings Private property also suffered to
considerable extent. These occurrences violently
excited the whole American people and was the
eause of heavy censure of the Administration. Cen
eral Armstrong, Secretary of War indignant at the
charges of ineficiency brought against him. re-
signed and the duties of his office were assumed by
Monroe, the Secretary of State. Great alarm pre-
vailed in all the seaboard cities. The militia were
organized and defensive works were thrown up,
upon which the citizens of all ranks labored. New
York city voted $4,000 to put her in state of de-
fense.
Battle of North Point
Encouraged by his success at Bladensburg and
Washington, Ross now turned his attention towards
Baltimore, boasting that he would make this city
his headquarters Baltimore at this time the
third in population and the fourth in commerce
a.iS "eAi'', ~ .te Eng anu 4
- -,
S. le;.se .spt
,,,,st ha ,a,as ,ts t, ,,,o, -. ~,
wooden ,rrro,s of conanharor ,, Eoro,vara5 s
eoresrrnad and tbe inbohitan,s of ,be oi,, tbrs
threatened commenced immediate preparations of
defense. Defenses were thrown up and manned by
the citizens of the city, militia of the State, with
sailors from the fotilla and ships and the military
Io,s g., ~ v;.;. f.. ,otIor,,
as ~, -. ooo d.,
nSor ~,
ooraa ar,,;staad III 49,,
1so09 mon were ,nder The co,,rne,, ~ canorai
Samuel smith an old revoIutionarv of,cer his
division commanders heing ceners1s william n
Windar and Iobn strictnr
On Srrdo,, o,,o,ir,o, con,a,,,o. ,,,h ,ho p,;,,sA
Acc, onnoored in nc mouth oe ,ho po,onsco and
Iandaa about q ooo ,roons ot Nor,I po;,, c,,,rtoa
nilas ho1o,v ,ho o,t A, ,ha sar,s, ,;n,, C,araral
S,r,ctar,s hrignde consistin, ,naj,I, ~ t,o,,ir,
,o,s hari,., o,o,,t . 900 ~
~, 49,, ~ o,i.,,,,,s o,a,,o ,,,,ar p
On ,o ,,o,,, ,a tar ,o,t ,,a,o,a, c,-;o,or
tool, a os,io obr, a;,h, ,,,Iag ha,o,, tc o;, hi
rigbt res,ino, on Rear c.reer and Ion covered IN,
a marsh The british nnder Ross and coctbprn
advanced ranidlv and were soon in action with the
advanced corns or strictar,e In The stirmish that
coIlo,vad Cen Ross who hod rodo sorrvord for ,he
r,rnoso r ,,,s s,, ro, III s,,,,Io
a., o.o5, e.. 90 .,,, WILL
~ 80 I,i'1 ~ De'is s''eD "
anu heiiiy "coonhaS' 1"o young pilVa'es
Ahqui'h company oI sharpsnooiefs VINO were III
advance, Rising up rom the eiump ot ousnes 10
sec me enec. ol 'neir siot tey received tne re o
"a niillsn Aiit ieii ae''u
.S s'iee. . e'e''e"
:" tie,i ~
opon .iie ue9''l Vi NUS 'ne eoilnanu Vi tne Drit
lsn ueVol'eo upon Colonei BROOKE. VINO continued
70 advance A severe oattie now commenced with
tne man oooy Oh the BRUSH by a heavy eannonade
Ihe flityflrst kegiment having iallen into confu-
Ground ana ~ ;,s -. ,',,su " lss
ro,,,cod 80 ahs,,t ~, -
s,and;ne ,h,s 49,. - 't
,,, ~, .ss. ll..e -
~ ue
oo,,,, - 'iie
ls,, - ,A' go upou
This rooir,an, ~ nv,