The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-09-10
A View of the Past.
PIKEsvILLE, MD, Sept. 3, 1867.
g. H.. - A. Tr-f-.

PIKESNILLE, MD, sept. 3, looG
AessTs. Editors Of The Citizen:
The near approach of Maryland's
State holiday calls up many pleasing
"reminiscences Of the thrilling scenes Of
eighty-three years ago, when during
the present month, Baltimore was pre-
pairing to grapple with foreign foe.
History records the result of that con-
fiict. The English enemy was most
signally defeated on land and water,
and one of the most important vic
tories. Of the war OF lSl2-l4 rested with
tine Americans.
In the year 1912, the veterans then
living who had participated in the
. battle and bombardment, met in Baltl-
more and organized an association to
T be known as the "Old Defenders As
I ISOLATION 1t numbered at that time
+ 1859 members, most of whom lived in
Baltimore 1t was the custom Of the
association 10 attend church in body
F on the Sunday previous to the 18th Of
I September, each member wearing
cCckade in his hat aud piece Of Grape
on his sleeve.
On the 18th they would assemble at
/ the City Hall. and after marching
around the Battle Monument. go to
/ some convenient place out of town
Z and eat their annual dinner.
The City Council appropriated $500
/ every year to aid in paying the ex-
I peuses Of these reunions.
The familiar air Of 1.-THE Girl / Left
I Behind Me-" was usually played as
the men left the City Hall for their
7 days celebration, the veteran drum
I mer, Henry Lightner, who died in
1852, always dexterously handling the
dTumsiicks.
The association gradually became re-
duced in numbers by the hand OF
death until only two survived to eat
their dinner together, Nathaniel Waits,
aud James Chamberlain Morford.
Finally these two venerable old sol
diers were compelled TO answer the
final roll-call and the association ceased
To exist.
The writer can say with pardonable
pride, that he can number among the
defenders of Baltimore two of his rel
atives, viz: Thomas Parrish, Sr., and
Anon Shipley, an uncle and great un-
Gle respectively, both being members
of Major Beall Randall's Light Infan-
try. The writer's grandfather, the late
George Shipley, ST., was also drafted
for the engagement, he at that time
residing on and managing the estate
known as Bowling Green" belonging
TO the late Benjamin Hood, grand
father of Gen. John NJ. Hood, presi.
dent of the w. NJ. R. r.
Bowling Green" was an estate OF
between TWO and three thousand acres
and at the time of which / write was
situated in Anne Arundel County,
now known as Howard County, that
portion containing the Hood estate be-
ing afterward taken to help form How
ard. Knowing the defenseless condi.
ton of his family there being no near.
er neighbors than his brother Roberts
family nearly three miles away, and
knowing also the restless disposition OF
the negro slaves of the plantation, who
were being invited by British emissa.
ries to insurrection against their own
ers, Mr.. Shipley applied for release,
and through the influence of Capt.
William Wheeler. an officer of the
American forces, 'and firm friend Of
his, he was enabled to obtain, and re.
turned home to his family about SIX
days before the writer's father, the
late George Shipley, Jr., was born,
which occurred on September 9Th,
1914, or just six days before the engage
ment at North Point.
1t should always be pleasant mat
ter to every true born American citizen
TO review the incidents and reminis.
cences that are called up by the recur
ring anniversaries of the stirring events
that have occurred in the past of oul
nations history when she was yet in
her infancy.
CHARLES L. SIMPLIFY.