The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-07-28
The BURNING OF HATRE DE
GRACE.

c. ". B., in Baltimore Sun.
| Havre de Grace is such q placid
| town nowadays that it requires an
effort to picture the excitement and
| terrible Incidents which accompanied
its burning by the British on the
morning of May 3, 1918, more than a
| year prior to the unsuccessful attack
ON Baltimore and during a predatory
| incursion up to the head of the Chesa-
| peake. | was fortunate to get hold
of an almost contemporaneous ac-
count, The Conflagration of Havre
lie Grace, and this morning | read is
while we were standing on bluff at
Perryville, on the east bank of the
river, with the whole scenic setting
for the towns tragedy spread out be-
fore me.
In the early sun the town as viewed
1t across the rivers mile reminded me
strongly of those Canadian villages
which seem so quaint to the steam
boat traveller on the st. Lawrence.
North of the town is a hill marking
the termination of the high ridge,
which closely follows the river on its
west side for the last so miles of its
course. In the flat country at the
base of this hill, but set back from the
river by a moderate bluff, lies the
town, its many houses half hid from
the Perryville side by the tops of
trees. At its south end is the low
point which juts out where the river
ends and the bay begins, and which
is occupied by a whitewashed light
house.
On this point militia from the
neighborhood hastily constructed
hot H.. 1. n. 4.
ed half dozen miles down the bay,
near Spesutia Island, clearly visible
from where l stood this morning.
There were several weeks of watch
full, anxious days and fearful nights,
and the British fleet fingered SO long
out there that the people Oh land
thought there would beno attack and
grew less careful. Suddenly at day
break on a clear day was the alarm
that the British were coming, and on
the bay could be seen a score of barges
laden with redcoats. II must have
made fine picture, though naturally
a terrifying one, to the Hayre de
Grace households. Rockets and shells
begsn to he thrown from the barges
as they headed from the bay into the
river. and in panic the women and
children aud most of the militia flee
ing TO the hill north of the town al |
ready mentioned. The few who re-
manned did what they could from the |
battery ON the point to check the on
coming British, but they were unsuc.
cessfu!, aud the harges passed the |
point, made landing on the river |
side and captured the battery from |
behind, taking the brave fellows
prisoners.
The town was already on fire from
shot and shell, and to these the Brit
ish soldiers soon added the torch.
They went about plundering in small
parties, helping themselves 10 what
they fanced, and tlen setting the
building ablaze. Several ladies finally
back into the burning viii
lage and by their entreaties saved the
buildings.
The British force was re-embarked
and went up the river to the little
village of Lapidum, four miles above
Havre de Grace, on the west bank.
Here there was cannon factory,
which they burned. Port Deposit lies
opposite to Lapidum, and in another
hastily constructed fort there COM
pany of volunteers watched, with
beating hearts for the British to turn
their way. But nightfall was near at
hand, and the attack did not come, las
the British returned to their ships.