The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-10
r. v FIGHT.
Fought on Maryland Waters 269
Years Ago.

1t is a matter of at least passing int
crest that today, April o, is the ami
versary of the first naval engagement
fought on the inland waters Of Amer
lea. Two hundred and sixty-nine
years ago two armed forces met at the
mouth of PocOmoke river, within
the boundaries of the Province of Ma
ryland, and settled, at least temporary
1y, the authority of Lord Baltimore.
made but thirteen months when the
The settlement at st. Mary's had been
test of arms occurred.
About three wears before the landing
of the Maryland Pilgrims, under Gov
ernor Leonard Calvert, by virtue of the
of territory from Charles l.. a
trading post had been established by
William Claiborne, Of Virginia, on Kent
Island. 1t was not a settlement intend
ed for permanent homes and the TIL
ling the soil; but merely a place fixed
upon by Claiborne for convenience or
trade with the Indians. Kent Island
was clearly within the jurisdiction or
Lord Baltimore, but Claiborne very
foolishly resisted his authority, and re-
fused to take out a trader license
from the propriety government at ST.
Mary"s. This stubborn stand Of Cla1-
DHTlG TeSullcu IL knS SopNoAS ~S1AJ
the year by Capt. Thoma CornWaley S
one of the Maryland commissioners, or
a vessel belonging to claiborne Tor
tradink in the waters of the Chesa-
peake without a Maryland license.
Claiborne now realized that either ne
would have to break down Lord Bal
fimores' authority by force OF arms or
ne compelled to submit to that author
ity He chose to fight; and according
Iy. he fitted out an armed boat, tne
aCOckatrice, which was manned Dy tnlr
ty men and placed under the command
of Lieutenant Radcliffe Warren, Wn'
was commissioned by Claiborne %
seize and capture any of the plnnance
or other vessels belonging to the gov
eminent of St Mary's.'
This was a declaration of war, am
when the news of the rebellion reach
ed GS>ernor Calvert he at once deter
mined to put it down., as becomes
Governor whose rights are denied an
whose authority is deled. KNOWING
the strength Of the insurgents, n
wisely fitted out a superior force. wit
the full determination to crush TN
spirit that was giving him no nut
trouble, So he mi and commls
stoned two vessels-the 81. Marsare
and the st. H~elen-placed them In CON
mand of the gallant Captain Cornwa
Ieys. with orders to search out and oes
troy the enemy and reduce Kent IL
land to submission.
The little squadron sailed out from :
Mary's with the Maryland colors NJ
ing from the flagship and animate
by the same courageous spirit that I"
and a half centuries later inspired al
other MARYLAND naval COMMANDER
hisgloriously successful search for q
Spanish fleet in the waters or the we
Indies. Their course took them dclo
the bay, and soon they were reWar
ed by sighting the sails or the lnsu
gent ship off the mouth Of PocomoR
Cornwaleys skillfully manoeuVered L
little fleet so as to prevent the esca
of the enemy, and both sides cleared l
action. The insurgents delivered I
first fire, and So true was the ann III
william Ashmore, of the Marylande
fell II the deck, the first American sd
or whose life was sacrlfced Wnlle
action upon the altar or duty. u
sight of their dead comrade inspired I
MARYLAND men TO greater determlr
tion- made more deadly their ann, a
sthreefold more terrible their reven
Their first fire killed the enemyS co
,manding officer-Lieutenant WARE
and two of his crew. The inSurgel
bavine lost their leader and two
their comrades, and seeing certain
.Str,Iction staring them in the Ia
were brought to reallze tnat olsc
tion was the better part OF Vafor, {
therefore they wisely struck Inelr {
srs and surrendered themselves I
their vessel to the victorious MA
Ianders.
Kent Island was afterward suoo
and Claiborne stripped of his pos
sions. But he did not cease 10 o
source ofstrouble to h settlers ol
Mary's. and more than once succee
in destroying, for a time, the gos'
. ment of Lord Baltimore. But mat
longs to another story.