The leader., 1904-06-11

It Was Fought In Maryland Waters
in the Early Colonial
Days.

April % of this year was the two
hundred and sixty-ninth anniversary
Of the first naval battle fought in
American waters. On that date two
armed forces met at the mouth of the
Pocomoke river, within, the boundaries
OF the province OF Maryland, and set
tied, at least temporarily, the authority
of Lord Baltimore. The settlement at
st, Mary's had been made but 10
months when this test of arms &C.
CURED, says the Chicago Chronicle: :.
About three years before the laiid-
Ing OF the Maryland pilgrims under
Gov. Leonard Calvert, by virtue OF the
grant of the territory from Charles l.,
a trading post had been established by
William Claibourne, Of Virginia, on
Kent island. It was not settlement
intended for permanent homes and the
filling OF the soil, but merely a place
fixed upon by Ciaibourna for conven-
fence of trade with the indians. Kent
island was clearly within the jurisdic-
ton OF Lord Baltimore, but Claibourne
very foolishiy resisted his authority
and refused to take out a traders IL
cense from the proprietary's govern
ment at St. Mary's. This stubborn
stand of C1aibourne resulted In the
capture early in the year by Capt.
Thomas Cornwaleys, one Of the Mary
land commissioners, of a vessel be-
longing to Claibourne for trading In
the waters Of the Chesapeake without
a Maryland license.
Claiborne realized now that he
would either have to break down Lord
Baltimore's authority by force of arms
or be compelled to submit to that au-
thority. He chose to fight and, accord
ingly, he fitted out an armed boat, the
Cockatrice, which was manned by 80
men and placed under the command of
Lieut. Radcliffe Warren, who was COM
missioned by Claibourne ito seize and
capture any pinnacles or other vessels
belonging to the government Of st.
Mary's."
This was declaration of war and
when the news of the rebellion reached
Gov. Calvert he at once determined to
put it down, as becomes a governor
whose rights are denied and whose au-
thority is defied. Knowing the strength
of the insurgents, he wisely fitted out a
superior force, with the full determine
ton to crush the spirit that was CIV
ing him no little trouble. So he
manned and commissioned two vessels
the st. Margaret and the st. Helena
placed them in command of the gal
liant Capt. Cornwaleys, with orders to
search out and destroy the enemy and
reduce Kent island to submission.
The little squadron sailed out from
st. Mary's with the Maryland colors
flying from the flagship and animated
by the same courageous spirit that two
and a half centuries later inspired an
other Maryland naval commander in
his gloriously successful search for the
Spanish fleet in the waters of the West
indies. Their course took them across
the bay and soon they were rewarded
by Sighting the sails of the insurgent
ship off the mouth of the Pocomoke.
Cornwaleys skillfully Unanswered his
little feet so as to prevent the escape
of the enemy and both sides cleared
for action. The insurgents delivered
the first fire, and so true was the aim
that William Ashmore, of the Mary
landers, fell to the deck, the first
American sailor whose life was sacri-
feed while in action upon the altar of
duty. The sight of their dead comrade
inspired the Maryland men to greater
determination, and made more deadly
their aim and threefold more terrible
their revenge. Their first fire killed
the enemy's F. commanding officer
Lieut.. Warren-and two of his crew.
The insurgents having lost their leader
and two of their comrades and seeing
certain destruction staring them in the
face, were brought to realize that dis
erection was the better part of valor and
therefore they wisely struck their col
ors and surrendered themselves and
their vessel to the victorious aMry-
landers.
Kent island was afterwards subdued
and Claibourne stripped of his possess
sion. But he did not cease to be
source of great trouble to the settlers
of st. Mary's and more than once sue
ceeding in destroying, for a time, the
government of Lord Baltimore. But
that belongs to another story.