Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-10-13

Strickler, the former as commander
in-chief OF the defense Of the city and
the latter an active head Of the de-
fensive operations.
To aid In these operations of de-
Tense was Fort McHenry, at the
mouth of the Patapsco river, just out
side of the city, by no means a formid-
able fortress. 1t was not bomb-proof.
and its armament, even for that day,
was woefully inadequate. On the OPP
posite side OF the river earthworks
had been hastily thrown up under the
direction of General Smith, and behind
these'were mounted 100 small cannon.
This was at a place then known as
Hampstead HILL" and II still bears
that name, although II Is included In
what is now Patterson park. one OF
Baltimore's pleasure grounds. Guns
were also posted at North Point, some
distance away. and at Lazaretto Point,
directly opposite Fort McHenry.
To the hurried erecting Of these for
tihcations practically the entire popu-
lation of Baltimore-men, women and
Authenticated itself as soon as II
was learned that the British purposed
an attack upon the city.
On September IL the dread news
that the enemy's feet was of the har-
Dor was made known. This fleet con-
sisted of so ships, an extremely pow
erful armada for that day, carrying
5000 veteran troops.
Troops we're landed from the fleet
on Monday, September IL, and on that
day began the first fight, known as
"the battle of North Point" For the
number of men engaged. it was an ex-
ceedingly sanguinary affair. 1t began
by an untoward happening to the
British and ended with the Americans
in possession Of the field, after hot
fight of doubtful issue.
R.ding at the head of his troops.
General Ross was the first man to
fall. A few American skirmishers
posted along the line Of march Of the
British saw their approach. Tradt-
ton has it that two young sharpsboot-
ers, Daniel Wells and Henry c. Nc
Comas, selected General Ross as their
target IN the hope of hating the Brit
isb advance. spd fired at him with un-
erring aim. These two boys, respect
lively eighteen and nineteen years old,
were sesreted in clump Of bashs.
and Immediately after
tally wounded ...e British commander
they were killed. as they were certain
70 DC, by a tremendous volley fred
into their shelter. A monument to
those two lads stands today in AL
SOUTH square, at the conjunction Of
Gay, Monument and Alsquith streets.
in the city Of Baltimore, being one of
the several structures OF the kind
which gave It the name of the Mon
pWe1tsl city"
But this disaster only meant d tenn
porary check to the British. Under
the direction of Admiral Cockburn
and Colonel Brooke, they continued to
advance. and in the early afternoon
began the real battle of North Point.
The Americans were short of ammuni-
ton, but determinedly poured fire OF
shot, slugs, old nails and scrap iron
into their foes. Fearful execution was
done during the hour and a half OF
this fights duration, after which Gen.
eral Strickler fell back in good order
to his base, near Hampstead Hill.
The American loss was $50 killed and
the British 600.
A heavy rainstorm halted further
fighting for the day, and at night, leav-
ing their campfres burning, the Brit
ish withdrew to the cover OF their
ships, defeated In their attempt to
carry the defending works, and trust
ing to their fleet to reduce Fort Nc
Henry and thus give them an easier
entrance into the city.
And in the meantime what of the
fort? During the day of the battle OF
North Point 1t was idle, its defenders. /
under the intrepid Major George Arm !
stead, awaiting the inevitable attack. /
L came the next morning.
In order to prevent the passage OF |
he British fleet into the mouth Of |
he river and thus render It able d.
'ectly to lombard Baltimore. a line of