Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-10-31
IMPORTANT NEWS
QUICKLY TOLD
Happenings In Various Sections Of
Old Maryland
NEWS ITEMS FOR OUR READERS
HISTORIC TRACT IS SOLD.


Battle Monument Farm To Be Made
Into Home Development.
One Of Maryland's historic spots.
comprising about ~ acres Of land,
which should, in a measure. be con-
sidered 'ihallowed ground changed
hands recently without causing as
much as ripple. Charles NJ. Chris
tian purchased large tract on the
North Point road from John Henry
Butschky, which was the scene Of one
Of the most thrilling chapters Of Mary.
land history-the defeat and death OF
General Ross at the hands Of Daniel
Wells and Henry McComas, when the
British attackers were turned back
and Baltimore was saved. The farm
is known as the Battle Monument
farm. and contains the monument
erected in honor Of Wells and Nc
Comas, who gave their lives in the
act which helped throw the British
lines into confusion. The old oak
tree, which tradition says the two
boys climbed in order TO get better
view Of the enemy, is still standing
and is pointed out to strangers who
go there to pay tribute to the valor
Of Maryland troops. The original log
cabin which, during the battle, stood
between the Maryland forces and the
enemy, is said TO be still in existence.
though covered from sight and incor-
porated into the dwelling which after
ward was built to mark the spot and
which was known for years as the Bat
tie Monument House. These things.
including the monument. were bought
by Mr.. Christian, but the Bloody
Acre" where the fiercest fighting is
said to have occurred, is just beyond
the reservation. and, with its little
chapel, is fenced in and weedgrown.
The monument itself. made OF white
marble, but neglected and yellowed by
the storms of the years which have
passed since 1914, when "The Star
Spangled Banner was written by the
immortal Key, was painted white by
Mr.. Butschky some time ago in order,
as he said. TO give 1t fresher ap-
pearance." The monument was draw
ing card in former years for the
Butschky restaurant, conducted in the
old Battle Monument House. Tourists
stopped there to look at the inscrip-
tions on the monument and the Monu-
ment House was the last oasis on the
way to dry Sparrows Point. No one
but Mr.. Butschky seemed to pay any
attention to 1t except that once each
year some patriotic organization would
send a member there to place flowers
on 1t. So when Mr.. Butschky painted
it white he also had inscribed on its
pedestal in painted letters the words;
"Maintained by j. H. Butschky."
The deeds to the farm go back to
Colonial days, when it was part Of the
property owned by Charles Carroll, Of
Carrolton. one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence. Since
then It has been owned by many whose
names have been prominent in Balti-
more county affairs.
Mr. Christian said he would en-
deayor to maintain the monument, but
he thought it ought to be taken over
by the State or by some organization
which will look after it better than
has been the case Souvenir hunters
have Clipped the little shaft in nu-
merous places and have almost ruined
its symmetrical aspect, he said. The
old tree. said he, ought to be pre-
served. but to date nothing has been
done to this end. 1t now is about five,
feet in diameter and still hale.