The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-06-09

sailing vessels afioat had set forth from beside
Its parapets. Eudlng the frigates that once Inn
pressed American seamen, these light-armed clip
per ships pursued and captured enemy merchant.
men by the hundred, prisoners by he thousands
and booty that into millions
TO the enemy the waters of the Chesapeake
had now become little better than NEST of pr-
vateers and pirates" 1t clear to them that
the Chesapeake must he rid of these pests, the
federal capital captured, and Baltimore forced to
pay for damage done and be made the point OF
wedge to drive the North and South apart. Then
Fredericksburg and Richmond could be threatened
or captured on the SOUTH Philadelphia and New
York on the north.
The British were driving south from Canada
and were at Plattsburg. They proposed to sweep
down and make II junction with the 1000 troops
chartered on the fleet In the Chesapeake Then
by uniting their forces from Lake Champlain and
the Chesapeake and having neutrazed New Eng
land they would coerce and subjugate America
once again,
Washington had fallen enslly body of our reg.
ulars and militia had been defeated at Bladens.
burg. and the Chesapeake coast line was ut the
mercy of the 'redcoats'-all but that section pro-
tected by the guns of Fort McrIenry and troops
gathered In the vicinity. To be pitted against orr
soldiers were continental veterans fresh from
their Victories on the continent of Europe In the
Chesapeake were not only Welllngtons invlnclbles
but Nelson's marines distinguished at Trafalgar
and the battle of the Nile
The invading fleet numbered some flftv sail
a isrge proportion of them classed as men. of.,yo-
and frigates of the line. Against this armada
with Its troop transports. America could onnosa
nothing ahoat.
The hope of the Middle Atlantic seaboard md
perhaps the Union itself lay In the city of Bati.
more. and the hope of Baltimore lay in the parrI
son and guns OF Fort McIIenry and snch M
trained troops as could be mustered for other Ian,
defenses ~
No wonder that Gen. Sir Robert Ross who co,,
manded the British troops declared thar bs
would 'eat his supper In Bultlmore" subseonep,
to his first day on land Nothing seemed 10 him
more certain even II. MS he said cit rains miuti,
Baltimore was picked to be his winter heodonnr.
ters and logical base for further operatiops
north, south west
Early on Sunday morning September II, the
alarm was sounded through the streets of Balti
more The British fleet had entered the patnpsco
river The cannon doomed on the courthousa
plaza. summoning the militia TO arms
The defensive force and equipment of For, Nc
Henry were supplied largely by the citizens Of tho
heleaguered port, Regardless az blazing sun
men and women toiled with pick and shovel q,
throw M hresstworks ut every approach to tho
city and Its chief reliance. Fort McIIenry Maj
Gen. Samuel smith was In command of the mi
ltla. and under him was Brigader Genera,
Stricken sailors, lacking ships 10 go to sea were
converted INT" land forces under the brilliant Com
modore John Rogers
Before dawn had Streaked the sky ON tho ,o,h
OF September the British were aStr and boar after
boat carried men and arms tn North point vvh,r
now stands Fort Howard. General Ross who hsd
won hts hurciS IN Holland Egypt and th, n,r,r
sula. took command. At his side was Re,r A.
miral CocRhuru who was hated Tor his nlnrl,rir
OF detenNelfNS villages Admiral Sir Alsxan1.r
Cochrane successor of Admiral Warren as c,n,
mandor In chief NJ the British forces in Amcric,
remaiued on his flagship and in person supervised
the plans for the attack by water
he American commanders s,,, f,r.-..-., -
posts Ia engage the British and scarcely vera
the latter assembled on shore when General Ross
fell Tradition has u that two youths perched in
tree, shot him when he passed within range OF
their rides. AS he was carried 10 the rear he de-
manded that he he covered. for fear the knowledge
OF his fall would reach his men and disulay
them, Shortly after giving these directions he
lost consciousness, and died In the arms OF his
aid, Sir Duncan McDougal.
The encounter at North Point was that phase OF
the engagements which In their entirety might be
called the Battle OF Baltimore, the attack upon