The Meeker herald., 1922-06-10

sailing vessels anoat had set forth from beside
its parapets. Eludng the frgates that once i'm
pressed American seamen these liEht-armed clip
per ships pursued and captured enemy merchant
men by the hundred prisoners by he thousands
and booty that ran into millions.
To the enemy the Writer'S Of the Chesapeake
had now become little better than NEST Of pri.
vateers and prates." 1t was clear to them that
the Chesapeake must be 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 10 sweep
down and make n junction with the 1900 troops
quartered on the fleet in the Chesapeake Then
by uniting their forces from Lake Champlnin and
the Chesapeake and having neutralized New Eng
land they would coerce and subjugate America
once axain.
Washington had fallen ensIly a body of our reg
ulars and militia had been defeated at Bladens.
burg. and the Chesapeake coast line was at the
merry of the "redconts"-all but that section pro.
tectel by the guns Of Fort McHenry and troops
gathered In the vicinity. To be pltted against our
soldiers were continental veterans fresh from
their victories on the continent Of Europe. In the
Chesapeake were not only Weilinstons Invincibes
but Nelson's marines. distinguished Mt Trafalgar
and the battle Of the Nile.
The invading feet numbered some fifty sail-
ErEe proportion Of them Chased as inen-of-war
and frigates Of the line. Against this armada
with its troop transports. America could oppose
nothing aioat.
The hope of the Middle Atlantic scaboard and
perhaps the Union itself lay In the city Of Bolti.
more. and the hope Of Baltimore lay In the garr,.
son and guns of Fort McHenry and such up.
trained troops as could be mustered for other lnni
defenses.
No wonder TINT Gen. Sir Robert Ross. who com.
nxlaA e1,n Irlxl.I,
would "eat his supper In Baltimore subseuuen,
to his first day on land. Nothing seemed to him
more certain even IT, MS he said. cit rains militia"
Baltimore WIS picked to be his winter headquar.
tiers and logical base for further operations
north south west
Early Sunday morning. September II, the
alarm WINS sounded through the streets of Balti.
more. The British fleet had entered the Patnpsco
ri 4. The cannon doomed on the courthouse
pl;Hn summOning the militia to arms
Tile defensive force and equipment Of Fort Nc.
Henry were supplied largely by the citizens of the
beleaguered port. Regardless of n blazing sum-
men and women toIled with pick md shovel to
throw up brenstwOrks ut every approach to the
city and Its chief reliance. Fort McIienry Nal
Gen. Samuel Smith was in command of the mi.
lItla, and under him Brigadier General
Stricken. Sailors. lacking ships to go to sea, were
converted into land forces under the brilliant Com
modOre John Rogers.
Before dawn had strenkad the sky on the 1oth
Of September the British were nstir md bpnt nfter
boat carried men and arms to North Point where
now stands Fort Howard. General Ross who Ind
won his nurels In Holland Egypt and the PENN.
sula. took command. At his side was Rear Ad.
mral Cockburn who WINS hated for his pundcring
OF lefenseless villages Admiral Sir Alexander
COchrane. successor of Admiral Warren rs com.
mander in chief Of the British forces In America,
remained on his flagship and in person supervised
the plans for the attack by water.
The American commanders sent forward out.
posts to engage the British, ind scarcely were
the latter assembled on shore when General Ross
fell Tradition has 1t that two youths perched In
a tree shot him when he passed within range of
their rifles. AS he was carried to the rear he de-
manded that he be covered. for fear the knowledge
Of his fall would reach his men and dismay
them. Shortly after giving these directions he
lost consciousness, and died in the arms Of his
aid, Sir Duncan McDougall.
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