, 1922-06-01

sailing vessels afoat had set forth from beside
Its parapets. Eluding the frigates that once i'm
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 ran Into millions.
To the enemy the waters of the Chesapeake
had now become little better than a nest of pri-
vateers and pirates" 1t was clear to them that
the Chesapeake must be rid of these pests, the
feueral capital captured. and Baltimore forced TO
pay FOR damage done and be made the point of
a 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 a junction with the 5000 troops
quartered on the fleet in the Chesapeake. Then
by uniting their forces from Lake Champlaln and
the Chesapeake and having neutralized New Eng
land. they would coerce and subjugate America
once again.
Washington had fallen easily. a body of our reg
ullrs and militia had been defeated at BIadens-
burg. and the Chesapeake coast line was at the
mercy Of the 'redcoats"-all but that section pro-
tected by the guns of Fort McHenry and troops
gathered In the vicinity. To be pitted against our
soldiers were continental veterans fresh from
their victories on the continent of Europe. In the
Chesapeake were not only Wellington's Invincibles
but Nelson's marines, distinguished at Trafalgar
and the battle of the Nile.
The invading fleet numbered some fifty soiI-
a large proportion Of them classed as men.of-wor
and frlgates of the line. Against this armada
with its troop transports, America could oppose
nothing atloat.
The hope OF the Middle Atlantic seaboard and
perhaps the Union itself lay in the city of BaItl.
more. and the hope of Baltimore lay in the porrI.
son and guns of Fort McHenry and such nm.
trained troops rs could be mustered for other land
defenses.
No wonder that Gen. Sir Robert Ross. who com.
nlanded the British troops, declared that he
would "eat his supper in Baltimore subseonen,
TO his first day on land. Nothing seemed 10 him
more certain even If, as he said, 'Tt rains militia ,
Baltimore was picked to be his winter bendnuor.
tiers and Il logicnl base for further operations
north. south or west.
Early on Sunday morning, September IL. the
alarm was sounded through the streets Of Balti-
more. The British fleet had entered the Patnpseo
river. The cannon doomed on the courthouse
plaza. summoning the militia to arms.
The defensive force and e%quipment Of Fort Nc.
Henry were supplied largely by the citizens of the
beleaguered port. Regardless of d blazing sun.
men md women toiled with pick and shovel 10
throw up breastworks az every approach to the
city and its chief reliance, Fort McIIenry. Mai
Gen. Samuel Smith was in command of the mi.
lItla, and under him was Brigadier General
Stricken. Sailors. lacking ships to go to sen. were
converted into land forces under the brilliant Com.
mOdore John Rogers.
Before dawn had streaked the sky on the 1oth
Of September the British were nstir. and boat after
boat carried men and arms 10 North poInt WHARF
now stands Fort Howard. General Ross. who had
won his laurels In Holland. Egypt and the PENN.
sula. took command. AT his side was Rear Al.
mlral Cockburn. who was hated for his piunderIn.
OF defenseless villages. Admiral Sir Alexander
Cochrane. successor of Admiral Warren us 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, and scarcely were
the latter assembled on shore when General Ross
fell. Tradition has II that two youths. perched in
n tree, shot him when he passed within range OF
their rifles. AS he was carried 10 the rear. he de-
manded that he be covered. for fear the knowledge
OF his fall would reach his men and dlsmay
them. Shortly after giving these directions he
lost consciousness, and died In the arms Of his
aid, Sir Duncan McDougnll.
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