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THE BRITISH LAND AT BENEDICT. 73
killed and two stragglers captured, nothing of importance occurred until they
reached the town, where they expected to capture Barney's flotilla. The
British officer, before cited, says of Nottingham, that
" It was a town capable of containing from a thousand to fifteen hundred inhabitants,
which we found completely deserted. Not an individual was to be seen in the streets, or
remained in the houses; while the appearance of the furniture, etc., in some places
the very bread left in the ovens, showed that it had been evacuated in great haste, immediately before our arrival. The. town itself stands upon the banks of the Patuxent, and
consists of four short streets, two running parallel with the river, and two others crossing
them at right angles. The houses are not such as indicate the wealth or grandeur of the
owners, being in general built of wood, and little superior to cottages, but surrounded by
others of far better description of good, substantial farm houses. For several miles round,
the country was in a high state of cultivation; but instead of the maize and wheat which
we had hitherto seen, the fields were covered with an abundant and luxurious crop of
tobacco. . . We found numerous barns filled with the remains of last year's crops, the
whole of which was, of course, seized in the name of his Majesty, King George the Third."
Barney's flotilla, which had been stationed opposite to Nottingham, and
which was, it was supposed, the object of the invasion, retired on the
approach of the enemy to Pig's Point, near Upper Marlborough.
As early as the 18th of August, it was known at Washington that the
enemy was coming up the bay in force; and on the next day, Commodore
Barney sent the following despatch to the secretary of the navy:
"Nottingham, August 19th—9 A. M.
" Sir :
One of my officers has this moment arrived from the mouth of the Patuxent, and
brings the enclosed account. I haste to forward it to you; the Admiral said he would
dine in Washington on Sunday, after having destroyed the flotilla, etc.
Yours, respectfully,
" JOSHUA BARNEY.
"Hon. William Jones."
One eighty or ninety gun ship, flag at the main.
Four seventy-four gun ships, one flag at mizzen.
Six frigates.
Ten ships about thirty-two guns.
Five small ships.
Two brigs.
One large schooner, sixteen guns.
Two smaller schooners about ten guns.
Thirteen large bay craft.
"A large number of small boats are now under way, standing up the Patuxent, with
a number of men, with a determination to go to the city of Washington, as they said
yesterday."
In return, the Secretary of the Navy sent him orders to retire with his
flotilla as high up the river as he could get, and if the enemy landed, to set
fire to the boats, and join General Winder with his men.
On the 21st of August, information reached him, that the enemy had
landed at Benedict, and were then in full march on the road to Washington.
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000098 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | THE BRITISH LAND AT BENEDICT. 73 killed and two stragglers captured, nothing of importance occurred until they reached the town, where they expected to capture Barney's flotilla. The British officer, before cited, says of Nottingham, that " It was a town capable of containing from a thousand to fifteen hundred inhabitants, which we found completely deserted. Not an individual was to be seen in the streets, or remained in the houses; while the appearance of the furniture, etc., in some places the very bread left in the ovens, showed that it had been evacuated in great haste, immediately before our arrival. The. town itself stands upon the banks of the Patuxent, and consists of four short streets, two running parallel with the river, and two others crossing them at right angles. The houses are not such as indicate the wealth or grandeur of the owners, being in general built of wood, and little superior to cottages, but surrounded by others of far better description of good, substantial farm houses. For several miles round, the country was in a high state of cultivation; but instead of the maize and wheat which we had hitherto seen, the fields were covered with an abundant and luxurious crop of tobacco. . . We found numerous barns filled with the remains of last year's crops, the whole of which was, of course, seized in the name of his Majesty, King George the Third." Barney's flotilla, which had been stationed opposite to Nottingham, and which was, it was supposed, the object of the invasion, retired on the approach of the enemy to Pig's Point, near Upper Marlborough. As early as the 18th of August, it was known at Washington that the enemy was coming up the bay in force; and on the next day, Commodore Barney sent the following despatch to the secretary of the navy: "Nottingham, August 19th—9 A. M. " Sir : One of my officers has this moment arrived from the mouth of the Patuxent, and brings the enclosed account. I haste to forward it to you; the Admiral said he would dine in Washington on Sunday, after having destroyed the flotilla, etc. Yours, respectfully, " JOSHUA BARNEY. "Hon. William Jones." One eighty or ninety gun ship, flag at the main. Four seventy-four gun ships, one flag at mizzen. Six frigates. Ten ships about thirty-two guns. Five small ships. Two brigs. One large schooner, sixteen guns. Two smaller schooners about ten guns. Thirteen large bay craft. "A large number of small boats are now under way, standing up the Patuxent, with a number of men, with a determination to go to the city of Washington, as they said yesterday." In return, the Secretary of the Navy sent him orders to retire with his flotilla as high up the river as he could get, and if the enemy landed, to set fire to the boats, and join General Winder with his men. On the 21st of August, information reached him, that the enemy had landed at Benedict, and were then in full march on the road to Washington. |
