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102 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
invaded are apt to throw up, extended, in a regular chain, from one extremity of the
State to the other. Of these we were enabled, by keeping close in shore, to obtain a
distinct view. We saw horsemen mount at every station as we approached it, and gallop
with all haste towards the interior. Beacon after beacon burst into a blaze; guns were
fired from every tower; and telegraphic communication was carried on without intermission. Tnen) again, as we drew near to a town or village, every house was seen to pour
forth its inhabitants ; while carts, wagons, and carriages of all descriptions hastened off,
loaded, as we could distinctly perceive, with people and effects. In Annapolis, in
particular, confusion and alarm appeared to prevail to an extraordinary excess. Being
the capital of the State, and exposed, in a remarkable degree, to insult, its inmates doubtless anticipated nothing else than a hostile visitation; and truly, if to destroy a neat clean
town, surrounded on all sides by elegant villas, had been our object, no task could have-
been more easily performed. We passed by it, however, unharmed; not, perhaps, quite-
satisfied that so fine a prize should be permitted to escape, but hugging ourselves in the
idea that another and no less valuable one was before us.
" Whilst the transports and larger vessels of war swept up the Chesapeake in a body,,
the Sea Horse frigate with one or two lighter sloops, dashed forward to ascertain the
course or channel of the river. This measure was resorted to, because, though the
Patapsco was known not to excel in depth, it was deemed highly desirable that some
part of the navy should, at all events, co-operate with the troops in the reduction of
Baltimore. Captain Gordon was accordingly directed, not only to take soundings
with all accuracy, but clapping a press of canvass upon his ship, to drive her, in
case of any sudden obstruction, through the mud; and to break, at all liazards,.
such booms, or other impediments, as might be laid across the channel. That gallant
officer failed not to execute his orders as far as it was possible to obey them. He actually
sunk his frigate's keel some feet in the slime, and tore through banks by which the
progress of almost any other individual would have been arrested, but all would not do.
The frigate stuck fast in the end; and it was only by lightening her of her main-deck
guns, and most of her stores, that he succeeded in bringing her off."
On Sunday evening, September 11th, about seventy of the enemy's
vessels were anchored off North Point, about twelve miles from the City of
Baltimore, by water, and fourteen by land. The beautiful moonlight night
was chiefly spent by the fleet in preparing for an immediate debarkation.
At three o'clock on Monday morning, the 12th, the boats of every ship were
lowered, and the troops landed, under cover of several gun-brigs anchored
within a cable's length of the beach. The boats went in divisions, the leading one of each being armed with a carronade. By seven o'clock they had
landed a force of about seven thousand men, composed of infantry, artillery,
marines and sailors, completely equipped, each man bearing eighty rounds of
ammunition, a spare shirt and blanket, and cooked provisions for a three
days' march. The most perfect system characterized every movement. Not
the slightest doubt as to the result existed in the minds of the officers who
planned the campaign, and the troops looked eagerly forward to the
promised plunder.
The final arrangements having been made, the light brigade, commanded
by Major Jones, of the 41st regiment, led the advance; then followed the
artillery amounting to six field-pieces, and two howitzers, all of them drawn
by horses; next came the second brigade, then the sailors, and last of all the
| 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 | 00000129 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 102 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. invaded are apt to throw up, extended, in a regular chain, from one extremity of the State to the other. Of these we were enabled, by keeping close in shore, to obtain a distinct view. We saw horsemen mount at every station as we approached it, and gallop with all haste towards the interior. Beacon after beacon burst into a blaze; guns were fired from every tower; and telegraphic communication was carried on without intermission. Tnen) again, as we drew near to a town or village, every house was seen to pour forth its inhabitants ; while carts, wagons, and carriages of all descriptions hastened off, loaded, as we could distinctly perceive, with people and effects. In Annapolis, in particular, confusion and alarm appeared to prevail to an extraordinary excess. Being the capital of the State, and exposed, in a remarkable degree, to insult, its inmates doubtless anticipated nothing else than a hostile visitation; and truly, if to destroy a neat clean town, surrounded on all sides by elegant villas, had been our object, no task could have- been more easily performed. We passed by it, however, unharmed; not, perhaps, quite- satisfied that so fine a prize should be permitted to escape, but hugging ourselves in the idea that another and no less valuable one was before us. " Whilst the transports and larger vessels of war swept up the Chesapeake in a body,, the Sea Horse frigate with one or two lighter sloops, dashed forward to ascertain the course or channel of the river. This measure was resorted to, because, though the Patapsco was known not to excel in depth, it was deemed highly desirable that some part of the navy should, at all events, co-operate with the troops in the reduction of Baltimore. Captain Gordon was accordingly directed, not only to take soundings with all accuracy, but clapping a press of canvass upon his ship, to drive her, in case of any sudden obstruction, through the mud; and to break, at all liazards,. such booms, or other impediments, as might be laid across the channel. That gallant officer failed not to execute his orders as far as it was possible to obey them. He actually sunk his frigate's keel some feet in the slime, and tore through banks by which the progress of almost any other individual would have been arrested, but all would not do. The frigate stuck fast in the end; and it was only by lightening her of her main-deck guns, and most of her stores, that he succeeded in bringing her off." On Sunday evening, September 11th, about seventy of the enemy's vessels were anchored off North Point, about twelve miles from the City of Baltimore, by water, and fourteen by land. The beautiful moonlight night was chiefly spent by the fleet in preparing for an immediate debarkation. At three o'clock on Monday morning, the 12th, the boats of every ship were lowered, and the troops landed, under cover of several gun-brigs anchored within a cable's length of the beach. The boats went in divisions, the leading one of each being armed with a carronade. By seven o'clock they had landed a force of about seven thousand men, composed of infantry, artillery, marines and sailors, completely equipped, each man bearing eighty rounds of ammunition, a spare shirt and blanket, and cooked provisions for a three days' march. The most perfect system characterized every movement. Not the slightest doubt as to the result existed in the minds of the officers who planned the campaign, and the troops looked eagerly forward to the promised plunder. The final arrangements having been made, the light brigade, commanded by Major Jones, of the 41st regiment, led the advance; then followed the artillery amounting to six field-pieces, and two howitzers, all of them drawn by horses; next came the second brigade, then the sailors, and last of all the |
