Region , Virginia, and U.S. Department of the Interior Star-Spangled Banner Washington, DC National Historic

O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light . . .

Patrick O’Brien/the Patricia Kummerow 1812 Memorial Fund Richard Schlect Gerry Embleton

The conflict had launched a new nation, but in 1812 much was still Test of a New Nation taking shape. Americans were wary of a strong central government and grappled with questions about trade, slavery, and expansion. In 1812, the of America was less than 30 years old, and Washington City was a fledging capital. National defense was hotly only one generation had been raised to adulthood under the Ameri- debated and poorly funded. Then, war came again. can flag. Many people still personally remembered the daring and exhausting fight to win independence from Britain, pitting 13 allied Britain, at war with France, set policies that interfered with American Gerry Embleton colonies against the largest military force in the world. trade. In need of men for their huge navy, the British boarded Ameri- can vessels and seized men said to be British deserters. In the pro- Riots erupted in in response to an anti-war newspaper. cess, they forced thousands of American sailors into service. Along Maryland Historical Society the Great Lakes and Northern Frontier, they united with American Indians to obstruct American expansion into disputed territory. The tension between Britain and America, still smoldering from the Over the next two years, British and American conflicts erupted from revolution, grew into flames. Some Americans wanted to strike back. the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. By the time the fighting end- Others cautioned against the human and financial costs of war. Brit- ed, the war had propelled America into greater maturity as a nation. ain had over 500 warships; America had 17. The nation was deeply Having been tested against a world superpower, the states were now and bitterly divided. more truly “united.” Americans felt a stronger sense of collective identity and greater commitment to a robust, national military. And, On June 18, 1812, Congress finally declared war, but Americans con- by defending rights at sea and expansionist goals at home, America Armed Forces History, NMAH, tinued to argue over the course of the nation. In Baltimore, a pro-war confirmed its entry on the international stage. The bombardment of Fort McHenry inspired new lyrics mob destroyed the offices of an anti-war newspaper, igniting riots to a popular tune. The tune was then re-named The that left dead and wounded in their wake. The war also inspired two lasting symbols of pride—the Star- Star-Spangled Banner and became the United States of Spangled Banner that flew in defiance of British attack and America’s national anthem in 1931. ©Don Troiani the national anthem that honors it. Maryland militia at the .

People lived in fear. When attacked, they War on the Chesapeake faced a difficult choice: flee, cooperate, or stage civilian resistance to a far supe- The British occupied the Chesapeake Bay during the rior force. In Havre de Grace, the de- to disrupt trade, bring war to the center of fense soon dwindled to one man, John the country, and draw troops from the north. After de- O’Neill, who continued to fight until cap- claring a blockade on the bay in 1812, they established tured. In Georgetown, Kitty Knight con- a base on Tangier Island and raided waterfront towns fronted the British admiral herself and suc- at will, burning homes, taverns, ships, and farms. cessfully spared both her home and that of Maryland Historical Society Towns in Southern Maryland and along the upper bay her neighbor. were among the targets. In Virginia, the British sacked towns and raided plantations along the James, Rappa- Enslaved people made bold decisions, hannock, and other rivers. too. The British promised freedom to those who fled slavery and joined Brit-

ish forces. At least seven hundred men, Gerry Embleton women, and children escaped. Most were taken to Tangier Joshua Barney and the “Mosquito Fleet” Island, where some of In a daring plan to defend the Chesapeake, Commodore Joshua the men trained to Barney organized a flotilla of nimble gun boats to bedevil the fight their former British on the bay’s shallow waters. masters. In August 1814, the British trapped Barney’s “mosquito fleet” in the Patuxent River, where they battled on St. Leonard Creek. Then, trapped further upstream, Barney received orders to de- stroy the flotilla. As the barges exploded and sank, he and his men rushed on foot to help defend Washington. Gerry Embleton Richard Schlect Gerry Embleton Dolley Madison and the Rescue of Washington’s Washington in Peril Portrait Modern visitors who ponder In 1814, when more than 4,000 British troops came ashore at Bene- the portrait of George Wash- dict in Southern Maryland, Americans were still guessing at their ington in the White House plans. A British squadron was also sailing up the Potomac River to- can thank First Lady Dolley ward the port of Alexandria, while another was sailing up the Chesa- Madison for her determina- peake. Washington was an obvious target, but so were Annapolis and tion. As British troops closed Baltimore. on Washington in 1814, Madi- son insisted the portrait be Americans soon realized that the troops in Southern Maryland were saved. The frame of the por- marching straight to Washington. On August 24, thousands of mili- trait, firmly attached to the tiamen and soldiers confronted the British at Bladensburg, a few wall, was destroyed to re- miles east of the capital. But the Americans were inexperienced and move the canvas and spirit it poorly led. The effort quickly failed. away for safekeeping.

By evening, Washington was in flames. The British burned many White House Historical Association/ White House Collection government buildings, including the Capitol and the White House. President and his wife Dolley, along with hundreds of frightened citizens, fled the city. The Declaration of Independence and other important documents were rushed to safety in the sur- rounding countryside.

Tom Freeman/White House Historical Association

Fort McHenry guarded the city and its harbor. Its commander, Ma- Battle for Baltimore jor , had prepared his men for the trying task of endurance: British ships in the were largely beyond A few weeks after withdrawing from Washington, the British set their the range of the fort’s guns. Through a day and night of stormy sights on Baltimore. But Baltimore had long been preparing for a weather, the British pounded the fort with rockets, mortars, and fight, and the Americans would be ready. cannons.

The British attacked by land and by water. Landing at North Point on The British expected quick surrender, but it didn’t come. In the September 12, 1814, they met their first resistance when American morning, they gave up the fight. sharpshooters killed British Major General Robert Ross, and a Americans raised an especially bloody battle followed. The next day, the British marched toward large flag over the fort. The Brit- Baltimore, but met an overwhelming number of men, artillery, and ish fleet withdrew, and their Maryland Historical cavalry. They considered a nighttime attack, but awaited the outcome troops abandoned North Point. Society at Fort McHenry. Coupled with an American vic- tory on Lake Champlain, the end of the war was in sight. The Unit- Gerry Embleton ed States and Britain agreed upon the Treaty of Ghent in The Major and the Flagmaker December. However, they did When Major George Armistead sought a large national flag not ratify the treaty until shortly for Fort McHenry, he turned to Mary Pickersgill, an experi- after the Battle of New Orleans, enced flagmaker for the ships at Fells Point. She and her officially ending the war on Feb- daughter, mother, nieces, and servants worked on the project ruary 17, 1815. for seven weeks. Thirty-feet high by 42-feet wide, the flag was so large that they completed the work in the loft of a nearby brewery.

During the War of 1812, painted hat plates were sometimes

Richard Schlect attached to soldiers’ hats to designate military units. The canteen and mug shown above were both used by American soldiers during the Battle for Baltimore. All objects Maryland Historical Society

Maryland Historical Society and the Star-Spangled Banner American lawyer Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry from a ship in the Patapsco River. Key was helping to negotiate the freedom of an American doctor, held captive on a British ship. The British prevented the Americans from leaving until after the attack, and Key spent an anxious night watching it take place. The experience inspired him to write patriotic lyrics for a popular, existing melody. The resulting words and tune became America’s national anthem in 1931.

Maryland Historical Society www.starspangledtrail.net Star-Spangled Banner www.nps.gov/stsp National Historic Trail Begin Your Adventure Get Ready, Go!

Discover the War of 1812 on the Star-Spangled Banner National Combine your history quest with outdoor fun for the whole fam- Dig in: Read In Full Glory Reflected: Discovering the War of 1812 Historic Trail—a path tracing troop movements through historic ily. Take time to picnic, explore , or cast a fishing line. Stop in the Chesapeake, a book by Ralph E. Eshelman and Burton K. places, inspiring landscapes, charming waterfront towns, and wa- at a farmers market, or browse for antiques. You can also try Kummerow, including a travel section for the region (2012). terways of the Chesapeake Bay region. your hand at geocaching, a treasure hunt using GPS technology, on the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail. Go on-line: Check for the latest happenings at the web addresses The trail offers many ways to experience the drama of the war above. Most festivals, re-enactments, and other special programs and the stories of its people. Follow the march on Washington Make your journey by car or by boat, on bike or on foot. Howev- take place from June through September. For special events in with a driving tour of Southern Maryland, or paddle the wet- er you travel, the trail is a great way to discover the War of 1812 Maryland during the War of 1812 Bicentennial, visit lands where Barney scuttled his fleet. Imagine British attacks and a host of outdoor adventures along the way. www.starspangled200.org. from the waterfront of Havre de Grace or St. Michaels. Hoist the flag at Fort McHenry, and visit the original Star-Spangled Be sure to extend your adventures on Virginia’s War of 1812 Grab your phone: Download a free app for your iPhone or Banner at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Heritage Trail. Start with http://va1812bicentennial.dls.virginia. Android from the iTunes Store, Google Play, or the American History. gov/places.html. trail web site.

Drop by: Visitor contact stations, noted on the map, can also identify local events and attractions. Fort McHenryCannon National firing Monument demonstration and Historic at Ft. McHenry,Shrine, Baltimore Baltimore, MD MD Dietrich Ruehlmann Baltimore, MD Maryland Historical Society

40 40 Star-Spangled Banner Centennial Monument/ 83 Rodgers’ Bastion Pennsylvania Maryland Star-Spangled Banner Havre de Grace, MD E Flag House Patterson Rodgers 1 Susquehanna Perryville Park Lock House Tavern Su Conowingo Dam Baltimore sq Fells Point, Baltimore, MD ? Inner Museum u Visitor Center Harbor Pride of e 95 Middleton Evans Ostego Street h Promenade, Havre de Grace, MD Promenade Baltimore II ? Fells Point a (when in Port) n Federal Hill Visitor Center 0 1000 ft. n Ralph Eshelman a Elkton Juniata Street Juniata 40 ? Port Deposit 1 North ? Principio East Historic Elk Landing Havre de Grace Rodgers Iron Furnace Visitor Center t Tavern Perryville s a k E AL c AN ARE C Havre de Grace h Frenchtown AW t e L r AKE AN E Leone- Revolution Street Carpenter ESAPE D D o N E CH Riverside Point N O'Neill Monument Chesapeake City Park Havre de Grace k 95 Maritime Museum l n Point E w To e lk d 40 E ohem 301 na Concord Point B ia Fort McHenry Prome Lighthouse 0 1/2 mile National Monument Spesutie Flagmaking at Flag House and Star- and Historic Shrine Island Spangled Banner Museum, Baltimore, MD Visit Baltimore Hampton E Joppatowne E National Historic Site Grove Cecilton 95 Point

Gu Mount Harmon n B 695 p Sassafra Kitty Knight House u s o Washington, DC w s Fredericktown Georgetown, MD h

d Still Georgetown e Kathi Ash/MD Office of Tourism Development Tudor Dumbarton r National Society United States Pond

Place House

83 Kitty Knight Daughters of 1812 Museum

Methodist Meeting House

695

House Georgetown Monument 40 Decatur House 70 North Point State Battlefield Francis Scott Key 20

Delaware Baltimore E (under development) Pooles Maryland Memorial Park White House Octagon Sewall-Belmont 40 Battle Acre Island Theodore House and Roosevelt House Pennsylvania Ave. Island ? Museum Fort McHenry Aquila Randall Obelisk 151 Constitution Ave. National Monument Dundalk White House Visitor Center National and Historic Shrine Todd’s Archives National Museum of Inheritance North Point American History Independence Ave. U.S. Capitol Chestertown The White House, Washington, DC 695 State Park Congressional Cemetery 1 P NPS at Park Battle of P o t o m a c 195 ap 301 Elk Landing Historical Park U.S. Marine Corps 295 sc Caulks Field o Barracks Monument Elkton, MD

Parkway Washington Hancock’s Swan Annapolis, MD Ralph Eshelman Navy Yard 95 Point 97 Resolution Bodkin Rock Hall Point 0 1000 ft. stia Bladensburg, MD co St. John’s College 395 a n er A 0 1/2 mile t 0 1/2 mile es Maryland h orsi 201 M C C ca State 1 ag U.S. Naval Academy oth Chesapeake House George y Brentwood Exploration Museum Washington E S Centreville Bladensburg House e Center v Eastern e Love Waterfront Park r 450 n 50 301 Neck Island Armel-Leftwich Point Visitor Center Brookeville Market 301 ? (13 miles) Master’s Bowlingly Annapolis House Marker Queenstown Visitor Center A BAnnapolis City Dock Old Dueling n Magruder a 295 95 Grounds c o House Riversdale House Museum D s N Battle of

t 495 i A Belle Haven Park and Marina a Fort Lincoln L Slippery Hill 495 S Chesapeake City, MD I Alexandria, VA Chesapeake Bay Cemetery Marker Washington, D.C.

Ralph Eshelman Environmental t

NPS s 1 Bladensburg Center a Georgetown T 404 E E E Queen Anne N Eastern

E e

A K Bay y W E 66 Addison Rd. 301 ERomancoke Denton 295 2 50 4 Alexandria, VA Darnall’s George Washington 395 Trinity Chance St. Michaels, MD 7 Masonic National 1 Church Dr. grave Miles River Memorial 4 Carlyle House Upper Marlboro 33 Alexandria Mount Welby/ Navy Point King StreetHistoric Park Mount Calvert Oxon Cove Park M Mill St. 382 St. Michaels 236 il Railroad Ave. Chesapeake Bay Gadsby's Tavern P o t o m a c Poplar e Easton Duke Street s Museum ? 1 Herring Isand Maritime Mus. ? Croom Bay The Lyceum St. Thomas Patuxent River Park ? Green St. Muskrat Park Fishing at Kent Narrows, MD Ramsay House Church 95 Ralph Eshelman Historic Alexandria History Center Fort Washington Nottingham Mulberry St. Michaels and Museum Store Tilghman Island Museum at Cameron Run Lower Marlboro EOxford Grace St. St. Mary’s Square ? Fairview 495 95 382

1 0 1/2 mile Magruders Landing W. Chew Ave. 400 Chop 0 1000 ft. Occoquan Kings Landing Park ta 33 nk Bay Huntingtown Plum E 5 Indian Head Point 381 2 4 Cambridge E Sailwinds Park East Bryantown ? Prince Maxwell Frederick

Thomas Stone 231 Hall National Historic Site Benedict Parkers Creek Port Tobacco 506 Preserve 264 EVienna Sailing on the Chesapeake Bay Taylors Charlotte Hall ? Battle Creek St. Leonard NPS N

Island Battle of the

a o P Cypress

n c Chapel Point

c Ice Mound je a m a Swamp oy b t o u Battles of Monument T 264 rt x Darnall’s Chance, Upper Marlboro, MD Po e St. Leonard Brent’s 5 nt Creek Ralph Eshelman Bay 235 Jefferson Patterson Mathias Crain Memorial Park & Museum Maryland Pt. ? W Sotterley Plantation 2 Point i c 4 Lower o Chaptico 245 Cedar m Calvert Marine

i

c Point o Museum e 235 K k e o t c t 4 ? i 301 le t B Tudor Hall Solomons H o Swann Point n

y o t a to a Leonardtown Wharf o m B p N S s e E h t Nanticoke o n y r a E a s ls Cobb e B m on Brent Is Island le l C a . n P t d S 3 Drum Point Lighthouse, Solomons, MD o S Monie St. Clements Island t. t M Bay Calvert Marine Museum a o r y E m s Princess Anne

James Madison a c St. Mary’s City Birthplace Drayden Bloodsworth EPort Royal George Washington Island T Birthplace N.M. Piney Point a

Nomini n 17 Stratford Hall Bay Lighthouse Point its g Plantation 235 ra Deal No Point St i e Island Jefferson Patterson S Holland t. 3 r Park & Museum Je Island d St. George ro n m a South E Nomini Church l Calvert County, MD R Montross Island 5 e l ap o Marsh Ralph Eshelman p H Island a h a edg n K es S tra n Point Lookout it o Yecomico s c Kinsale Bay State Park k Museum

S Smith Island, MD Ewell The Glebe d MD Office of Tourism Development Smith . Crisfield EWarsaw Island 360

Tappahannock Maryland Virginia Smith 360 Sotterley Plantation, St. Mary’s County, MD 17 Point Great Wic Sarah Rogers 3 om ico Reedville Pocomoke Tangier Tangier Island Sound History Museum Map legend Star-Spangled Banner Trail site Star-Spangled Banner Tangier Island Ferry, VA National Historic Trail Starke Jett (approximate water route) ? Visitor information Trail orientation kiosk About the Trail Battle or engagement The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is administered Town raided/burned by British by the National Park Service in coordination with the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and State Highway Administra- 5 4 3 2 1 0 5 10 Statute Miles tion. The trail is managed through partnerships with federal, 10 5 0 10 Kilometers state, and local agencies; War of 1812 Bicentennial commissions Piney Point, MD and committees; and private organizations in Maryland, Virginia, St. Mary’s County Tourism and the District of Columbia.