The conflict had launched a ne\v nation, but in 1812 1nuch \\•as still Test of a New Nation taking shape. Americans \Vere \\'ary of a strong central government and grappled \\·ith questions about trade, sla\·ery, and expansio n. In 1812, the United States of A1n erica \vas less than 30 years old, and \\1ashington City \vas a fledgling capital. :\"ational defense \\'as hotl y only one generation had been raised to adulthood under the debated and poorly funded. Then, \\1lf came again. American flag. Many people still personally remembered the daring ...... ,.,. . and exhausting fight to 'vin independence from Britain, pitting 13 Britain, at \\
People lived in fear. \X'he n attacked, they War on the Chesapeake fa ced a difficult choice: flee , cooperate, or stage civilian resistance to a far The British occupied the Chesapeake Bay during the superior force. In Havre de Grace, the War of 1812 to disrupt trade, bring \Va r to the center defense soon d\\"indled to one man, of the country, and dra'v troops from the north. After John O':\"eill, \\'ho continued to fight until declaring a blockade on the Bay in 1812, they captured. In Georgeto\vn, Kitty Knight established a base on Tangier Island and raided confronted the British admiral herself and \Vaterfront to\vnS at \viii, burning homes, \Varehouses, successfully spared both her home and that ships, and farms. Towns in Southern Maryland and of her neighbor. along the upper Bay were a1nong the targets. ln \'irginia, the British sacked tO\vns and raided Ensla1·ed people made bold decisions, plantations along the jan1es, Rappahannock, and too. The British promised freedom to other rivers. those \vho fl ed slavery and joined British fo rces. At least 700 1nen, wo1nen, and children escaped. Most \Vere taken to Tangier Joshua Barney and the "Mosquito Fleet" Island, \Vhere some of In a daring plan to defend the Chesapeake, Commodore Joshua the nten trained 10 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. Le onard Creek. The n, trapped further upstream, Barney received orders t o destroy the flotilla. As the barges exploded and sank, he a nd his men rushed on foot to help defend Washingto n.
Dolley Madison and the Rescue of Wash ington's Washington in Peril Portrait Modern visitors w ho ponder In 1814, \vhen more than 4,000 British troops came ashore at the portrait of George Benedict in Southern Maryland, Americans \Vere still guessing at the Washington in the White enemy's plans. A British squadron was also sailing up the Potomac House can thank First lady River to\vard the port of Alexandria, while another \Vas sailing up the Dolley Madison for her Chesapeake. Washington \Vas an obvious target, but so were determination. As British Annapolis and Baltimore. troops closed on Washington in 181 4, Madison insist ed the Americans soon realized that the troops in Southern Maryland were portrait be saved. The f rame marching straight to \X1ashington. On August 24, thousands of of the portrait, firml y militiamen and soldiers confronted the British at Bladensburg, a few attached to the wal l, was miles east of the capital. But the An1ericans \Vere inexperienced and destroyed to remove the poorly led. The effort quickly failed. canvas and spirit it away for safekeeping. By evening, \'(/ashington was in flames. The British burned many government buildings, including the Capitol and the White House. President James Madison and his \vife Dolley, along\vith hundreds of frightened citize ns, fl ed the city. The Declaration of Independence and other important documents \Ve re rushed to safety in the surrounding countrys ide.
Fon ,\lcHenry guarded the city and its harbor. Its commander, Battle for Baltimore .i\·lajor George Armistead, had prepared his men for the trying task of endurance: British ships in the Patapsco River were largely beyond A few \veeks after \vi thdra\ving fro1n Washington, the British set their the range of the fort's guns. Through a day and night of stormy sights on Baltimore. But Balti1nore had long been preparing for a weather, the British pounded the fort \Vi th rockets, bombs, and fight, and the Ainericans would be ready. mortars.
The British attacked by land and by \Vater. Landing at North Point on ·r1i e British expected quick surrender, but it didn't come. ln the Septen1ber 12, 1814, they met their first resistance when American 1norning, they gave up the fight. sharpshooters killed British i'vtajor General Robert Ross, and a Americans raised a large flag bloody battle followed. The next day, the British marched toward over the fort. The British fleet Baltin1ore, but 1net an overwhelming number of men and artillery. withdre\v, and their troops They considered a nighttime attack, but a\vaited the outcome at Fort abandoned North Point. McHenry. Coupled \\'ith an American vi ctory on Lake Champlain, the end of the \\·ar \\•as in sight. The United States and Britain agreed upon the Treaty of Ghent in The Major and the Flagmaker December. HO\\"e\•e r, the\' did When Majo r George Armistead sought a la rge national flag not ratif.,, the treat\· until ·shon\v for Fort McHenry, he turned to Ma ry Pic kersg ill, an after the· Battle of :\"e\\' Orleans: experienced flagmaker for the shi ps at Fells Point. She and officially ending the \\-ar on her daughter, mother, nieces, and servants work e d o n the February 17.1815. project for seven weeks. Th irty-feet high by 42-feet wi de, t he fl ag was so large that they completed the work in t he !oft of a nearby brewery.
D"artl'19"tl~Wir1 of 18 I 2, painted !1a1 plates were sometllnes attached to soldiers' hats to desig nate mi lita ry units. The ' canteen and mug shown above were both used by American soldiers during the Ba ttle for Baltimore. All obj•"• Mo
Fra ncis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner American lawyer Francis Scott Key watche d the bo mbardment of Fort McHenry fro m a shi p in t he Patapsco River. Key was helping to negotiate t he freedom of an America n doctor, held captive o n a Brit ish ship. The Brit ish prevented the Americans from leaving until after the attack, and Key spent a n a nxious night watching it take place. The experience inspired him to w rit e patriotic lyrics for a popular, existing melody. The result ing wo rds and tune became America's national a nthe m in 1931 . Begin Your Adventure Get Ready, Go!
Discover the War of 1812 on the Star-Spangled Banner National CtJmbine your history quest with outdoor fun for the whole Dig in: Discover places in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Historic Trail- a path tracing troop movements through historic f 1'mily. Take time to picnic, explore trails, or cast a fishing line. Columbia where history happened, using the official guide to places, inspiring landscapes, charming waterfront towns, and Stop at a farmers market or browse for antiques. You can also try sites along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trai l. waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region. your hand at geocaching, a treasure hunt using GPS technology, In Full Glory Reflected: Discovering the War of 1812 in the on the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail. Chesapeake--an award-winning book by Ra lph Es helman and The trail offers many ways to experience the drama of the war Burton Kummerow--features more than 150 sites to visit, plus a and the stories of its people. Follow the march on Washington Make your journey by car or by boat, on bike or on foot. lively, illustrated narrative about t he war and its legacy. with a driving tour of Southern Maryland, or paddle the However you travel, the trail is a great way to discover the War wetlands where the U.S. Flotilla was scuttled. Im agine British of 1812 and a host of outdoor adventures along the way. Go on-line: Visit the trail's website (www.starspangledtrail.net) attacks from the waterfront of Havre de Grace or St. Michaels. for a calendar of events, trail informat ion, travel itineraries, and Hoist t he flag at Fo rt McHenry, and visit t he original Star more. Many sites offer special programs and re -enactments. Spangled Ba nn er at the Smithsonian In st itut ion Nat ional Follow links to si t es in Maryland, along Virginia's War of 1812 Museum of American History. Heritage Trail, and throughout the District of Columbia.
Grab your phone: Down load the free Chesapeake Explorer app (wW\'V. chesapeakeexpl.QLera_pp.coml on youumar:t.ohooe to find_ J~=~:Ji~~~~;!~;;;i~~~;~!!!!l:i tours, recreational activities, and trip information for national Bl!mtnRuemmonn parks and trails of the Chesapeake.
Battle Drop by: Visitor contact stations, noted on the map, can also MonumenTJ identify local events and attractions. Pennsylvania Indian Queen Patterson T;ivern SiteD St<1r-Spangled Pa rk Maryland Baltimore Fed.' ":(/;:;;;:=::I(! Banner g Republican NewS1 Flag House Havre de Grace, MD '71 ' Rodger< C • S''°" Conowingo Dam Bal ti mo Susquehann;I\ Tavern Perryvi 1le Visitor Center fl'· Pride of i,l lock House 1 '> Stodder Promeoade Baltimore II Museum ', o'> Port) D Sh ipyard Chesapeake 0 federal Hill C (when in I 0 Site '?,:~~ D : ..... --.. -· House Ralph !Ihelman Fells Point ~?.,, :&rt Deposit g ~ ;.Elkton Visitor Center Rodgers ,' SusquehannaCJ ':; House / 1 0 State Park Prin ci pio '• North Historic Elk Landing ~ Iii ___l_ st. John's \ Iron Furnace East ~ I D ' Episcopa l Church Rodgers ' . C C Charlestown 1 Elk River Park ::1 Havre de Grace ', Tavern ~ P erryville ,.. Leone-a ~ Visitor Center , Riverside Havre de Grace15 '\ ,-... .,.. , ;;_. ~enchtown Park -Revot"rron Sttoot '1 Havre de Grace ' Light Keeper's \ '.;, ~ <, J •chesapeake City Maritjme Museum ' House Maryland 1 + .... , - , House ' Elk Neck ,'" o1nl'!'>ot aS? ----, ~ \ State Parls,f i- '•P' Fort McHenry r'.!I ' C C C concord Poinl:• National Monument ' ' D,' ' Li hthouse 1 • and Historic Shrine ' ' ' ,1' ,D _Ju' rkey Point Hampton _,,.'!..-- National Historic Site ~ • Joppatmvne _,,- Mount - Harmon • Ceci lton Tm·.'50n 0 0 , ---.... KJ c Robert E. Lee 0 ,' .... Washington, DC ,'' ,. ' ---.. _ ... -, ..... ~ Fredericktown ~~~~~~~~~ Park ~ ' St1U OlllO ~ ... 'M ~ Georgetown !'------' ------..JL..--',',',,~e~· g..__.g,o<;umbarton NotionalSociety_ i.,tnit•••~';'":,:,"•'~-1'------"',,_--~- Baltimore ~ Pond Tt •mei: . . llo t ..., --~~ Ci U"iU9f'ter> ol fBT.l1V!Useu m W ~>:: , Methodistr- Meeting. House., - • Creek House ;l Clifton Mansio nD Monument , ~:: .L~.• :;.,~ ... Q~ i' , Francis Scott Key Sewall·Belmont North Point St<1te Battlefield , ' Memorial Park House and • Loudon Battle Acre = ~ T~eodore Octagon Mujum / Worton Creek Marina Cemeten• ParkD / 6 Ro<»
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