Monthly Archives: September 2014

Committee of Vigilance and Safety: “have as much of the provisions for our army cooked in his own Family… as he possibly can”

Baltimore

On the morning of September 13, 1814, near 8:00am, the members of the Committee of Vigilance and Safety met. With around 15,000 troops in Baltimore one of the most pressing issues is how to keep the militia fed during the fight against the British.

Baltimore 13th September 1814

The Committee of Vigilance and Safety met pursuant to adjournment– The committee received a verbal communication from the Major General, requesting that, they would have the provisions of our fellow citizens in arms cooked every day for them during the actual investment of our city by the Enemy; therefore—

Resolved, That the several members of this Committee be and they are hereby requested to have as much of the provisions for our army cooked in his own Family and also by others, every day, as he possibly can during the present emergency—

The committee then adjourned to 3 O’Clock of this day—

While the committee met, British bombs continued to fall on Fort McHenry with as many as four or five bombs in the air at once. Two-thirds of the guns at the fort could not even reach the British bomb ships. Around 9:30am, George Armistead gave the order to cease firing. He had fifty-seven cannons at Fort McHenry but none of them had the range to reach the British ships.

 

General John Stricker sets up camp near Worthington’s Mill

Baltimore

On the evening of September 12, General Stricker and the Maryland militiamen ended their march back from the Battle of North Point at Worthington’s Mill, positioned at the edge of the long line of earthworks centered on Hampstead Hill in today’s Patterson Park. Historian Neil H. Swanson captured the scene in The Perilous Fight writing:

Courtesy Maryland Historical Society.
Courtesy Maryland Historical Society.

Towards sunset, Stricker began a deliberate retreat. He left behind at intervals, details of axmen to fell trees across the road…

By midnight the campfires of his regiments were blazing in the fields around Worthington’s mill. Behind them and to their right the work on Loudenslager’s hill drew a long arc of redly winking light… To the left flared the watchfires of General Winder’s brigade, Douglass’s Virginia militia….

The rain came a little after midnight, without wind or thunder but in drenching torrents. It beat with a low, unbroken roaring on the fields and roads. Fires sputtered and went out. The trenches became flooded ditches, the militia garrisons stood ankle deep in muck.

Vice Admiral Cochrane: “Sad Accounts of the death of General Ross has Just reached Me”

Baltimore, Letters, War of 1812,
Courtesy the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-25372
Courtesy the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-25372

On the evening of September 12, 1814, Vice Admiral Alexander Cochran wrote to Colonel Arthur Brooke with the news that General Robert Ross was struck and killed at the Battle of North Point:

1/2 past Seven Monday Evening [12 September 1814]

Dear Sir

The Sad Accounts of the death of General Ross has Just reached Me— I had written him a few Minutes before by the boats in Bear Creek with a Bird’s Eye View of the fortifications of Baltimore and the New entrenchments I saw them throwing up to the NNE.—of the Town, upon Which a Good Many people are Engaged— It Struck Me that this entrenched Camp may be turned.

Since writing the before going my letter to my poor departed friend is returned. I therefore Send it to you in its Original form—

It is proper for me to Mention to You, that a System of Retaliation was to be proceeded Upon—in Consequence of the Barbarities Committed in Canada—and that if Genl. Ross had Seen the Second letter from Sir George Prevost—he would have destroyed Washington and George Town— Their Nature are perfectly known to Rear Admiral Cockburn and I believe Mr. Evans— In them a kind of Latitude is given for raising Contribution instead of destruction but in this public property Cannot be Compromised.

You will best be able to Judge what can be attempted—but let me know your determination as Soon as possible that I may Act Accordingly

Ever my dear Sir
Yours Sincerely
Alexr Cochrane

The transcript of this letter is re-posted from the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum and Blog of 1812.

Sept. 12th
These 24 hours commences with light winds and cloudy. At 2 PM boarded the Dutch Dogger Young Jela, Handerschace master from Cadiz bound to Rotterdam. Cargo Wine.

Middle part moderate and cloudy.

Latter part clear. At 11 AM saw a sail, made sail in chase, at 12 coming up with her very fast.

From the Schooner Mammoth Logs, 1814. MS 3082, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.

Herman Cope on “the fate of the city decided In 24 hours”

Baltimore, Letters, War of 1812,

On September 12, 1814, Herman Cope, a merchant at 76 Sharp Street, wrote to his Uncle in Philadelphia and shared the news that his family had fled the city:

As our friends in Philada may feel anxious to hear from us at a moment when all is threatened I avail myself of a few moments before the mail closes to inform thee that all our families have been so fortunate as to meet a conveyance some few miles in the country where I am in hopes they will be safe – our store goods and some household articles are sent out – The British came into the River yesterday – their forces variously … from 30 to 60 sail – the wind … away they anchored about 10 miles … the fort – where they have been landing their men all this morning- the lands force not known. It is supposed an attack will be made by land and water and the fate of the city decided In 24 hours – all the militia have marched.

In haste [then] &c.

Herman Cope

In January, Herman Cope had hoped for peace with Britain in time to import dry-goods to sell in the fall. Clearly his hopes had not been realized.

Courtesy Haverford College Special Collections.
Courtesy Haverford College Special Collections.

Rec. information that the British have several Ships coming up the Bay, and during the day upwards of 30 arriv’d at the mouth of our River, went to Town, din’d at Mrs. Wests in great haste, for the alarm Guns were Fir’d at one O’Clock, and the whole Brigade was immediately under Arms, and March’d towards North Point, my Troop was order’d to attend Gen Smith —

From the journal of Captain Henry Thompson, September 11, 1814. Courtesy the Friends of Clifton.

Sept. 11th
These 24 hours commences with light breezes and pleasant weather, nothing in sight.

Middle part light breezes and moderate with rain.

Latter part moderate with rain. At 5 AM saw a large fleet, steering to the Northward, under convoy of two Frigates and several sloops of war.

From the Schooner Mammoth Logs, 1814. MS 3082, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.