On August 27, 1814, Major General Smith ordered Brigadier General Stansbury’s militia to Baltimore, but due to the fighting at Bladensburg, his brigade was still scattered. There was also a naval presence at Baltimore too. Aside from the Maryland militia, Major George Armistead commanded the Fort McHenry garrison. The city officials called upon Major General Samuel Smith, commanding the Maryland Militia Third Division to defend the city.
Since 1813, Baltimore had already built up their defenses for a possible British raid. It was also a place where privateers captured or collected bounty from over five hundred British ships, as well as fanned the war with Britain. Baltimore was the third largest city in the United States during that time. After the news of the burning of Washington, the 45,000 people of Baltimore knew it was only a matter of time before they too, would see the British ships in the Chesapeake Bay.
0 kommentar(er)
