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The Battle of Baltimore
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| Portrait of the burning of Washington |
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| Fighting in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland |
In the
early 1800's, Baltimore was a prosperous inland seaport with 50,000 citzens. By the time of the War of 1812, Baltimore
was prospering as a newly incorporated city. The British wanted this port because of the industry and ship building. The British
called it "The Prize of the Chesapeake."
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| Portrait of Dolly Madison |
The British marched to Washington with little resistance,
and burned down the Library of Congress, the Capitol, and the White House. Luckily, Dolly Madison, wife of President
James Madison, saved George Washington's portrait from burning in the fire at the White House.
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| Portrait of George Washington saved by Dolly Madison |
The Attack on
Fort McHenry
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"The American
navy must be annihilated: her arsenals and dock yards must be consumed: and the turbulent inhabitants of Baltimore must be
tamed with the weapons, which shook the wooden turrets of Copenhagen." -
an editorial from the London Evening Star in the spring of 1813.
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| Bombardment of Ft. McHenry. Oil on canvas. |
At 7 a.m. on the morning of September 13,
1814, the British bombardment began, and the flag was ready to meet the enemy. The bombardment continued for 25 hours.
The Americans had sunk twenty-two vessels, so close approach by the British was not possible. Fort McHenry had not surrendered.
But, long before daylight there came a sudden and mysterious silence. The British land assault on Baltimore as well as
the naval attack had been abandoned.
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