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The Battle for Baltimore:
America's third most populous city, Baltimore was a wealthy port and a base for American privateers. If the British could capture it, they would severely damage America's war effort and strengthen their negotiating position. As at Washington, they would also be free to loot and burn the city. The stakes were high for both sides.
Unlike Washington, however, Baltimore was prepared. Major General Samuel Smith had assembled a strong force of citizen-soldiers and regulars and built earthwork defenses against what he knew would be determined British advance. The British army landed at North Point early on September 12 and marched toward the city. It pushed back a force of American militia, but with heavy losses, including British commander Major general Robert Ross. Pushing on, the British were in sight of the city defenses the next day and waited for the naval bombardment to do its work.
The British fleet attacked Fort McHenry, attempting to destroy it so they could bring ships closer to the city. A 25-hour bombardment failed to knock out the fort, however, and British ships suffered from the stout American return fire. Early on September 14, the British reluctantly called off the attack and withdrew their troops.
The defense of Baltimore boosted American morale and marked the end of the Chesapeake Campaign. The importance of the battle in the larger war effort was acknowledged by a British peace commissioner, who wrote, "If we had either burnt Baltimore or held Plattsburg, I believe we could have had peace on our own terms." |