For 200 years, the story of the War of 1812 in Maryland has viewed through the lens of the events of September 12-14, 1814 — the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor and inspirational defense that inspired Francis Scott Key to compose “The Star-Spangled Banner.” However, there is more to the story of the War of 1812 in Maryland than Francis Scott Key, the flag, and the poem. This blog attempts to provide readers with a broader perspective and to highlight lesser known stories of Maryland in the War of 1812.
Future posts will explore the stories of Maryland’s Eastern and Western Shores at places such as Havre-de-Grace, Benedict on the Patuxent, North Point, Baltimore and the roles of citizen-soldiers like Brig. General Perry Benson of St. Michaels, Captain Thos. Boyle of the private armed brig Chasseur and private citizens such as Martha Forman of Cecil County. All have a story to tell us today of the events and the British and Americans who fought and lived during the War of 1812 in Maryland.
Suggested Readings:
The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake: A Reference Guide to Historic Sites in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, by Ralph E. Eshelman, Scott S. Sheads and Donald R. Hickey (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010);
Flotilla: The Patuxent Naval Campaign in the War of 1812, by Donald G. Shomette (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010).
Terror in the Chesapeake: The War of 1812 on the Bay, by Christopher T. George (Shippensburg, Pa., 2000).
The Dawn’s Early Light, by Walter Lord (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1972), reprinted by Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001).
The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814, by Anthony S. Pitch (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1998).
The Republic’s Private Navy: The American Privateering Business as practiced by Baltimore during the War of 1812, by Jerome R. Garitee (Wesleyan University Press, 1977).
The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict, by Donald R. Hickey (University of Illinois Press, 1990)
Don’t Give up the Ship! Myths of the War of 1812, by Donald R. Hickey (University of Illinois Press, 2006).
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History (Washington: Naval Historical Center), vol. 1 (1985), vol. 2 (1992), vol. 3 (2002).
The British Invasion of Maryland, 1812-1815 by William M. Marine (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977 (reprint of 1913 edition).
The Man Who Captured Washington: Major General Robert Ross and the War of 1812 by John McCavitt & Christopher T. George (University of Oklahoma Press, 2016).
Lion in the Bay: The British Invasion of the Chesapeake, 1813-14 by Stanley L. Quick with Chip Reid (Naval Institute Press,2015).
The Rockets Red Glare: An Illustrated History of the War of 1812 by Donald R. Hickey & Connie D. Clark (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011)
Maryland in the War of 1812 