History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 4

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 4

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The French and Indians wars waged by the English and French for supremacy in North America from the years A. D. 1754 to 1763 did not disturb the equanimity of its inhabitants.

The great Colonies of Virginia and Penn- sylvania, surrounded and protected in large measure the borders of Maryland from in- cursions by either the French or Indians; although the capture of Colonel (afterwards General) George Washington, at "Little Meadows," and his command of American troops, exposed the western borders of Maryland for a brief period to depredations by the Indians, nevertheless Baltimore was not called upon to furnish troops to repel the invaders, but its people contributed their share of the sinews of war to aid their sturdy brethren in western Maryland, who . not only helped to drive the enemy from the borders of the State, but marched with their

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

colonial brethren and the English troops to expel the French and savages from Ft. Duquesne, now Pittsburg.

EPOCH II.

The Revolutionary War, 1774-1783.

The events that transpired prior to the Revolutionary War, through the efforts of the English Government to impose a tax on her Colonies in America, created at once a spirit of determined resistance in Balti- more and Maryland.

The grant of Charles the First to Lord Baltimore, set forth "That it was cove- nanted on the part of the King, that neither he nor his successors should ever impose customs, taxes, quotas or contri- butions whatsoever upon the people, their property or their merchantable commodi- ties laden within the province," and the people of Baltimore were foremost in the movements, not only in forming commit- tees headed by that sturdy patriot, Samuel Purviance, to correspond with committees from other American Colonies, in the for- mation of non-importation leagues, &c., but the military spirit was rife for resistance by force of arms, if necessary. A military company of infantry was formed in Balti- more as early as December, 1774, by Capt. Mordecai Gist, subsequently promoted major, colonel and brigadier general. This company subsequently became a part of Col. Smallwood's regiment in the Mary- land Line, in the War for Independence, and in 1775 seven complete companies of infantry had been organized.

A Baltimore writer, in February, 1775, · writing to a friend in England, said: "We are a little behind New England mustering, purchasing arms, ammunition, &c."

The preliminary work of the struggle for freedom and independence in the War of the Revolution devolved upon committees of patriotic citizens throughout the thirteen Colonies, which afterwards constituted the United States of America, and amongst the most active, patriotic and energetic of these committees was "the Baltimore Com- mittee of Observation." Even after the British authority had ceased to exist within the Colonies, and new local governments had been created by the people, these com- mittees, notably the Baltimore Committee, continued in their sphere of usefulness dur- ing the War of the Revolution, and to a certain extent exercised authority which was respected by a liberty-loving people throughout the entire war.

After the passage by the British Parlia- ment in 1774 of the Boston port bill, "a bill intended to shut out the people of Boston from commercial intercourse with every part of the world," it was self-evident to all of the Colonies that a blow at the liberties and freedom of one was a blow at all, and the appeal of the Bostonians for a concert of action, by the united Colonies, in de- fense of their freedom, met a willing and ready response from Maryland, especially from Baltimore.

Meetings were held by the people, resolu- tions of commercial non-intercourse with the mother country adopted as well as for a concert of action throughout the Colonies. The sequel of these movements resulted in a Continental Congress at Philadelphia in September, 1774, which in turn recom- mended the formation of permanent Town and County Committees throughout the Colonies; accordingly a meeting of the citi- zens of Baltimore was held at the court

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

house in Baltimore on the 12th of Novem- ber, 1774, when the following committee was chosen for Baltimore, viz: Samuel Purviance, Jr .; John Smith, Andrew Bu- chanan, Robert Alexander, Wm. Lux, John Moale, John Merryman, Richard Moale, Jeremiah T. Chase, Thos. Harrison, Archi- bald Buchanan, Wm. Smith, James Cal- houn, Benjamin Griffith, Gerard Hopkins, John Deaver, Baret Eichelberger, Geo. Woolsey, Hercules Courtney, Isaac Griest, Mark Alexander, Francis Sanderson, Dr. John Boyd, Geo. Lintenberger, Philip Rog- ers, David McMechen, Mordecai Gist and Wm. Spear.

Mr. Samuel Purviance, Jr., was chosen chairman and his ardor, energy and execu- tive abilities were soon made manifest; a greater part of the correspondence of the committee was prepared by him.

In the meantime the sympathy of the patriotic people of Baltimore and Mary- land for their suffering brethren in Bos- ton, for liberty and the common cause, had assumed a tangible shape, as will appear from the following abstract from a Boston paper dated August 29, 1774:

"Yesterday arrived at Marblehead Capt. Perkins, from Baltimore, with three thou- sand bushels of Indian corn, twenty barrels of rye and twenty-one barrels of bread, sent by the inhabitants of that place for the bene- fit of the poor of Boston, together with I,- 000 bushels of corn from Annapolis sent in the same vessel for the same benevolent purpose."

As an incident of the stirring event of the times and the military spirit inspired there- by, might be mentioned the arrival in Bal- timore on the 5th day of May, 1775, of the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Edmund Pendle-

ton, George Washington, Benjamin Harri- son and Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, and Richard Caswell and Joseph Hewes, of North Carolina, delegates on their way to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia. They were met by three companies of militia and escorted to the "Fountain Inn," an old hostelry that occu- pied the site where the Carrollton hotel now stands. The militia fired three volleys of musketry in front of the hotel in honor of the distinguished guests.

On the following day four companies of militia were drawn up on the common and reviewed by Col. George Washington (af- terwards commander-in-chief of the Ameri- can armies and the first president of the United States). In the afternoon the dele- gates, accompanied by the reverend clergy and principal citizens of Baltimore, pre- ceded by Capt. Mordecai Gist's inde- pendent company and the officers of the other companies, walked to the new court house (which then stood on the site of the present monument to the Defenders of Bal- timore in the War of 1812), where an enter- tainment was provided; amongst the toasts given by the delegates was the following: "May the Town of Baltimore Flourish and the Noble Spirit of the Inhabitants Con- tinue Till Ministerial Despotism be at an End."

In a regiment of Maryland troops or- ganized in 1775 and commanded by Col- onel, afterwards Gen. Smallwood, we find the names of such officers as Mordecai Gist, Samuel Smith, David Plunkett, Brian Phil- pot and Wm. Ridgely, who recruited their men in Baltimore.

Amongst the inducements offered to have companies of militia raised in Balti-

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

more in 1776, to reinforce the Continental army, it was set forth "that each man be allowed a month's pay in advance and bounty of three pounds sterling (about fif- teen dollars).

In March, 1776, the British sloop of war, "Otter," which had been cruising in the Chesapeake Bay, made a demonstration with small boats in the Patapsco which created alarm in Baltimore, when the ship "Defence," Capt. Nicholsen, of Baltimore, was immediately sent to the rescue. They drove the marauders from the Patapsco river and captured five of their boats. Batteries were erected at Fell's Point and Whetstone Point (now Locust Point), where Fort McHenry now stands, and floating cables were used to protect the harbor of Baltimore from the British fleet.

In April, 1776, Capt. James Barron, in command of a Baltimore vessel, fell in with and captured with valuable papers a small vessel that had been sent by Lord Dunmore (who was at the time on board of one of the British squadrons stationed in the Ches- apeake Bay) to communicate with An- napolis.

On the 29th day of July, 1776, the Decla- ration of Independence by the United States of America was read at the court house in Baltimore. It was received by the people with great acclamation and at night the town was illuminated, at the same time the effigy of King George III was carted through the town and then com- mitted to the flames.

On the 20th day of December, 1776, the Congress removed from Philadelphia to Baltimore and commenced their session here. In consequence of the approach of the British army under Gen. Howe to Phil-

adephia Congress adjourned March 3,. 1777, to reconvene in Philadelphia.

Whilst Congress remained in Baltimore, they met in a large building then located on the southwest corner of Liberty and Balti- more streets. This building was then the- extreme western limit of Baltimore. A tab- let recently erected by the Old Volunteer Firemen Association of Baltimore now commemorates this historic spot.

Baltimore contained in 1776 a population of 6,755 and 645 houses. Its territorial ex- tent, including Fell's Point and Jones Town, reached from Fell's Point on the east to the corner of Baltimore and Liberty streets on the west; from Light and Pratt streets on the south to St. Paul's church, corner of Saratoga and Charles, on the north.

Congress selected Baltimore as one of the. points for building a navy, as its peculiar fitness for the building of vessels was ap- parent and a number of vessels that after- wards became celebrated for the injury they inflicted on the enemy were built there, amongst them being "The Virginia Frig- ate," the defence sloops "Bucksin," "Enter- prise," "Sturdy Beggar," "Harlequin," "Fox," &c.

In August, 1776, we find the Maryland regiment, under Maj. Mordecai Gist, with its large Baltimore contingent in line of battle with the Continental army, under Gen. Washington on Long Island, New York, performing prodigies of valor, not only in endeavoring to prevent the advance of an overwhelming British army, but as a matter of historic fact, with fearful sacrifice of life, really saving that army from demor- alization and annihilation.

This Maryland regiment was considered

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

the best drilled and disciplined command in the Revolutionary Army at that date. Their loss in this battle numbered two hun- dred and fifty-six in killed, wounded and missing.

In February, 1777, Baltimore was called upon for a contingent of militia to assist other troops in stamping out an insurrec- tion in behalf of the English, by the Tories of Worcester and Somerset counties, on the eastern shore of Maryland.

The expedition sailed from Fell's Point, the whole being under the command of Gen. Smallwood and Col. Mordecai Gist of the Maryland line, who happened to be in Maryland at the time, recruiting their de- pleted ranks. In a brief campaign the in- surrection was completely suppressed.

September II, 1777, we find Col. Gist's regiment was one of the two Maryland regiments which had time to form and take part in the ill-fated battle of Brandywine.

In March, 1778, we find Count Pulaski organizing in Baltimore under the orders of Congress an independent corps, consist- ing of a company of cavalry and two com- panies of infantry.

This corps did gallant service and the flag of the corps, which was saved at the time of the death of the gallant Pulaski at Savan- nah, Ga., in 1779, by a gallant lieutenant who received fourteen wounds, is now pre- served in the rooms of the Maryland His- torical Society, corner of St. Paul and Sara- toga streets.

The State of Maryland should perform a proud and patriotic duty by gathering up these priceless relics of all of her companies, battalions, regiments and batteries which took part in all the wars in which her gal- lant sons were ever engaged, and carefully

guarding them for the future at the State Capitol, where they should be exhibited as the evidence of the prowess of her citizen soldiery.

At the battle of Monmouth, N. J., June 28, 1778, the Maryland Line bore a distin- guished part. 1217063

In August, 1780, the movements of the British army under Lord Cornwallis created an impression that Baltimore was its objective point. A force of 2,800 men was assembled within two days from Balti- more and the adjacent counties. Advices were soon received that Virginia was the objective point, when the troops were dis- missed. This was the last serious alarm which excited the people of Baltimore dur- ing the Revolutionary War.

In 1781, whilst the Marquis de LaFay- ette, then a major general in the American army, was on the march to the Southern States, he halted in Baltimore. A ball was given in honor of his arrival. One of the fair daughters of Baltimore, observing "that he appeared sad," inquired the cause, when he replied, "I cannot enjoy the gayety of the scene while so many of the poor soldiers are in want of clothes." "We will supply them," said the ladies, and the ball room was turned into a clothing factory; fathers and husbands furnished the materials, wives and daughters did the sewing.

All the private blankets possible were gathered up and sent to the armies in the field; in fact no sacrifice was too great for the people of Baltimore to make for the noble cause in which they were engaged.

A large part of the Baltimore contingent was serving with the Southern armies in 1780, '81 and '82; whilst they performed magnificent service, their suffering and pri-

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

vations were excessive. They had not re- ceived a shilling of pay, real or nominal, during all this period; with hardly a decent supply of clothes and no subsistence except what they could seize from the country through which they operated, already devastated, and in a great degree attached to the enemy.

At the battles of Camden, Cowpens, Guil- ford and Eutaw, the soldiers of the Mary- land line particularly distinguished them- selves, and that at close quarters with the bayonet Baron DeKalb and Gen. Green both bore testimony to the gallantry of the Maryland troops in these battles, and es- pecially that of such splendid officers as Gen. Mordecai Gist, Col. Jno. Eager How- ard, Col. Otho Williams and Samuel Smith.

The surrender of the British army of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va., Octo- ber 19th, 1781, virtually ended the War of the Revolution, although peace was not for- mally declared until 1783.

On the 27th day of July, 1783, Brig. Gen. Mordecai Gist (who as Capt. Gist had raised a company in 1774) returned to Baltimore in command of the remnant of the Mary - land line, consisting of only 500 men, from Charleston, S. C.

The announcement of the joyful news of independence and peace was celebrated in Baltimore April 21, 1783, with great enthu- siasm.

The greater part of the Baltimoreans who went into the army during the Revolution and held commissions returned to Balti- more at the close of hostilities and were soon followed by such persons as Gen. Otho H. Williams, Col. Ramsey, Col. Mc- Henry, Gen. Swann, Col. Bankson, the Tilgmans, Clemms, Ballards, Strickers and

Harrises, names prominent and familiar in Baltimore history.

Throughout the entire Revolutionary War, Maryland had been distinguished for its zeal in support of the common cause. Besides those recruited in the independent corps, the State companies and the marines and naval forces, she had furnished 15,229 men and 5,407 militia, or an aggregate of 20,636 men. Baltimore contributed her full contingent to Maryland's quota at every call for troops from the time she furnished three of the original nine companies that constituted the Maryland line regiment in July, 1776, which marched to Long Island under Col. Smallwood, and were incorpo- rated in Lord Sterling's brigade of the American army, covering themselves with imperishable renown in that campaign down to the close of the war as well as in all the principal campaigns in the Northern and Southern States.

The gallant "Pulaski Legion" was a Bal- timore command. The Baltimore sailors had performed noble service, so that impar- tial history can truly say that on land or sea, the sons of Baltimore performed a heroic part in the successful struggle for freedom and independence during the Revolution- ary War.

EPOCH III. Second War With Great Britain, 1812-1815.

The constant interference by England with the commerce of America and an in- fringement on her rights as a nation, more especially the seizure of American citizens on American vessels, even on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, led to a declaration of war against England, June IIth, 1812.

Baltimore in the first year of this war felt

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

the advantage of her fleet, and from her su- perior vessels (really models of naval archi- tecture) that had been so successful in com- mercial enterprises, were fitted out nu- merous privateers. These Baltimore pri- vateers were authorized by Congress and were granted letters of marque and reprisal. They were built in Baltimore and vicinity, fitted out here, carried from six to ten can- non, with a long swivel gun (long Toms, so called in that day) mounted amid ship. The crew usually numbered about sixty officers and seamen, being plentifully sup- plied with muskets, cutlasses and board- ing pikes. They were commanded by such men as Captains Barney, Boyle, Stafford, Levely, Richardson, Wilson and Miller.

About four months after the declaration of war, Baltimore had sent to sea forty-two armed vessels or privateers carrying three hundred and thirty guns and manned by three thousand officers and men.

The whole number of privateers that were granted letters of marque and reprisal by the United States during the war with Great Britain in the years 1812, 1813 and 1814 aggregated two hundred and fifty sails, of which Baltimore furnished 58; New York, 55; Salem, 40; Boston, 32; Philadel- phia, 14; Portsmouth, N. H., II; Charles- ton, Io; Marblehead, 4; Bristol, 4; Port- land, 3; Newburyport, 2; Norfolk, 2; New- bern, 2; New Orleans, 2, and I from each of the following named ports, viz: New London, Newport, Providence, Barnstable,' Fair Haven, Gloucester, Washington City and Wilmington, N. C.

It will thus be observed that Baltimore took the lead in our naval affairs during this war. These privateers were a great thorn in the side of our inveterate enemy. They

harassed and annoyed the British in every quarter of the globe, and even at the en- trance of their own ports in old England herself.

They fought and captured ships and ves- sels off North Cape, in the British and Irish Channels, on the coasts of Spain and Portu- gal, in the East and West Indies, off the Capes of Good Hope and Horn, and in the Pacific Ocean. Wherever a British ship floated a Yankee cruiser went in quest of her; they took and destroyed millions of property and were beyond all doubt the happy instruments under God in bringing about a permanent peace with a proud, haughty and overbearing nation.

The war continued about three years, with a loss to Great Britain of two thousand ships and vessels of every description, in- cluding men-of-war and merchantmen.

To enumerate even approximately the names, commanders, engagements, capture and victories of our Baltimore cruisers in the second war with England would require a large volume of itself, but without any inviduous distinction, it would be eminently proper to briefly sketch the successful cruises of a few.

As early as July 10, 1812, the privateer "Dash," of Baltimore, captured the "Whit- ing," a British dispatch vessel, in Hampton Roads.

On the 26th of July, 1812, the privateer "Dolphin," of Baltimore, sent an English vessel into Baltimore heavily laden with valuable cargo. In August, 1812, the Brit- ish ship "Braganzine," mounting twelve guns and heavily laden, was captured by the Baltimore privateer "Tom" after a fight of forty-five minutes, and sent into Balti- more as a prize. The privateer "Rosie,"

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Capt. Barney, of Baltimore, made numer- ous captures about this time, and sent them either into other friendly ports or destroyed them, including one lot of one ship, one schooner and five brigs, captured and de- stroyed. The privateer "Globe," of Balti- more, captured a British ship of twenty-one guns and sent her under a prize crew into the Chesapeake Bay. An extract from the log book of the privateer "Globe," of Balti- more, sets forth: * *

* "July 3Ist, 1812, saw a sail; we gave chase; she hoisted Brit- ish colors. * * Got close enough, began to fire broadsides (charged with round shot double shotted); she returned broadside for broadside, when, within musket shot, fired several volleys into her; she struck, after a brisk engagement of an hour and a half. She proved to be the English letter of marque ship 'Boyd' and mounted ten guns."

Up to the 30th day of August, 1812, the privateer "Rosie," of Baltimore, Commo- dore Barney, had captured fifteen vessels, of 2,914 tons and valued at $1,289,000.00. An extract from the log book of this vessel sets forth amongst other incidents the fol- lowing, showing the splendid sailing quali- ties of our Baltimore built vessels, viz: * "July 23, 1812, was chased by a British frigate, fired twenty-five shots at us, outsailed her. July 30, 1812, chased by a frigate, outsailed her. July 31, took and burned ship 'Princess Royal.' August I, took and manned ship 'Kitty.' August 2, took and burnt the following: Brig 'Farm,' brig 'Devonshire,' 'schooner 'Squid;' took the brig 'Brothers,' put on board of her sixty prisoners and sent her to St. Johns to be exchanged for as many Americans ; a pretty good day's work.

August 9, 1812, took the ship 'Jenny' after a short action; she mounted twelve guns. * September 9, 1812, chased by three ships; we outsailed them without difficulty. September 16, 1812, severe action with his Britanic majesty's packet ship 'Princess Amelia,' at close quarters; it lasted nearly an hour, and during the greater part of the time within pistol shot distance." The "Rosie" had one lieutenant and six men wounded, whilst the captain and sailing master of the "Princess Amelia" were killed and the master's mate and six men wounded. September 28, 1812, the pri- vateer "Norwich," of Baltimore, Capt. Levely, carrying twelve pound cannonades and between eighty and ninety men, fell in with a ship and a schooner carrying the English flag, off the Island of Martinique; the ship was armed with sixteen 18-pound cannonades and two hundred men and the schooner six 4-pounders and sixty men. An engagement immediately ensued and lasted over three hours, and notwithstanding the disparity in numbers, armament and men the gallant privateer, although severely crip- pled, with the loss of four killed and six wounded, compelled her adversaries to beat an inglorious retreat.

On the 25th day of January, 1813, the privateer "Dolphin," of Baltimore, whilst off Cape St. Vincent and cruising along the coasts of Spain and Portugal, fell in with the British ship "Hebe" and a British brig. She attacked them without delay, although the "Hebe" carried sixteen guns and the brig ten guns, whilst the "Dolphin" only carried ten guns. She compelled the sur- render of both of the Englishmen with but a loss of four men.

On the 14th day of January, 1813, the

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Baltimore privateer "Comet," Capt. Boyle, of the coast of Pernambuco, attacked an English ship of fourteen guns and two brigs of ten guns each, under con- voy of a Portugese brig mounting twenty 32-pounders, or a total of fifty-four guns and 165 men. After a desperate engage- ment the "Comet" captured the three Brit- ish vessels. The "Comet" was subse- quently attacked by the British frigate "Surprise" and man-of-war "Swaggerer," but outsailed them both with ease, and con- tinued her career of conquest and capture.

The Baltimore privateer "Chasseur," otherwise known as "The Pride of Balti- more," Capt. Boyle, a splendid specimen of naval architecture and perhaps the most beautiful vessel then afloat, performed pro- digies of valor and carried dismay and ter- ror to her enemies, alone capturing eighty British vessels valued at $400,000. Whilst cruising off the coast of England in 1814-15, in response to the numerous paper blockades, decreed by British squadrons which were off the American coasts, he is- sued the following burlesque proclamation, and sent it into the English capitol of Lon- don to be posted at Lloyds Coffee House, viz: "By Thomas Boyle, Esq., commander of the privateer armed brig 'Chasseur,' &c., &c .: Proclamation: Whereas, it has be- come customary with the Admirals of Great Britain commanding small forces on the coast of the United States, particularly Sir John Borloise Warren and Sir Alexander Cochrane, to declare all the coast of the United States in a state of strict and rigor- ous blockade, without possessing the power to justify such a declaration or stationing an adequate force to maintain said blockade, I do therefore, by virtue of the power and

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Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344