USA > Maryland > Talbot County > History of Talbot county, Maryland, 1661-1861, Volume II > Part 19
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* that in the attack on Saint Michaels the British lost one captain. One Lieutenant of marines and twenty-seven privates, and that one of the barges was materially injured.
Another witness, Thomas Ennalls, a fugitive slave, who escaped from the fleet, testified that a barge lay alongside the ship on board of which he was, and upon the barge were the dead killed in the action; and that an officer said in his presence, loud enough to be heard, that "they had lost an officer worth more than the whole d-nd town was worth." But Ennalls did not know the number of the dead. There is a tradition that the officer killed was a nephew of Admiral Cockburn, who was upon the eve of returning home, but asked that he might accompany this expedition as he wished to have one frolic with the Yankees before leaving. He is said to have been killed by a six-pound ball striking him in the breast as he sat in the stern of his barge.37 The dead were con-
36 One of these deserters was Jamison Hamilton, a Scotchman and a weaver, who for many years afterwards lived and followed his trade in Easton.
37 The propensity of participants in this action, as in most others, to exaggerate the injury inflicted upon the enemy, renders it extremely probable that the num- ber of killed and wounded in this affair has been magnified. There can be no doubt, however that the damage done was sufficient to deter the foe from prose-
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HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
veyed on shore at Parson's Point and there buried, as many citizens witnessed through their spyglasses.
After the repulse of the enemy, some of the companies of militia were permitted to return to their homes, with commands to the officers to hold them in readiness to return, at a moment's notice, should another attempt be made upon the town of St. Michaels, as was anticipated. Deserters reported to General Benson that an expedition had left the Island and fleet, under the commands of General Sir Sidney Beckwith and Admiral Cockburn, for an attack upon Queenstown, in Queen Anne's county.38 There was ground for believing a similar expedition composed of land as well as naval forces, would be despatched to Talbot, for the accomplishment of the purposes of the former, which had proved ineffectual by reason of the insufficiency of its numbers to meet suc- cessfully the troops that were defending that place with so much decision. Every movement of the enemy continued to be watched with true military vigilance. Reports were made that the fleet of the enemy were abandoning the upper part of the bay, for the purpose of carrying the customary devastation into the counties bordering on the Choptank. The following letter from a gentleman in Chestertown to his friend in Wilmington, signals-perhaps somewhat prematurely-the departure of the enemy from Kent Island.
Chestertown, Aug. 23, 1813.
Yesterday the enemy abandoned Kent Island, after taking off every- thing they could make useful or profitable; such as all the negroes that were not too old and infirm, stock of all kinds, etc., amounting at a rough calculation to upwards of one hundred thousand dollars. This day their whole fleet got under way and stood down the bay, so that we have a little more respite, but how long God knows. Report from Kent Island says they intend going up Choptank river, at or about Dover ferry, and take possession of Easton, and the lower part of Talbot, it being a rich and fertile part of the country. I have no doubt when
cuting his attempt on the town, and to prevent its repetition, at least by water. A deserter reported that the excuse offered by the commander of the expedition to the Admiral for his failure was, that he was deceived as to the character of the forces he was to encounter: that he had expected to meet militia-whose instabil- ity was notorious-but he found regulars, with whom he could not cope with the small force under his charge.
38 An account of the attack on Queenstown would not be within the scope of this contribution but one that is very full is given in "County Sketches " by Mr. Emory, published in the Centreville Observer of 1873, and another in Scharf's History of Maryland. The last curiously gives the 7th of August as the date of this affair-whereas Mr. Emory correctly gives the 13th.
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WAR OF 1812-15 IN TALBOT
we come to have particulars of their behavior on the Island it will nearly come up to Hampton.39
With reference to the same movements, the Republican Star, of August 24th, says:
By express from Queen Anne's yesterday information was received that the enemy had evacuated Kent Island and have repaired on board their ships, which from late movements by sounding, etc., an attack somewhere may be expected in a few days; and circumstances strongly support the opinion that this county will be made the object on which the enemy may endeavor to wreak his vengeance for the late repulse at St. Michaels. Patriots may be overcome, but by superior numbers only. Every man is expected to do his duty. Since our last, ten deserters have come in-a hearty set of blue-jackets.
· The troops that had been permitted to return to their homes after the affair at St. Michaels were recalled, and preparations were made to give a warm reception to the enemy should he repeat his visit. This visit was not long postponed, as the following letter, written by Major Solomon Dickinson to the editor of the Republican Star, will show.
St. Michaels, Aug. 29, 1813.
MR. SMITH:
Thursday, [that is to say, Aug. 26th,] about daylight the enemy was discovered by our videttes, stationed at Colonel Auld's point40 to be landing from sixty barges. They immediately moved a column about two miles towards our camp at this place. They then posted a picquet of men in advance within a few miles of us. They had two field pieces, and a number of rockets on the road in the rear of the picquets. At the same time we discovered three schooners and a brig beating up the river, crowded with troops, evidently with an intention of cutting off our retreat and destroying this place, should we march down to attack them. A flag from one of the schooners landed, and informed several persons, living upon the water side, that the British troops would land in a few hours, and if they would remain in their houses, their property should not be injured. After this Admiral Cockburn, at the head of three hundred men, marched below in search of a militia company stationed there, the greater part of whom made their escape across Harris' creek. Fourteen were afterwards taken at their houses. They burnt two small vessels and plundered the inhabitants of clothing, etc.,
39 Emory's "County Sketches," Centreville Observer, Feb. 25, 1873.
40 Col. Auld resided at Wayde's point, upon Bayside, the present residence of John W. Kemp, Esq., about six miles below the town of St. Michaels. This point took its name from Zachary Wayde, one of Claiborne's men, driven from Kent Island by Lord Baltimore's people.
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HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
to a large amount. From information received that morning from five seamen who deserted after landing, their force on shore was eighteen hundred men, under Sir Sidney Beckwith. At six p.m. they re-em- barked, taking with them their prisoners, whom they released the next day on parole. At the same time the vessels weighed anchor, and stood down to the fleet off Kent Point. The militia presented a determined front in support of their country's rights.
Per order of General Benson,
S. Dickinson, B. Major.
Very little can be added to this account of Major Dickinson; but the following part of a statement made to the writer by the Rev. Robert Kemp, late minister of the Wilmington Annual Conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, will serve to elucidate and somewhat amplify the official narrative.
When my father aroused me in the morning and announced® that the British, who lay off Kent point, in full view, were landing, the number of boats putting off from the ships was so great that I can com- pare them to nothing better than chips thrown upon the water from a basket. They captured a schooner called the High-Flyer while on the expedition. They landed at Col. Auld's plantation, and whether any of them went up the road towards St. Michaels, I cannot say, but some of the force went down the peninsula as far at least as my father's place.41 My father was not at home. Some of the officers and men came up to the house, but others remained upon the road. The offi- cer in command of the detachment or squad that came to the house was Major Williamson, who asked for cider, but declined receiving it because it was recently made and therefore unwholesome, but he accept- ed bread, milk and fruit for himself and men. Major Williamson asked my sister if she was not alarmed when she saw the British soldiers approaching the house, after what she had heard of the outrages upon the women at Hampton. She replied that she certainly was much alarmed, and was at that moment suffering much fear of injury. Major Williamson comforted her by saying that she need apprehend nothing from British soldiers: that they never perpetrated such outrages as those referred to; and that those committed in Virginia were committed by Frenchmen who had deserted their own countrymen and had joined the British army. He added, these had been placed where they could do no further harm. My father coming home encountered the party on the road, and was taken before Admiral Cockburn, who was mounted on a horse. I saw the Admiral at a distance only. My father gave him to understand that he was a Friend, or Quaker: whereupon the
.
41 This farm is now owned by and is the residence of the Misses Kemp, daughters of John Kemp, and of the same family that has had possession of this property for more than two hundred years-a rare, but not the only, instance in this county of such lengthened ownership.
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WAR OF 1812-15 IN TALBOT
Admiral said that he belonged to a very worthy society of people, and that if we were all Quakers there would be no war. Mr. Kemp was asked by the Admiral if he had any knowledge of a boat or barge that had been carried off by a party of deserters. He replied, "I have seen the barge." He was then directed to go with a party of marines and point out the place where he last saw the boat. He went to the water's edge and pointing to a stake in the water, said, "when I last saw the boat she was tied to that stake." The men saw there was no boat at the place indicated, and so reported: but in truth the boat was still tied to the stake, and had been sunken to prevent her discovery and capture by the owners.42 The militia company that had been stationed below, upon the Bayside and upon Tilghman's Island, was Captain John Caulk's. Finding themselves cut off by the interposition of the enemy, they dispersed, most of them getting across Harris' creek, but sixteen of them were taken prisoners, carried to Annapolis, a depot of exchange, and there released, after a detention of several weeks.43 There was considerable plundering, but it was not systematic, or with authority. The sailors and soldiers took what could be used by them. Nothing was taken for the general purposes of the fleet.44
These two accounts are sufficiently full and explicit. A portion of the expeditionary force, probably that under Sir Sidney Beckwith, moved up the Bayside road towards the town but was deterred from making an attack by the bold and determined front which the troops there collected presented, the number of which, about six hundred, had been doubtless much exaggerated by informers, besides, their firm- ness upon the former occasion had been advantageously displayed. The wooded character of much of the country furnishing protection to the militia, they would have been able to do much execution upon an advancing party without dangerous exposure of themselves. That portion of the expedition that was confined to the boats made no active demonstration. Towards evening the land forces were reembarked and returned to the fleet, again foiled in their purposes of destruction.
42 A very striking instance of Quaker truthfulness and Quaker shrewdness- but told with the utmost frankness and naïveté by Mr. Kemp.
43 This is probably erroneous; Mr. Dickinson's statement being official and authoritative.
44 In this connection it is proper to say that the citizens of Talbot, unlike those of other sections, did not suffer, as far as can be discovered, any loss of slaves. Many of the negroes, when the enemy was threatening, were sent off to the interior ; but the real cause of the immunity of Talbot from this kind of depredation was the unwillingness of the negroes themselves to leave their homes and masters. Slav- ery in Talbot was so mild in its character, and particularly that form of slavery which existed in Bayside, that there was small inducement for the negroes to en- trust themselves to the tender mercies of the British.
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On Monday, the thirtieth of the month, the fleet weighed anchor and stood down the bay. The following is from the Republican Star of Tuesday, August 31st.
We have the pleasure of announcing to our readers that information was received at camp, yesterday, from our videttes upon Tilghman's Island that during the morning a ship came up the bay under a press of sail, fired several guns, when the whole fleet got under way and stood down the bay, and at 2 o'clock General Benson discharged the troops at St. Michaels.
Before disbanding, the following orders were read to the assembled militia, and were published at the request of the officers.
Brigade Orders. August 30th, 1813. As the British are on their way down the bay, the militia at this post are discharged except such a guard as Colonel Auld may see proper to keep here. The Caroline militia will deliver their arms and cartridges to the Armorer at Easton. The extra arms will be delivered to the Quarter Master, Mr. Garey, to be sent to Easton. The General, in behalf of his country, sincerely thanks the militia that have remained at this place, under many priva- tions, and, in some instances, under disagreeable circumstances. In sight of a menacing enemy, the troops presented a determined front in support of their country's rights. All the Commandants of corps and companies are on their return to their respective homes, to order court martial upon all deserters and delinquents. There is to be no firing of guns, no waste of cartridges. Every officer stands accountable for the safe keeping of arms and equipments, and as the main body of the militia have done themselves honor, the General hopes and flatters himself that they will return home with the same honor.
Thus ended the campaign of the year 1813, which upon the whole had been successful, for though the Talbot troops had been unable to prevent the landing of the enemy upon the islands, from their fleet which commanded the bay, they had succeeded in thwarting his purposes of destruction and pillage upon the main. The most severe sufferers from his depredations were Mr. Jacob Gibson, upon Sharp's Island; Mr. Will Sears, upon Poplar Island, and Mr. Hemsley, on Tilghman's (more properly Choptank) Island.45 The court martials which were
45 In June, 1813, Mr. William Sears made affidavit before Mr. Justice Peter Denny, that he had lost by the British, from Poplar Island, 30 head of black cattle, 86 old sheep, 20 to 30 lambs, 300 breeding sows and pigs and all the poultry that could be caught. He further declared that much injury was done to his house and furniture. Mr. Jacob Gibson under oath before Mr. Justice William Harri- son, July 20, 1813, declared that his losses stock-giving number and kinds- amounted to $1203, after deducting a small amount which he had received from the British officers in money and bills in exchange .- Niles' Register, Oct. 9th, 1813.
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ordered by the General in command were dissolved as there were no charges preferred against any officer, though the conduct of some was severely commented upon in private circles. In the following April the troops were paid for the time they had served.46
Although immediate danger to the county had passed, by the retire- ment of the fleet, the war continuing, there was reason to expect another visit from the enemy in the following year. The old military organiza- tions were maintained, and new companies formed, or projected. One of these was to be armed with rifles instead of the musket, regimental parades and company drills were required, and the officers were acquiring a better knowledge of military tactics. Provision had been made also for the better arming of the forces. The events of the year had imparted courage, confidence and ardor. In April of the year 1814 a section of the enemy's fleet which had held possession of the lower part of the bay, moved northward, but soon returned to the main body, carrying off two schooners captured near Sharp's Island, one of which was ladened with corn. Barney's flotilla of gun boats passed down the bay on Sunday, May 1. One of the barges was commanded by Captain William Dodson of St. Michaels and another by Capt. Henry Thomas of Easton. Many men of the crews were also from this county.47 Of the performances of this miniature squadron and of its ultimate destruction this is not the place to speak. About the
46 An advertisement in the Republican Star of April 19, 1814, notified all con- cerned that David Kerr, Jr., Paymaster of the 4th Regiment would be in Easton to pay off the troops and these companies are mentioned as being entitled to pay: viz. Capt. Geo. W. Smith's, Capt. Geo. Parrott's, Capt. John Merrick's, Capt. Nick. Goldsborough's, Capt. Samuel Stevens', Capt. James Newman's, Capt. Thomas Henricks', Capt. Amos Hale's, Lieut. Thomas Cooper's, Capt. John Leeds Kerr's companies. All of these were of the 4th regiment of the Maryland militia, and of infantry. No companies of the 26th regiment are mentioned, nor any of the 12th battalion of cavalry, nor of the artillery. The 26th regiment of infantry was composed of companies of the Bayside section of the county, and there were probably paid off at St. Michaels.
47 In this connection it may be well to say that the navy of the United States had many Talbot men among the sailors. Lieutenant William Bush of this county was on board the Hornet in the naval fight with the Peacock, and was killed. Of this gentleman little or nothing is known. In the battle of Lake Erie, under Commodore Perry, Purser Samuel Hambleton, though a non com- batant, took an active part, and was severely wounded. A memoir of this most estimable gentleman whose acquaintance and friendship the writer of this con- tribution is proud to have enjoyed, has been prepared and shall be published hereafter.
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middle of June a detachment of the enemy's fleet, consisting of one brig and two schooners came up the bay as far as Kent Point, capturing one of the ferry boats, belonging to Mr. Sears plying between Hadda- way's ferry and Annapolis, and destroying two or three other smaller vessels. This detachment returned to the main body of the fleet below. On Sunday, July 10, a frigate and four schooners with several barges of the enemy made their appearance between Poplar Island and Kent Point, and captured one of the Cambridge packets, off Thomas' Point. They moved up the bay, with no apparent purpose of remaining. About this time important events were occurring upon the Western Shore. Cockburn was carrying on his system of plunder and devastation along the shores of the Potomac and Patuxent. Barney's flotilla had taken refuge at the head of the last named of these rivers. Early in August the enemy had been reënforced by troops under General Ross, and ap- prehensions began to be felt for the safety of the national capital. The enemy's policy was to keep the shores of the bay in a state of constant alarm. On the 18th of August a ship and two schooners and a large sloop anchored off the mouth of the Eastern Bay, and in the evening sent off two barges which captured a small vessel and a canoe. The crews landed upon the Bayside, and after amusing themselves upon the beach in some frolics returned to the vessels, without doing any harm. On the 22nd Commodore Barney destroyed his flotilla, and on the 24th was fought the humiliating battle of Bladensburg in which no credit was gained by any of the American forces except the sailors and marines from the flotilla, and of these as has been noted, Talbot county furnished no inconsiderable number. On the 25th the enemy entered Washington and burned the public buildings, magazines and stores. On the 31st was fought the battle of Caulk's field in Kent county, in which the invaders were driven off with the loss of their commander Sir Peter Parker. On the 10th of September a large fleet passed up the bay to reinforce the enemy who was now threatening Baltimore, on the 12th was fought the battle of North Point, and upon the 13th occurred the bombardment of Fort McHenry. On the 19th the fleet retired down the bay, continuing their harassing visits to the shores. But these events belong to the general history of the State and Nation and are here referred to merely to show their relation to or their connection with the events of the war in this county. The enemy continued to hold posses- sion of the Islands off the bay shore, and a detachment of their fleet entered the Choptank on the 19th of October, and sent an expedition consisting of eighteen barges and a schooner up as far as Castle Haven,
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WAR OF 1812-15 IN TALBOT
in Dorchester. They made a landing but committed no other depreda- tions than that of robbing the tenant upon the farm of Dr. Kemp of his poultry and cattle. Tilghman's Island suffered more severely from the marauders.48 While occupying these islands the 26th regiment of Infantry under Colonel Auld were on duty, to prevent their depreda- tions on the main. The presence of a portion of the British fleet in Choptank, some of the ships advancing as high as Castle Haven, as above noted, kept the militia of the lower district of this county, as well as those of Dorchester on the alert. An attack upon Easton was momen- tarily expected, preparations were made to give the enemy a proper reception. Troops were assembled from different parts of the county again under General Benson, and Fort Stoakes was manned and the guns placed in position.49 Videttes were stationed upon points of land that admitted a view of the movements of the fleet and boats of the enemy, and a guard boat was also daily sent down the river for the same purpose. On the 19th of October it was announced that an expedition had left the fleet and was under way for an attack upon the town by way of Third Haven. The troops that were assembled at Easton slept upon their arms the whole night in readiness for the conflict which was expected in the morning. But the purposes of the enemy were defeated by the tempestuous weather, which dispersed their boats, and drove them back to the fleet. Some of the barges are said to have grounded on Benoni's Point, at the entrance of the river. Although it was intended that the expedition should be again sent
48 Mr. Alexander Hemsley, at that time the owner of Tilghman's Island, made the following statement of his losses:
"A list of stock taken from Choptank Island by the English from the 20th to the 25th of October 1814, to wit:
43 grown cattle
50 sheep
15 calves
25 barrels of corn
-
2 to 3 tons of hay
58
For the above articles they left bills of exchange to the amount of 150 pounds sterling. The following stock they left the specie for, at the prices opposite to each.
7 grown cattle at $5
$35.00
5 calves at $2
10.00
6 large hogs
8.00
(signed) Alexander Hemsley. $53.00
49 According to some testimony Fort Stoakes was erected at this time, and not in 1813, as stated in the text.
-
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HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
out for the same purpose, circumstances prevented its being a second time undertaken. The militia was retained in position at Easton until the 2nd of November when information having reached General Benson that the enemy had abandoned Tilghman's Island and that his fleet had left Choptank river, the troops were dismissed and allowed to return to their homes. General Benson issued the following address:
Wheatland, Nov. 7th, 1814.
SIR :- In justice to the patriot band of militia I had the honor to com- mand and to dismiss on the morning of the 2nd instant, at Easton, I wish it to be known that on the morning of the 20th ultimo, after they had been lying on their arms all night with a probability of attack from the enemy, at their 4 o'clock parade, A. M., from the report of the officers, there was not an absentee from any of the corps. There appeared to be no party but one, and that was WE ARE ONE. You will please hand this to each of the editors of the papers in Easton.
Your obedient servant, P. BENSON.
Upon leaving Choptank the fleet for a short while assumed a position off Poplar Island and Thomas' Point, but soon after the heavier ships went into the lower Chesapeake, leaving behind, however, a sufficient force for the prosecution of a system of spoliation upon the small craft that plied between the city of Baltimore and the tributaries of the bay. This was a kind of petty privateering-or as it was designated at the time, picarooning-in which small gains and no honors were to be won. For the purpose of carrying on these depredations it was the custom of the enemy to make use of the larger and better craft that had been captured. They would arm and man the schooners of good burden, conceal their heavy guns beneath piles of plank or other conspicuous but easily mov- able materials, and employ all other possible devices to give these armed vessels the appearance of peaceful traders making their ordinary trips to and from the city. When a luckless sloop or schooner could be over- hauled, she was taken possession of, or when a number of craft could be found becalmed, these extemporized war vessels would make their way into the midst of them, and then suddenly swoop down, in boats and barges, and before they could get out of the way most of them would be captured, without firing a gun or drawing a sword.50 Notwithstand-
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