Battle of Baltimore
| Battle of Baltimore | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War of 1812 | |||||||
The bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British, engraving by John Bower | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| United States | United Kingdom | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Samuel Smith John Stricker George Armistead |
Robert Ross † Alexander Cochrane Arthur Brooke | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
North Point: 3,000 infantry, militia Hampstead Hill 10,000 regulars 2,000–5,000 infantry militia, 100+ Guns Fort McHenry: 1,000 infantry militia 20 artillery pieces Additional Defense: 8,000 militia 150 artillery pieces Total: 22,000–25,000 | Detachment of Chasseurs Britanniques at least a company | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
North Point & Hampstead Hill: 24 killed, 139 wounded, 50 captured Fort McHenry: 4 killed, 24 wounded Total: 28 killed, 163 wounded, 50 captured |
North Point & Hampstead Hill: 39–46 killed, 251–295 wounded Fort McHenry: 1 wounded Total: 39–46 killed, 252–296 wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Baltimore took place between British and American forces on September 12–15, 1814 during the War of 1812. Defending American forces repulsed sea and land invasions off the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, by British forces.
The British and Americans first met at the Battle of North Point. Though the Americans were defeated and forced to retreat, the battle was a successful delaying action that inflicted significant casualties on the British, halted their advance, and allowed the defenders at Baltimore to prepare for an attack.
The resistance of Baltimore's Fort McHenry during bombardment by the Royal Navy inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which later became the lyrics for "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States.
Future U.S. president James Buchanan served as a private in the defense of Baltimore.