Battle of North Point facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of North Point
Part of the Battle of Baltimore and War of 1812
The Battle of North Point by Thomas Ruckle
Date September 12, 1814 Location North Point, Maryland Result British tactical victory American strategic victory British advance delayed
Belligerents
United States	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Samuel Smith John Stricker	Robert Ross   † Arthur Brooke
Strength
3,200	4,000
Casualties and losses
24 killed 139 wounded 50 captured	39–46 killed 251–295 wounded 1 missing

The Battle of North Point happened on September 12, 1814. It was a fight between American militia, led by General John Stricker, and British soldiers, led by Major General Robert Ross. Even though the Americans had to pull back, they did so in an organized way. They caused many losses for the British, including killing their main commander. This battle was a key part of the bigger Battle of Baltimore, which was an American victory during the War of 1812.

Why the Battle Happened

British Plans

In 1814, British Major General Robert Ross arrived in Chesapeake Bay with experienced soldiers. These soldiers had fought with the Duke of Wellington in other wars. First, they defeated American militia at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814. Then, they burned Washington, D.C., the capital city.

After that, the British sailed their ships towards Baltimore, an important port city. They wanted to attack Baltimore next. On September 12, 1814, Ross's army of about 4,700 soldiers landed at North Point. This area was on a narrow piece of land between two rivers. From there, they started marching towards Baltimore.

American Preparations

Major General Samuel Smith of the Maryland militia knew the British were coming. He sent Brigadier General John Stricker and his troops to stop them. Stricker's force included five groups of Maryland militia, a small cavalry group, some riflemen, and six cannons.

Stricker placed his soldiers about halfway between North Point and Baltimore. This spot was good for a defense because the land became very narrow, only about a mile wide. It was also surrounded by tidal creeks and woods, which could help protect the American soldiers. Stricker hoped this location would help them avoid another disaster like the one at Bladensburg.

Stricker learned that the British were camped about 3 miles (4.8 km) away. He set up his men between Bear Creek and Bread and Cheese Creek. They used the woods and a long wooden fence for cover. He put his strongest groups, the 5th and 27th Maryland Regiments, and his cannons at the front. Other groups were placed behind them for support or in reserve.

The Battle Begins

A figure of British Major General Robert Ross as he appeared in the Baltimore campaign, in the Maryland Museum of Military History in Baltimore

First Shots

Around noon on September 12, Stricker heard that the British had stopped to eat. He decided to attack them first instead of waiting. At 1:00 pm, he sent Major Richard Heath with 250 men and one cannon to draw the British closer to his main force.

Heath's men moved forward and soon met the British guards. When General Ross heard the fighting, he quickly went to see what was happening. His soldiers tried to push back the American riflemen who were hidden. Ross decided to go back and bring the main British army forward. But he never got the chance. An American rifleman shot him in the chest. Ross was badly wounded and died soon after. Command of the British forces then went to Colonel Arthur Brooke.

Main Fight

Colonel Brooke quickly got the British troops ready to attack the American lines at 3:00 pm. He used his cannons to cover his soldiers as they tried to get around the American side. Other British groups attacked the center of the American line.

The British attack from the front faced heavy fire. American riflemen shot into their ranks. The American cannons, without proper cannonballs, fired broken metal pieces and nails at the advancing British. Even so, the British managed to get around the American side, causing some American groups to run away.

However, General Stricker was able to lead an organized retreat. His men kept firing as they moved back. This was very effective. It caused more British losses and left some British groups confused or lost in the woods and swamps.

Not all American groups fought equally well. Some groups, like the 51st and parts of the 39th, broke and ran. But the 5th and 27th Regiments stood their ground and retreated in good order. They caused many losses for the British. The Americans only lost one cannon.

Corporal John McHenry of the 5th Regiment wrote about the battle: "Our Regiment, the 5th, carried off the praise from the other regiments engaged... When compared to the [other] Regiments we were the last that left the ground... had our Regiment not retreated at the time it did we should have been cut off in two minutes."

Colonel Brooke did not chase the retreating Americans. He had come within a mile of the main American defenses but had lost more soldiers than the Americans. Since it was getting dark, he decided to wait. Stricker's men went back to Baltimore's main defenses to help prepare the city.

Who Won and What Happened Next

The Battle of North Point was very costly for the British. Losing General Ross was a huge blow. He was a respected leader, and his death lowered the spirits of the British soldiers.

The day after the battle, Brooke moved carefully towards Baltimore. He saw that the main defenses of Baltimore were very strong, with many soldiers and cannons. He planned a night attack but called it off when the British navy could not silence an American cannon battery. The British then went back to their ships at North Point.

Political cartoon JOHN BULL and the BALTIMOREANS (1814) by William Charles, showing the British retreat from Baltimore.

The Battle of North Point, along with the British navy's failure to capture Fort McHenry at the entrance to Baltimore harbor, changed the course of the Battle of Baltimore. During the attack on Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key was on a British ship and wrote the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner", which became the American national anthem.

The Americans had 24 soldiers killed, 139 wounded, and 50 captured. The British had between 39 and 46 killed, and between 251 and 295 wounded.

Legacy

The Battle of North Point is remembered in Maryland with a state holiday called Defenders Day. The Baltimore County Sheriff's Office also has the battle on its patch. The 5th Maryland Regiment, which fought bravely, is now part of the 175th Infantry Regiment in the Maryland Army National Guard.

The Maryland Museum of Military History in Baltimore has an exhibit about the Battle of Baltimore. It was created to mark 200 years since the battle.