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Havre De Grace Defense On May 3, 1813 400 British troops landed at Havre De Grace and burned the town. The following is one account of the American defense: We had a small breastwork erected, with two 6 and one 9-pounder in it, and I was stationed with one of the guns. When the alarm was given I ran to the battery and found but one man there, and only two or three came afterwards. After firing a few shots they retreated, and left me alone in the battery. The grape shot flew very thick about me. I loaded the gun myself, without any one to serve the vent, which you know is very dangerous, and fired her, when she recoiled and ran over my thigh. I retreated down to town, and joined Mr. Barnes of the nail factory, with a musket, and fired on the barges while we had ammunition, and then retreated to the common, where I kept waving my hat to the militia who had run away, to come to our assistance, but they proved cowardly and would not come back. - John O'Neill, Niles' Weekly Register May 15, 1813
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