CHARACTERS

Major General Robert Ross

After participating in several major engagements of the Napoleonic War, Ross was sent to North America as the head of 4,500 men to unite with Rear Admiral George Cockburn under the overall command of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane. Their mission was to divert attention from other theatres of war and to avenge recent American outrages in Canada.

On August 19, 1814, Ross landed in Benedict, approximately sixty road miles from Washington. On August 24, in Bladensburg, his forces routed a larger American militia force and entered Washington later that evening. Ross escaped injury when a sniper's bullet killed the horse underneath him. Over the next two days, Ross' soldiers sacked and burned virtually every public building in the American capital.

Cochrane next ordered Ross to march on Baltimore. Ross landed 12 miles away at North Point on September 12, while the British warships went on to attack Ft. McHenry. With Ross in the vanguard as usual, the British encountered U.S. resistance. A conspicuous target, Ross was shot from his horse and killed.