HISTORY

Blockading the Chesapeake

By early 1813 British Adm. Cockburn hadn't decided on an overall strategy
. . . treat the Americans with kid gloves or hit them hard . . . by May he seems to have decided to do both.

A letter from Havre-de-Grace, on May 1, states, "That the enemy, on the first landing, took from the Island what fresh provisions they could find fit to eat, and paid for it." . . . but then they burned the town.

The blockading squadron in the Delaware then intercepted every thing bound up and down the bay. They burnt an oyster boat and another vessel laden with clay. Hardly targets of military importance.