HISTORY

August 9, 1813
Raid of St Michaels

After the British defeat at Craney Island and the failure to capture Norfolk, Admiral George Cockburn moved up the Chesapeake Bay. The shipyards at the small town of St. Michaels, Maryland, were the target.

After midnight on August 10, a 15-man militia unit manning the harbor battery spotted the British landing party. The British quickly landed and fired on the battery. As soon as the British opened fire the militia units fled. Only Captain William Dodson (commanding the battery) and one other man remained. They were able to get off one shot before they were forced to abandon the gun. The British captured the battery and spiked the guns before withdrawing. According to legend, local home and business owners hung lanterns in the tops of trees so that the gunners on the British ships would aim too high. In any case only one structure was damaged, the so-called Cannonball House on St. Mary's Square.