Americans Hold North Point: Baltimore Defended
American militia forces under General Samuel Smith engaged a British land force at the Battle of North Point on September 12, 1814, killing Major General Robert Ross, the same commander who had burned Washington three weeks earlier. Ross was shot by sharpshooters Daniel Wells and Henry McComas while leading from the front. Without Ross, the British advance on Baltimore stalled. The following night, the Royal Navy bombarded Fort McHenry for 25 hours without compelling its surrender. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer held aboard a British truce ship during the bombardment, watched the flag still flying at dawn and wrote a poem he titled "Defence of Fort McHenry." Set to the tune of a British drinking song, it became "The Star-Spangled Banner," America's national anthem.
September 12, 1814
212 years ago
Key Figures & Places
United States
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United Kingdom
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War of 1812
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Baltimore
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Baltimore, Maryland
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Battle of North Point
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Battle of North Point
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Baltimore
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War of 1812
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Battle of Baltimore
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Sea captain
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Bremerhaven
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