| Unit History 5th Maryland Regiment Part 3 |
| The Battle of Bladensburg by a veteren of the battle: John Pendelton Kennedy |
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Early Morning After having spent the night at the Methodist Meeting House (where provisions for horse and man had been stored), the Third Brigade under Genl. John Stricker moves forward approx. � mile to occupy his chosen site for the impending battle. The site was a narrow point of land between the Back River and a branch of the Bear Creek. Not wanting to be caught unprepared, the baggage was placed under a strong guard (6th Regt.) about a � mile behind the Methodist Meeting House, this would be the fall back point. 10:30 The rifle companies had been placed the night before at the blacksmith shop about 1 � miles in advance of the Meeting House. The purpose of the advance rifle companies had been to harass the enemy on their advance, unfortunately, they returned to the main force without firing a shot when rumors that they had been flanked at Bear Creek broke out. Upon their return an angry Genl. Stricker placed them on the far right flank of the army, between the 5th and Bear Creek. 11:00 The British are found by the American cavalry to be held up at Gorsuch Farm for breakfast. 12:30 Stricker upon receiving the report of the British whereabouts and tired of waiting, forms a skirmish party to make contact with the British. It is made up of two companies of the 5th (Mechanical Volunteers and Independent Blues) Capt. Aisquith�s Rifles, a 4 lb. field piece and some cavalry, in all about 200 men. The area to where they were to advance was so densely forested that the horses and cannon are left behind. Any semblance of military formation disappears and the men use the woods to conceal themselves. 1:15 About a half mile out from the front line they make contact with the advance party of the enemy. The British instinctively react to the fire and soon have the Americans surrounded on three sides. In the early minutes of the engagement British Genl. Ross, giving no credit to the fighting abilities of his enemies, comes forward alone, to ascertain the situation. After a few moments at the front the General rides off to the main force, after traveling only a few hundred feet he is mortally wounded., The Americans after about 20 minutes of skirmishing wisely leave the field and return to the main American line. 2:00 Stricker�s forces are prepared for a frontal assault, the 5th and 27th on line on each side of the road, the 39th and 51st approximately 300 yds. at their back. On the British side the 85th took the line backed by the 44th and the brigade of seamen, the 4th took to the hollow on the British right to flank the American left. 2:15 The Americans, realizing that the center of the assault is to the left of the road, decided at the last second to reform the line. The 39th regt. is moved to the left of the 27th and the 51st is placed at a right angle at the end of the 39th, facing the swamps, thickets and woods in case of a flanking movement. Colonel Brooke and Admiral Cockburn ride inspection of the entire length of the line. 2:30 Rockets, then artillery signal the opening of the battle and exchange fire with the American artillery for about 20 minutes. 2:50 The British begin to move, when closed to within 100 yds. firing erupts on both sides. Several haystacks and small buildings are set afire by rockets and retreating advanced post (Capt. Sadtler�s Yagers) but the American line holds. The 51st hearing the firing behind them (they are on the flank) and the British 4th lights in the thicket on their front (they never did see them) fled the field taking part of the 39th. The majority of the front line holds and continues fighting. 3:45 Stricker was able to fight for about 55 minutes and fend off two bayonet charges. Finally, low on ammunition, only 50 yards separating the two armies and about to receive a third bayonet charge, the Americans retreat into the woods at their back. The American army retreats but not in good order, small fire fights are kept up as they move through the woods. They did, however, fall back into fighting order at the reserve position at Cook�s Tavern, to await the British, approximately. � mile to the rear. 4:00 The British win the field but the American army is still intact and soon leaves to rejoin the main defenses at Worthington�s Mill at the northeast end of the defensive line. The Americans lost 26 killed, 129 wounded , 50 lost as prisoners of war and lose two field pieces. The British loses are 46 killed, including Genl. Ross, 295 wounded. The British will approach Baltimore the next day but other than raiding Colonel Sterrett�s (5th Md) home and emptying the wine cellar little comes of the foray. The Maryland Militia held the land approach, Fort McHenry held the sea approach, the British commander was gone, there was no chance of taking the city so the British returned to their ships. They sailed off to Cuba for recovery and re-equipping, then it was off to their next target, New Orleans. The Third Brigade was mustered out of federal service on November 18th and thus ends the history of the Fifth Maryland Regiment up the end of the War of 1812. |
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