War of 1812.-The Chesapeake blockaded.-Defense of Baltimore.-Invasion of Washington.-Battle of Bladensburg. 1. On the 18th of June, 1812, the Congress of the United States, in session in the District of Columbia, declared war against Great Britain. 2. "Whereas," said President Madison, in a proclamation issued on the 19th, "the Congress of the United States, by virtue of the constitutional authority vested in them, have declared, by their act bearing date the 18th day of the present month, that war exists between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof, and the United States of America and their territories; now therefore, I, James Madison, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the same to all whom it may concern." 3. In compliance with the act to regulate and discipline the militia of the state, passed on the 7th of January, 1812, the people of Maryland made immediately the most active preparations for war. The state was divided into military districts, a uniform was adopted by the state for her soldiers, and companies, as well as regiments, suddenly appeared in every county. It was enacted that the uniform for the infantry of the state should be, for general officers, their aides-de-camp and brigade inspectors, long, dark-blue coats, faced with buff, buff collar and cuffs, yellow buttons and buff underclothes, long boots, and hats called chapeaux 232 MAND. de-bras. These were hats that could be flattened and put under the arm. 4. The uniform for field, company, and staff officers was a long dark-blue coat edged with red, red collar and cuffs, white buttons; dark-blue pantaloons, edged with red, for winter, and white underclothes for summer; black gaiters or half-boots, chapeaux-de-bras and black cockade. For non-commissioned officers and privates, short dark-blue coats, red cuffs and collar, white buttons, blue pantaloons, black gaiters, and shoes or half-boots. For riflemen, darkgreen frocks or hunting shirts; and for cavalry, short coats and pantaloons of dark-blue cloth, edged with red, long half-boots, and a helmet or cap of leather covered with bear-skin. The artillery uniform consisted of long darkblue coats faced with red, red collar and cuffs, yellow buttons, blue pantaloons, black gaiters or half-boots, and chapeaux-de-bras. 5. At the session of the legislature begun on Monday, the 2d of November, 1812, Levin Winder was elected governor of the state; and on the 17th of December following an act was passed incorporating a company to make a turnpike road from the District of Columbia to the city of Baltimore. 6. On the 29th of December in this year an act was passed "for founding an university in the city or precincts of Baltimore, by the name of the University of Maryland." In the preamble to the act it was held that public institutions for the promotion and diffusion of scientific and literary knowledge, under salutary regulations, could not fail to produce the most beneficial results to the state at large, by instilling into the minds and hearts of the citizens the principles of science and good morals. The College of Medicine of Maryland, which was founded in 1807, was authorized "to constitute, appoint, and annex to itself" the other three colleges or faculties. These were the "Faculty of THE CHESAPEAKE BLOCKADED. 233 Divinity," the "Faculty of Law," and the "Faculty of the Arts and Sciences," and the four faculties or colleges thus united were constituted a university by the name of “the University of Maryland." 7. This institution was founded and maintained upon the most liberal plan for the benefit of students of every country and every religious denomination, admitted to equal privileges and advantages of education, and all the honors of the university, according to their merit. 8. In 1813 the war between the United States and Great Britain, which was declared, as stated, on the 18th of June, 1812, was in progress, and the enemy had indicated his design to take possession of the Chesapeake Bay. In the month of March the British Admiral Cockburn appeared in its waters, in command of six frigates and four ships of the line. He commenced hostilities against the unarmed inhabitants along the shores and on the islands, finally extending his depredations to the burning of the towns of Havre de Grace on the western, and Georgetown, Fredericktown, and Frenchtown, on the eastern shore. 9. On the 15th of July, in this year, the defenseless condition of the District of Columbia was brought to the attention of Congress in a preamble and resolution. It was declared that, if an attack should be made, the city of Washington would be in imminent danger. The fleet of the enemy was understood to be within a few hours' sail of the capital, and the immense value of public property exposed to destruction, the great value of the public records, and other deeply interesting considerations, rendered it important that any invasion of the metropolis should be met with vigor. 10. The principal cause of the war was the impressment of American seamen into the British service, by which many of this gallant and meritorious class of citizens had been snatched from the bosom of their families and carried into a cruel and afflicting bondage. It was an evil which could no longer be tolerated, and was in a high degree degrading to the United States as a nation. It was incompatible with their sovereignty, subversive of the main pillars of their independence, and the long forbearance of the American government under it had been mistaken for pusillanimity. 11. In the summer of 1813 the Chesapeake Bay was blockaded by British fleets, contemplating an attack on Washington, Annapolis, and Baltimore. In defense of the state of Maryland two or three regiments of infantry, each with a company of artillery, marched to Fort McHenry for discipline, under the inspection of Major-General Samuel Smith, well known for his brave conduct on Mud Island in 1777. 12. The militia of Baltimore city and county stood high in the estimation of the general government and of the people generally. As regulars could not be spared for the protection of the different seaports, the executive of the United States had to rely upon the militia of such places for their immediate defense. In placing reliance upon the militia of Baltimore he was not deceived, for the cheerfulness with which they had attended the first calls to discipline was sufficient evidence that they would always be found at their post in time of need. 13. Governor Winder, of Maryland, had done his duty. He had adopted every means in his power for the defense of the state. The locality of Baltimore was such that it could not be attacked by any considerable force without some hours' notice. To give the needful warning, swiftsailing boats were stationed at the mouth of the Patapsco, and the bay shore was also watched by detachments of cavalry. All parts of the state were populous and patriotic, and would pour forth their hardy sons at a moment's notice. 14. The British had put a stop to all intercourse with the city by water, and cut off a trade of immense value, so WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE THREATENED. 235 No at as to make scarce the common necessaries of life. tempt, however, was made by the enemy to invade the interior of Maryland until the next year. 15. In 1814 the enemy's design was plainly understood, which was an attack on Washington and Baltimore, but it could not be well determined from what direction the attack would come. The principal defense to be relied upon was militia, for only about one thousand regular troops were available. It was believed that the enemy would not make an attack on either place with less than five thousand men, and it would require ten thousand militia to oppose them. 16. General Armstrong, secretary of war, said that the navigation of the Potomac was long and sinuous, and was uncertain in relation to the time its ascent might occupy, while that of the Patuxent was short and safe, and might be calculated with sufficient precision for military purposes. "If," said he, "the enemy should ascend the Potomac, his object would be unmasked. He at once declares his intention, and leaves the Americans to concentrate their whole force against him. If, on the other hand, he should ascend the Patuxent, his object would appear uncertain. In this case it might be either Baltimore or Washington. As long as the enemy's point of attack was unknown, so long must the American force remain divided." 17. The general went on to say that these considerations suggested the preference that the enemy would probably give to the Patuxent, but that route was not without objections. A separation from his fleet and a land march of twenty miles through a country covered with woods, and offering at every step strong positions for defense, was inevitable; and, these circumstances turned to proper account against him, his march would be much retarded, if not absolutely stopped. 18. "This state of things," said he, "on which every wise general will calculate, renders necessary a provision |