10 Most Important Battles In US History

On 11 September 1814, over two years after the United States declared war on the British Empire, American forces spotted the British Navy and the British Army, advancing north towards the city of Baltimore, Maryland. The push continued on 12 September , when the British deployed their troops in Maryland heading towards North Point. The British Navy sailed up the Patapsco River towards Baltimore. As the British Army encountered American forces, British General Robert Ross was shot by an American sniper of which severely delayed British advances. Following the loss of Ross, he was replaced by Colonel Arthur Brooks to command the land forces.

On the third day of the British advance on 13 September 1814, the British Navy began its bombardment of Fort McHenry of which was viewed by composer of the “Star Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key. He watched the shelling of cannonballs from British guns rain down on the American fort, inspiring him to write what would become the US national anthem. The British, with their bombardment of Fort McHenry, had a cannonball come in close quarter contact with gunpowder stockpiles within the fort, of which would have ignited it and utterly destroyed half- if not the whole fort. The cannonball failed to ignite, saving the ammunition stockpile and the fort. Luck was with the Americans.

The British Army continued its land advance towards the City of Baltimore when they once again were put up in front of the United States Army at Hampstead Hill, which was heavily fortified and equipped with multiple cannons. The British Navy set up a diversionary attempt that would distract the American Army at Fort McHenry from the ships that would be slipping down the river in “secrecy” towards Hampstead Hill to help the British Army take it. Instead, the U.S. Army attacked all ships advancing in both directions and successfully stopped the British Navy from helping its sister, the British Army.

Colonel Arthur Brooks, leading the British Army’s land forces, ordered a retreat back to the ships of the British Navy. The American Army had achieved victory over the British, which became a failed attempt for the British Empire to harass the United States. This proved a defining moment for both the British and American Armies in terms of a power struggle. This was introduction phase of a growing American Military power.