History Blog: Reliving The Raid on Havre De Grace!

It seems appropriate that the first installment of the Patch History Blog should start with . We thought we should start with a bang!

On a distant Sunday morning in May 1813, a contingent of about 150 British troops rowed silently across the Flats and positioned  themselves for a dawn landing in Havre de Grace.  Few people in Havre de Grace were there to see it. Word had got around and most of the town's folk had quite literally headed for the hills! A small contingent of Militia under the command of Lieutenant John O'Neil stood ready for the British assault.

As dawn broke, the British fired rockets at the defending Americans, fire which was "smartly returned" by the American, according to Admiral Cochburn's account of the raid. But the British soon overcame the defenders and two contingents of Royal Marines swept ashore, turned the defender's cannons around and used them on the defenseless town. 

British troops would spend the day looting, burning, robbing and pillaging. They burned 40 of the town's 60 houses. They wounded horses and shot livestock. A British officer even rode a horse through the door of the Episcopal Chruch and up the aisle, followed by his troops who ransacked the building.

Few buildings were spared. The Rodgers Tavern survived, as did the Goldsborough House on the corner of Union Ave. and Green St. The house was preserved when a delegation of women appealed the the British commander, Lieutenant Westphal, to spare the house. Troops ransacked it anyway, but the house was not destroyed. Westphal, was smarting from his experience that day; he had been shot in the hand.

And just as quickly as they arrived, the British retreated back to their fleet anchored off Turkey Point. Havre de Grace lay in ruins, and would not fully recover for several years.

The British repeated this scene up and down the Cheasapeake Bay during the War of 1812. They burned Cambridge, Chestertown, Frenchtown, Charlestown, Washington, D.C., and even tried Baltimore, where their luck wasn't as good.

If you happened to come by the last Saturday, you may have seen the re-enactors, staging skirmishes, firing a cannon and  demonstrating 19th Century soldiering. You would have also seen the Fort McHenry flag, which was unfurled and prestented as part of the event.

There are many stories and legends associated with the burning of Havre de Grace.
We hope you all enjoyed this brief account, and we'd like it even more if you contributed your own thoughs, and recollections.

Havre de Grace has a unique history. All places have their own history, but Havre de Grace's position as a crossroads has meant that it has been touched by big events far away in ways that few small towns have.

History is more than names, dates, and grainy images from old photos. It's also about people. Family history, personal experience, and lots of old "stuff" and family keepsakes which together tell the story of Havre de Grace. If you have stories to share, topic to suggest or pictures or items that help tell a story, we'll help you share their story with your neighbors.

Every couple of weeks or so, we'll take on a new topic.  (You can reach me through my if you have ideas). The topics can be big or small.  History is the story of us, told through the eyes of our people, the events we've witnessed, and the things that remind us of our past.

I hope you come to enjoy this blog as much as I expect to enjoy hosting it!

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