Battle of North Point in the War of 1812

Battle of North Point in the War of 1812 The Battle of North Point was fought as the British attacked Baltimore, MD on September 12, 1814, during the War of 1812. As 1813 came to an end, the British started to shift their attention from the Napoleonic Wars to the conflict with the United States. This commenced with a surge in naval strength which saw the Royal Navy widen and tighten their full commercial blockade of the American coast. This crippled American commerce and led to inflation and shortages of goods. The American position continued to decline with the fall of Napoleon in March 1814. Though initially cheered by some in the United States, the implications of the French defeat soon became clear as the British were now freed to enlarge their military presence in North America. Having failed to capture Canada or compel the British to seek peace during the wars first two years, these new events put the Americans on the defensive and changed the conflict into one of national survival. To the Chesapeake As fighting continued along the Canadian border, the Royal Navy, led by Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, mounted attacks along the American coast and endeavored to tighten the blockade. Already eager to inflict destruction on the United States, Cochrane was further encouraged in July 1814 after getting a letter from Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost. This asked him to help avenge the American burnings of several Canadian towns. To oversee these attacks, Cochrane turned to Rear Admiral George Cockburn who had spent much of 1813 raiding up and down the Chesapeake Bay. To support this mission, a brigade of Napoleonic veterans, commanded by Major General Robert Ross, was ordered to the region. On to Washington On August 15, Ross transports entered the Chesapeake and pushed up the bay to join with Cochrane and Cockburn. Assessing their options, the three men decided to attempt a strike on Washington DC. This combined force soon cornered Commodore Joshua Barneys gunboat flotilla in the Patuxent River. Moving up the river, they eliminated Barneys force and landed Rosss 3,400 men and 700 marines on August 19. In Washington, President James Madisons administration struggled to meet the threat. Unwilling to believe that the capital would be a target, little had been done in terms of preparing defenses. Overseeing the defense of Washington was Brigadier General William Winder, a political appointee from Baltimore who had been captured at the Battle of Stoney Creek in June 1813. As the bulk of the US Armys regulars were occupied in the north, Winder s force was largely comprised of militia. Meeting no resistance, Ross and Cockburn marched quickly from Benedict to Upper Marlborough. There the two elected to approach Washington from the northeast and cross the East Branch of the Potomac at Bladensburg. Following the defeat of American forces at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, they entered Washington and burned several government buildings. This done, British forces under Cochrane and Ross turned their attention north towards Baltimore. The British Plan A vital port city, Baltimore was believed by the British to be the base of many of the American privateers that were preying on their shipping. To take Baltimore, Ross and Cochrane planned a two-prong attack with the former landing at North Point and advancing overland, while the latter attacked Fort McHenry and the harbor defenses by water. Arriving in the Patapsco River, Ross landed 4,500 men at the tip of North Point on the morning of September 12, 1814. Anticipating Ross actions and needing more time to complete the citys defenses, the American commander at Baltimore, American Revolution veteran Major General Samuel Smith, dispatched 3,200 men and six cannon under Brigadier General John Stricker to delay the British advance. Marching to North Point, Stricker arrayed his men across Long Log Lane at a point where the peninsula narrowed. Marching north, Ross rode ahead with his advance guard. Armies Commanders: United States Major General Samuel SmithBrigadier General John Stricker3,200 men Britain Major General Robert RossColonel Arthur Brooke4,500 men The Americans Make a Stand Shortly after being warned about being too far forward by Rear Admiral George Cockburn, Ross party encountered a group of American skirmishers. Opening fire, the Americans critically wounded Ross in arm and chest before retreating. Placed on a cart to carry him back to the fleet, Ross died a short time later. With Ross dead, command devolved to Colonel Arthur Brooke. Pressing forward, Brookes men soon encountered Strickers line. Nearing, both sides exchanged musket and cannon fire for over an hour, with the British attempting flank the Americans. Around 4:00 PM, with the British getting better of the fight, Stricker ordered a deliberate retreat north and reformed his line near Bread and Cheese Creek. From this position Stricker waited for the next British assault, which never came. Having suffered over 300 casualties, Brooke elected not to pursue the Americans and ordered his men to camp on the battlefield. With his mission of delaying the British accomplished, Stricker and men retired to Baltimores defenses. The following day, Brooke conducted two demonstrations along the citys fortifications, but found them too strong to attack and halted his advance. Aftermath Impact In the fighting, the Americans lost 163 killed and wounded and 200 captured. British casualties numbered 46 killed and 273 wounded. While a tactical loss, the Battle of North Point proved to be a strategic victory for the Americans. The battle allowed Smith to complete his preparations for defending the city, which halted Brookes advance. Unable to penetrate the earthworks, Brooke was forced to await the outcome of Cochranes naval attack on Fort McHenry. Beginning at dusk on September 13, Cochranes bombardment of the fort failed, and Brooke was forced to withdraw his men back to the fleet.

Benefits of Working With a Study Partner

Benefits of Working With a Study Partner One great way to stay on target and earn better grades is to pair up with a good study partner. If you are serious about improving your school performance, this is a great way to make the most of your study time. What are some of the benefits? 10 Benefits of Having a Study Partner A study partner will help you remember a due date or the date of an exam. Never forget another test! Share calendars with your study partner and both of you will know when a big project or paper is due.Your study partner can share flashcards with you and quiz you before a test. Create your paper cards and meet up to study or use online flashcards together.Two heads are better than one, so your study partner may think of practice essay questions that you didnt think of.Study partners can switch papers and pre-grade each other before assignments are turned in. Proofread together and share your thoughts and ideas.A study partner can have your back if you get sick on the day when your paper is due. Arrange ahead of time to pick up and turn in papers for each other in the event of an emergency.A study partner will understand some methods or problems that you dont. You will be able to explain some of the problems to your partner in return. Its a great trade-off!Your partner may be able to help you with your research skills. Meet your partner in the library and learn to use the resources together. Then, you can share what you know to help each other out. For example, one partner can learn to search databases while the other learns to find books on the shelves. You can benefit from sharing your strengths. One may be better with grammar, while the other is better with numbers, as in finding statistics to support a claim for an argument essay.Study partners motivate each other and reduce the potential for procrastination.Study partners can be there if you forget important toolslike a calculator, dictionary, colored pencils, or notebook paper. A study partner relationship should be beneficial to both students, so remember it is important for both partners to fulfill their responsibilities. For this reason, it might ​not make sense to partner up with your best friend. Your study partner should be a person who complements you and your skills.