ing off the prizes. To cut off the
retreat of the British squadron, several batteries had been erected by
the Americans, and these, now manned by the crews of the Baltimore
flotilla, opened fire upon Captain Gordon and his prizes. The
expeditionary and the captured vessels were, nevertheless, so skilfully
navigated, and the fire from the bomb-vessels was so well directed that
not a single ship took the ground, and the Americans were driven from
their guns, the whole squadron being thus permitted to emerge from the
Potomac, with its prizes, in safety.

An expedition was next fitted out against Baltimore, and the fleet
moved in that direction, reaching the mouth of the Patapsco on the 11th
September. The troops were landed on the day following the arrival of
the fleet, and, while the ships moved up the river, marched upon
Baltimore. For the first six miles no opposition was offered, but as
Baltimore was approached a detachment of light troops were noticed
occupying a thick wood through which the road passed. Impelled by the
daring for which he was distinguished, General Ross immediately
advanced with the skirmishers to the front, and it was not long before
the general received a wound, which so soon proved fatal that he had
barely time to recommend his wife and family to the protection of his
king and country before he breathed his last. The command, on the death
of this energetic officer, devolved upon Colonel Brooke. The British
light troops continued to come up and the enemy fell back, still
skirmishing from behind the trees, to a fortified position stretching
across a narrow neck of land, which separated the Patapsco and the Back
Rivers. Here, six thousand infantry, four hundred horse, and six guns
were drawn up in line, across the road, with either flank placed in a
thick wood, and a strong wooden paling covering their front. The
British, however, immediately attacked and with such vigour that in
less than fifteen minutes the enemy were routed, and fled in every
direction, leaving six hundred killed and wounded on the field of
battle, besides three hundred prisoners, and two guns, in the hands of
the British. On the following morning, the British were within a mile
and a half of Baltimore. There he found fifteen thousand Americans,
with a large train of artillery, manned by the crews of the frigates
lying at Baltimore, strongly posted on a series of fortified heights
which encircle the town. To charge a force of such