Lower Marlboro in Calvert County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Town Ravaged
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
— War of 1812 —
Photographed By Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
1. Town Ravaged Marker
Inscription.
Town Ravaged. Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. A British force of about 160 Royal Marines and 30 Colonial Marines (former slaves) took Lower Marlboro on June 15, 1814, without and resistance. Occupying the town overnight, they burned warehouses full of tobacco, stole a schooner, livestock, and poultry, and captured a civilian named J. W. Reynolds. Thirteen slaves escaped with them.
“They opened all the feather beds…broke the doors and windows out and so tore the houses to pieces inside as to render them of very little value” , Baltimore American and Commercial Daily Advertizer, June 20, 1814.
Battle Worn , Charles Ball, a former slave born in Calvert County, may have lived in Lower Marlboro. He was a cook with the U.S. Chesapeake Flotilla during both battles of St. Leonard Creek. Present at the Battle of Bladensburg, Ball later noted that the militia “ran like sheep being chased by dogs.”
(Inscription below the image in the lower right) , Characterization of Charles Ball by Keith Rocco.
A British force of about 160 Royal Marines and 30 Colonial Marines (former slaves) took Lower Marlboro on June 15, 1814, without and resistance. Occupying the town overnight, they burned warehouses full of tobacco, stole a schooner, livestock, and poultry, and captured a civilian named J. W. Reynolds. Thirteen slaves escaped with them.
“They opened all the feather beds…broke the doors and windows out and so tore the houses to pieces inside as to render them of very little value” Baltimore American & Commercial Daily Advertizer, June 20, 1814.
Battle Worn Charles Ball, a former slave born in Calvert County, may have lived in Lower Marlboro. He was a cook with the U.S. Chesapeake Flotilla during both battles of St. Leonard Creek. Present at the Battle of Bladensburg, Ball later noted that the militia “ran like sheep being chased by dogs.”
(Inscription below the image in the lower right) Characterization of Charles Ball by Keith Rocco.
Erected by National Park Service-United States Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1904.
Location.
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38° 39.346′ N, 76° 40.977′ W. Marker is in Lower Marlboro, Maryland, in Calvert County. Marker is on Lower Marlboro Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Owings MD 20736, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Town Ravaged Marker with the Patuxent River in the background
Photographed By Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
5. Invasive Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 15, 2016
6. Battle Worn
Charles Ball, a former slave born in Calvert County, may have lived in Lower Marlboro. He was a cook with the U.S. Chesapeake Flotilla during both battles of St. Leonard Creek. Present a the Battle of Bladensburg, Ball later noted the militia “ran like sheep being chased by dogs.”
Close-up of photo on marker — Characterization of Charles Ball by Keith Rocco
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 15, 2016
7. Ravaging the Town
“They opened all the feather beds…broke the doors and windows out and so tore the houses to pieces inside as to render them of very little value.” — Baltimore American & Commercial Daily Advertiser, June 20, 1814
Close up of Gerry Embleton image on marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 609 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 17, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 6, 7. submitted on May 19, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.