Dundalk in Baltimore County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Hitting Home

Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Hitting Home Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, May 3, 2015

1. Hitting Home Marker

Inscription. People living in the path of the British army as it marched toward Baltimore in September 1814 feared the worst. Some hurriedly hid valuables; others packed what they could and fled. Residents who remained faced the enemy with courage.

The British occupied the Shaw’s home, demanded food at the Gorsuch farm, and burned the Todd house. Yet many local residents aided wounded and dying British as well as American soldiers following the Battle of North Point.

“Fearing that the outrages and atrocities perpetuated by Cockburn and his men might be repeated…the family coach and large farm wagon made their exit by the west road as the British entered by east.”
–Louisa Stewart, recollections of September 12-13, 1814.

A Bold Move
Legend claims that a British officer tried to kiss a young woman living at the Shaw house. Frightened, Eleanor jumped from a second-story window. General Ross reprimanded the officer and sent him back to his ship. (Inscription next to the image on the right) British troops stopped at the Shaw house, where a daughter allegedly jumped from a window to escape the advances of one of the men.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812

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. In addition, it is included in the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1814.

Location. 39° 16.746′ N, 76° 29.179′ W. Marker is in Dundalk, Maryland, in Baltimore County. Marker is on North Point Road. The marker is located in North Point State Park Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dundalk MD 21222, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Delay Tactic (within shouting distance of this marker); Squeeze Tactic (within shouting distance of this marker); To Honor the Heroes (within shouting distance of this marker); Witness to Battle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Proud of Our Stand (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Proud of Our Stand (about 400 feet away); North Point State Park - Sept. 12, 1814 Battlefield (about 500 feet away); Home of the Brave (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dundalk.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 25, 2015

2. Hitting Home Marker

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 26, 2020

3. Hitting Home Marker

Eleanor Shaw leaps from Her Window<br>To Avoid an Unwanted British Advance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 25, 2015

4. Eleanor Shaw leaps from Her Window
To Avoid an Unwanted British Advance

British troops stopped at the Shaw house, where a daughter allegedly jumped from a window to escape the advances of one of the men. Close-up of Gerry Embleton painting on marker

Close up of the map on the Hitting Home Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, May 3, 2015

5. Close up of the map on the Hitting Home Marker

Some of the residences on this 1857 survey map still have the names of families who were there when the British invaded in 1814.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 6, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on June 26, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on October 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on May 6, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.