Easton in Talbot County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Bracing for an Attack

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

— War of 1812 —

Bracing for an Attack Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, January 31, 2015

1. Bracing for an Attack Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Easton expected to be a British target during the War of 1812. A two-story brick armory in the center of town housed cannon, small arms, and military stores to serve all of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Fort Stoakes, an earthworks built to protect Easton from a waterside attack, reportedly accommodated 500 men. Two armed barges on the Tred Avon River provided additional security.

British raiders terrorized the Eastern Shore in 1813 and 1814. Queenstown, St. Michaels, Fredericktown, and Georgetown were attacked, plus numerous farms and plantations were plundered. However, Fort Stoakes was never tested, and Easton survived unscathed.

(Inscription above the photo in the lower right)
A rare photograph of the octagonal brick armory built by the State of Maryland in 1811-12.

“The town of Easton, being a place in which many of the public records are lodged, and …there is an armoury of the state, it is of importance that every protection and security which can be afforded to it…should properly be given.”
Governor Levin Winder to Secretary of War John Armstrong, March 30, 1813.

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War of 1812 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
*Queenstown-British attacked by land and water; engaged Americans in the Battle of Slippery Hill
*Chesapeake Exploration Center at Ferry Point Park-Information on the British occupation of Kent Island in 1813
*Taylors Island-Site of the Battle of Ice Mound, the last engagement of the war in Maryland
*St. Michaels-Successfully repulsed British attacks twice in 1813
*Georgetown-Kitty Knight House survived the British raid of 1813.

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 date for this entry is March 30, 1878.

Location. 38° 46.081′ N, 76° 5.642′ W. Marker is in Easton, Maryland, in Talbot County. Marker is on Port Street. The marker is near the Easton Point Marina. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Easton MD 21601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William Penn (approx. 0.7 miles away); The “Mannour of Ratcliffe” (approx. 0.8 miles away); Third Haven (approx. one mile away); The Gardens (approx. one mile away); Votes for Women (approx. one mile away); Vietnam War (approx. one mile away); Talbot County Courthouse

Close up of the map on the Bracing for an Attack Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, January 31, 2015

2. Close up of the map on the Bracing for an Attack Marker

(approx. 1.1 miles away); The Talbot Resolves (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Easton.

Bracing for an Attack Marker near the parking lot of the Easton Point Marina image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, January 31, 2015

3. Bracing for an Attack Marker near the parking lot of the Easton Point Marina

Bracing for an Attack Marker at the foot of Port Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, January 31, 2015

4. Bracing for an Attack Marker at the foot of Port Street

Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 499 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on August 7, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 7, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.