Locust Point Industrial Area in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Guns that Won the Battle

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012

1. The Guns that Won the Battle Marker

Inscription.
The gun deck in front of you is a partial representation of the forts 1814 Water Battery. Made up of 26 cannons in two tiers, the Water Battery comprised the fort's primary means of defense.

The Cannons that stood here fired shot weighing 18 and 36 pounds almost a mile and a half. Heated cannonballs known as "hot shot" proved especially devastating to wooden ships.

During most of the battle the British kept their distance to avoid the return fire of the fort.As a result, most of their bombs and rockets missed the target. By dawn's early light on September 14, the British withdrew, unwilling to come within range of the fort's guns.

[Side bar:]
French 36 Pounder Naval Gun
Weight 10,000 pounds
Velocity 1,600 feet per second
Charge 12 pounds of black powder
Penetration of oak at 400 yards 42 inches
Crew 21
Maximum effective range 1.5 miles

[Caption:]
An artist's rendering of the upper and lower Water Batteries. The hot shot furnaces can be seen behind them.

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1814.

Location. 39° 15.814′ N, 76°

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34.716′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in the Locust Point Industrial Area. Marker can be reached from East Fort Avenue. At Fort McHenry. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore MD 21230, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Army "Sailors," Navy "Soldiers" (here, next to this marker); A Vast Hospital Once Stood Here (within shouting distance of this marker); Entering Fort McHenry … A Deadly Crossfire (within shouting distance of this marker); You Can Help Save Fort McHenry (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Guns of the Fort… The Rodman Cannons (within shouting distance of this marker); Dawn's Early Light (within shouting distance of this marker); Experimental Carriages (within shouting distance of this marker); O'er the Ramparts We Watch! (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Additional commentary.
1. Marker Painting
The birds-eye view of Fort McHenry is "Fort McHenry, Maryland" by L. Kenneth Townsend

— Submitted October 20, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 22, 2023

2. The Guns that Won the Battle Marker

The Guns that Won the Battle Marker and Army "Sailors," Navy "Soldiers" markers at Fort McHenry image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012

3. The Guns that Won the Battle Marker and Army "Sailors," Navy "Soldiers" markers at Fort McHenry

Water Battery at Fort McHenry image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012

4. Water Battery at Fort McHenry

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 844 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 20, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2. submitted on April 26, 2023, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on October 20, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.