Queenstown in Queen Anne's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Surprise at Queenstown
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Nate Davidson, August 2, 2013
1. Surprise at Queenstown Marker
The British set out from Kent Island to attack Queenstown on August 13, 1813. The land and water contingents numbered 300 troops each. Intending to surprise the Queen Anne's County militia, they mistakenly fired, warning the Americans. British barges missed their intended landing point at Bowlingly, arriving at Blakeford instead. These errors enabled the militia to escape to Centreville. The British retaliated by ransacking Bowlingly, a prominent home in Queenstown. The skirmish that foiled the surprise became known as the Battle of Slippery Hill. British and Americans exchanged fire on Queenstown Road. An American militiaman shot the horse out from under British commanding officer Sir Sydney Beckwith, escalating the confusion among the British ranks.
"This was a project devised for the surprise of some militia encamped at Queen's Town " British Captain Frederick Robertson
Nearby places to explore the War of 1812:
✶ Slippery Hill Site Area where Americans skirmished with British troops advancing on Queenstown
✶ Georgetown Kitty Knight House survived a British raid in 1813
✶ Chesapeake Exploration Center at Ferry Point Park Information on British occupation ofKent Island in 1813
Click or scan to see
this page online
✶ Easton Site of an armory and the earthworks of Fort Stoakes
✶ St. Michaels Town that twice repulsed British attacks
[Caption:]
When American gunfire at Slippery Hill caused panic among the invaders, a British officer ordered the band of fife and drummers to help restore order.
Erected by National Park Serivce, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. A significant historical year for this entry is 1813.
Location. 38° 59.433′ N, 76° 9.458′ W. Marker is in Queenstown, Maryland, in Queen Anne's County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Del Rhodes Avenue on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Queenstown MD 21658, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: War in the Chesapeake (here, next to this marker); Colonial Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); Queenstown (a few steps from this marker); "O! say can you see " (a few steps from this marker); Bowlingly (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Bowlingly (about 500 feet away);
More about this marker. Three-sided marker, with "Oh Say Can You See" and "War on the Chesapeake"
Photographed by Nate Davidson, August 2, 2013
3. Surprise at Queenstown
In the background you can see the old Queenstown Courthouse c. 1708.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2013, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,156 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 3, 2013, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. 2. submitted on May 26, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on August 3, 2013, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
