Kent Narrows in Queen Anne's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Crossing Point

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

— War of 1812 —

Crossing Point Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, May 9, 2021

1. Crossing Point Marker

Inscription. British soldiers approaching Queenstown by land August 13, 1813, had to negotiate a thin mile-long causeway through marshes at The Narrows. The only road connection between Kent Island and the Eastern Shore mainland was the crude hand-dug rutted wagon trail.

The night-time crossing would have been unpleasant for the 300 men marching in wool uniforms and heavy leather boots.

“This narrows…is skirted on both sides by extensive marshes…To approach the Island … you must traverse a narrow causeway upwards of a mile…across the marsh.”
Major William H. Nicholson, Maryland Militia, August 16, 1813

Two-Pronged Attack
Major Nicholson reported that his 214 soldiers and 100 cavalry could be facing 3,000 or more British. On August 13, his scouts brought “painful intelligence” of enemy forces arriving from Kent Narrows and from Queenstown Creek, threatening to trap the militia between the two.

(Inscription beside the image on the right)
Cavalry scouts from outposts on the main road reported the enemy’s approach. Trooper; Light Cavalry, Maryland Volunteer Militia, 1814, Watercolor by Herbert Knotel. Image/Courtesy Anne E.A. Brown Military Collection, Brown University, Providence.

Erected by National Park Service-United States Department of the

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

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 year for this entry is 1813.

Location. 38° 58.13′ N, 76° 14.614′ W. Marker is in Kent Narrows, Maryland, in Queen Anne's County. Marker is on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grasonville MD 21638, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Working the Waters (within shouting distance of this marker); Enemy Occupation (approx. half a mile away); Byway Destinations (approx. half a mile away); War Along the Chesapeake (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Byway Destinations (approx. half a mile away); Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway (approx. half a mile away); Crossing the Narrows (approx. half a mile away); From Marsh to Working Waterway (approx. 0.6 miles away).

Photographed By Don Morfe, January 31, 2015

2. Crossing Point Marker

Close up of the map on the Crossing Point Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, January 31, 2015

3. Close up of the map on the Crossing Point Marker

1813 map by Dennis Griffiths shows the road across Kent Island and The Narrows to Queenstown.

Photographed By Don Morfe, January 31, 2015

4. Crossing Point Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 455 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 18, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 14, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.