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

Dreaded Alarm

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

—War of 1812 —

Dreaded Alarm Marker image. Click for full size.

By Don Morfe, December 18, 2014

1. Dreaded Alarm Marker

Inscription. The cupola atop the Ridgely house, c. 1767 farmhouse located near here, served as a lookout station in 1813 and 1814, operated by Major Josiah Green. A white flag raised on September 11, 1814, indicated that a British fleet was moving toward Baltimore. The warning was relayed to Baltimore’s Federal Hill. General Samuel Smith then ordered alarm guns to fire, signaling troops to muster and citizens to prepare for an attack.

Ship to Shore-The Ridgely house was part of an intricate early warning system that included schooners and gunboats, shore stations, and horse relays. The station communicated with flags by day and lanterns by night.

“(The Ridgely house is) a very large Brick one, with a steeple like lookout place on top, from whence there is a most perfect view…so that it would be next to an impossibility that any vessel or river boat could approach or pass with being observed.”
Major William B. Barney to Brig. Gen. John Stricker, March 23, 1813.

(Inscription beside the painting of the house)
1931 painting of the Ridgley house. Image/From Old Baltimore, 1931.

(Inscription beside the sketch on the right)
Examples of some 38 different signal flags used by a network of water and shore stations.

Erected by National Park Service-United States Department

By Don Morfe, December 18, 2014

2. Dreaded Alarm Marker

of the Interior.

Location. 39° 12.498′ N, 76° 25.566′ W. Marker is in Sparrows Point, Maryland, in Baltimore County. Marker is on Old Bay Shore Road. Touch for map. The marker is located on the grounds of North Point State Park. Marker is in this post office area: Sparrows Point MD 21219, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Rebirth of a Maryland Historical Treasure (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); About This Fountain... (about 600 feet away); Hard Travel (about 700 feet away); John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (about 700 feet away); The Trolley Station at Bayshore Park (about 700 feet away); Wetlands (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Presbytery of Baltimore (approx. 0.7 miles away); Todd’s Inheritance (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sparrows Point.

Categories. • War of 1812 •

Sign at the entrance to North Point State Park image. Click for full size.

By Don Morfe, December 18, 2014

3. Sign at the entrance to North Point State Park

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on December 19, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 243 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 19, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.