Skidmore in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Tense Time

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

— War of 1812 —

Tense Time Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, December 26, 2014

1. Tense Time Marker

Inscription. Enemy ships lying off Sandy Point kept Annapolis on edge in August 1813, as the city braced for attack. It was a trying time for the British, too. A newspaper reported August 14: “Seven deserters came on shore at Sandy Point.” It was not unusual for sailors to seek escape from notorious conditions in the Royal Navy.

Sandy Point Home
Baptist Mezick, who served in the U.S. Marine Artillery, lived at Sandy Point. His 1863 obituary reported he had “retired to his beautiful residence on…the Chesapeake, where…with the roar of breakers sounding in his ear,” he died, age 90.

“Information was given that the enemy were landing on Sandy Point…The alarm proved false, but it gave us…pleasure to notice the promptitude displayed by the troops in the harbor.”
Annapolis, Maryland Republican, August 21, 1813.

Enemy vessels anchored close enough to the western shore in 1813 and 1814 that not only did sailors from the Royal Navy escape to shore but fugitive slaves fled to the British ships.

(Inscription next to the photo on the right)
Baptist Mezick bought Sandy Point Farm in 1833. Today the park’s boat ramps are located in Mezick Pond, named for the War of 1812 veteran.

Erected by National Park Service-United States Department of the

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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. 39° 0.864′ N, 76° 24.006′ W. Marker is in Skidmore, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. Marker is on South Beach Road. The marker is located in Sandy Point State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Annapolis MD 21409, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sandy Point Farmhouse - Circa 1815 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fight for Freedom (approx. ¼ mile away); Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse (approx. ¼ mile away); Annapolis Laboratory (approx. 4.1 miles away); Fort Nonsense (approx. 4.1 miles away); Gold Star Families Monument (approx. 4½ miles away); Albert Cabell Ritchie (approx. 4½ miles away); Battle of the Severn (approx. 4½ miles away).

Close up of map on the Tense Time Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, December 26, 2014

2. Close up of map on the Tense Time Marker

Sandy Point Farm house in the distant image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, December 26, 2014

3. Sandy Point Farm house in the distant

Sandy Point Farm house close up image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, December 26, 2014

4. Sandy Point Farm house close up

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 458 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 27, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.