Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
— War of 1812 —
Three gun batteries hugging the upper shore of Ferry Branch guarded the west flank of Fort McHenry. They included the makeshift earthworks of Fort Babcock, the incomplete Fort Covington, and a temporary redoubt at Ferry Point.
During the bombardment of Fort McHenry on September 13-14, 1814, these Ferry Branch fortifications stopped a surprise British maneuver to attack Fort McHenry from the less well-defended rear.
AftermathThis close call exposed Fort McHenry's vulnerability to a flanking attack. The fortifications were strengthened and a defensive boom added across Ferry Branch in case the enemy returned.
"About one in the morning the British passed several of their vessels above the Fort and near to town, but providently they were met by the fire of ...marine battery."Eyewitness account in Salem (MA) Gazette, September 27, 1814.
(Inscription on the left) Two of the Ferry Branche fortifications show in this 1829 painting by Alfred Jacob Miller. Fort Babcock is right of center, Fort Covington is at far right.
| HM Number | HM1IIR |
|---|---|
| Series | This marker is part of the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series |
| Tags | |
| Placed By | National Park Service-United States Department of the Interior |
| Marker Condition | No reports yet |
| Date Added | Friday, December 26th, 2014 at 9:02am PST -08:00 |
| UTM (WGS84 Datum) | 18S E 360628 N 4346318 |
|---|---|
| Decimal Degrees | 39.25500000, -76.61530000 |
| Degrees and Decimal Minutes | N 39° 15.3', W 76° 36.918' |
| Degrees, Minutes and Seconds | 39° 15' 18" N, 76° 36' 55.08" W |
| Driving Directions | Google Maps |
| Area Code(s) | 443, 410 |
| Closest Postal Address | At or near Gwynns Falls Trail, Baltimore MD 21225, US |
| Alternative Maps | Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap |
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