Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
— War of 1812 —
The British took their terror campaign to the Elk River in April 1813. Their target—Elkton—was protected by several forts.
After capturing a gun battery at Frenchtown, British raiders destroyed its storehouses, a fishery, and military supplies. However, spirited firing from forts Defiance and Frederick located near here halted the enemy's advance.
Clever DefenseA strong chain stretched across the river to deter enemy vessels. The far end was firmly fastened to a post on the opposite shore. A windlass at Fort Frederick could raise the chain when needed to block passage.
"On the 29th day of April, 1813,...a considerable British force distributed into thirteen barges, commenced a hostile attack on a landing called Frenchtown..."—Annapolis Maryland Republican, November 20, 1813.
(Inscription above the image in the center) This 1806 watercolor by Benjamin Latrobe depicts Frenchtown, looking up the Elk River from the wharf where Americans established a gun battery in 1813.
(Inscription above the image on the right) A conjectural view of the forts and defensive chain that protected Elkton.
| HM Number | HM1IVS |
|---|---|
| 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 | Monday, January 19th, 2015 at 1:04pm PST -08:00 |
| UTM (WGS84 Datum) | 18S E 426839 N 4381667 |
|---|---|
| Decimal Degrees | 39.58160000, -75.85190000 |
| Degrees and Decimal Minutes | N 39° 34.896', W 75° 51.114' |
| Degrees, Minutes and Seconds | 39° 34' 53.76" N, 75° 51' 6.84" W |
| Driving Directions | Google Maps |
| Area Code(s) | 443, 410 |
| Closest Postal Address | At or near River Bend Pkwy, Elkton MD 21921, US |
| Alternative Maps | Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap |
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