Second Battle of St. Michaels

Vice Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren was appointed commander of North America and the West Indies during the summer of 1812, and in January 1813 Cockburn reported to Warren in HMS Marlborough.[14] Cockburn led the August 26 raid that began on Auld's Point (Wades Point) near St. Michaels. He had eight ships, plus the First and Second battalions of Royal Marines. He also had the 102nd Regiment of Foot, which was an army regiment.[15] He used about 2,100 men who came ashore in 60 barges.[Note 3] Cockburn led 300 Royal Marines while Colonel Thomas Sydney Beckwith led a larger group of 1,800 men.[17]

Talbot County, which contains the towns Easton, St. Michaels, and other smaller communities, was defended mostly by state militia in 1813. Maryland's militia was organized into three divisions with a total of 12 brigades and 11 cavalry districts.[18] Much of the Talbot County militia was formed in 1807 after the attack on the American USS Chesapeake by the British HMS Leopard.[19] Brigadier General Perry Benson, who was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, commanded the 12th Maryland Brigade, which consisted of militia from Talbot, Caroline, and Dorchester counties.[20] His force at the battle consisted of the 4th and 26th Maryland infantry regiments, plus several companies of cavalry from the 9th Cavalry District. This force totaled to about 500 men.[17] The 4th Maryland Regiment consisted of men mostly from Easton, and had an artillery company.[21] The 26th Maryland Regiment had companies from the St. Michaels area including Bayside.[22] The 9th Cavalry District included companies from Easton, St. Michaels, and Trappe.[22]

Much of the Talbot County militia was sent home after the repulse of the British attack on St. Michaels on August 10.[35] However, the August 13 attack on Queenstown, and rumors that the entire British fleet was planning to sail up the Choptank River, put the county on alert again.[35] The Choptank River could be used to attack St. Michaels via a branch of Broad Creek, and the Choptank could also be used to get close to Easton via Treadhaven Creek. Militia members were recalled from their homes and prepared for a British invasion of southern Talbot County.[36]

Brigadier General Benson waited near St. Michaels with 500 to 600 militiamen.[Note 8] At 3:00 am on August 26, the British sent 60 barges of troops to Auld's point (also known as Wade's Point) at Bayside.[38] HMS Conflict remained nearby in the bay. At the same time, HMS Highflyer and three schooners were moving toward the St. Michaels River from Eastern Bay.[38] Eleven more barges landed at Hamilton's Point northwest of St. Michaels.[38] Locals were informed by the British that more troops would land soon—and if the locals remained in their houses, their property would be safe.[36] Around dawn, Benson's videttes observed the British near Auld's point, which is about six miles (9.7 km) away from St. Michaels.[36] Rear Admiral Cockburn landed about 2,100 men with artillery.[17]

Cockburn's plan was to attack a militia camp he believed was located between St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.[39] He marched his men approximately two miles (3.2 km) to the main Tilghman Island–St. Michaels road, where they split into two forces. A force of 300 Royal Marines went with Cockburn southwest toward Tilghman Island.[17][Note 9] A second force, led by Colonel Thomas Sydney Beckwith, totaled to about 1,800 men and moved southeast toward St. Michaels.[17] Cockburn hoped to advance past the militia camp and then drive it toward Beckwith.[39] He was also looking for a party of deserters known to have taken a barge to the Bayside shore.[37]

The militia camp was not found by Cockburn because it did not exist. A small company of militia, led by Captain John Caulk, patrolled the Bayside and Tilghman's Island area.[37] Once Caulk's men discovered that their route to other militia forces near St. Michaels was blocked by Cockburn, they dispersed. Most of them escaped by crossing Harris Creek.[37] Those that were captured were taken from their homes. Two small vessels were burned, and a large amount of plunder was taken.[40] The boat used by some deserters from the British army had already been sunk, and the deserters and their sunken boat were not found.[37]

Beckwith marched his men along the Tilghman Island–St. Michaels road toward St. Michaels to a point where Porter Creek and Broad Creek are not far from each other. Here, he formed a line across the road. He was about two miles (3.2 km) from St. Michaels, and close to Benson's militia. Benson's men were positioned in a wooded area, making it difficult for any intruder to determine the size of the militia force.[37] Benson had three artillery pieces in the middle of his line, surrounded by infantry and cavalry.[38] Eventually the two sides exchanged fire, but what the U.S. National Park Service calls "the largest Eastern Shore battle" of the War of 1812 lasted for only a few artillery shots and musket volleys.[41] The British "mysteriously withdrew", and the reason for their withdrawal is still unknown.[42]