What Dates Did the Battle of Baltimore Take Place?

The Battle of Baltimore occurred over five days, from September 12 to September 15, 1814, during the War of 1812. The conflict centered on the British Royal Navy's attempt to bombard Fort McHenry and capture the city's harbor, and it ended with an American victory that became a defining moment in Baltimore's identity and U.S. military history.

The Full Timeline

The battle began on September 12 when a British fleet of approximately 16 ships carrying around 4,700 soldiers approached Baltimore's Inner Harbor after successfully raiding Washington, D.C. The American forces, led by Major General Samuel Smith, had roughly 3,200 regular troops and between 11,000 and 15,000 militia members positioned around the city's defenses.

Smith's strategy concentrated on land defenses. On September 12, British forces landed at North Point, at the mouth of the Patapsco River, intending to attack Baltimore from the east. American militia engaged the British landing force in a sharp skirmish at North Point on September 13. This encounter killed or wounded enough British soldiers to slow their advance and bolster American confidence. The British commander, Major General Robert Ross, was killed during this engagement.

The most memorable phase began the evening of September 13 and continued through dawn on September 14. The British fleet, unable to land troops successfully, shifted strategy to bombard Fort McHenry, the five-pointed star-shaped fort that guarded the Inner Harbor entrance. Beginning around 6:30 a.m. on September 13, British ships fired an estimated 1,500 to 1,800 bombs, rockets, and shells at the fort over approximately 25 hours. The fort's garrison of about 1,000 soldiers and sailors returned fire, but the British maintained the upper hand in artillery strength.

The bombardment's intensity peaked through the night of September 13 and into the early morning of September 14. At dawn on September 14, Fort McHenry still flew the American flag. This sight inspired Francis Scott Key, a lawyer detained on a British ship in the harbor, to begin writing the verses that became "The Star-Spangled Banner."

By September 15, the British fleet withdrew without securing a landing or capturing the city. The American forces held, and Baltimore remained in U.S. control. This outcome was unusual: most American cities faced by British invasion during the War of 1812 either fell or were abandoned. Baltimore's successful defense against a professional military force boosted national morale during a war that had gone poorly for the Americans in most theaters.

Why This Battle Mattered Locally and Nationally

Baltimore was a significant target because of its port and privateering operations. The city's merchant ships and privateers had harassed British commerce throughout the war, making it an important commercial rival worth attacking. The successful defense protected Baltimore's role as a major Atlantic port.

The battle also provided immediate economic consequence: successful defense meant no occupation, no destruction of port infrastructure, and continued access to trade once the war ended in December 1814.

Where to Learn More in Baltimore

The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Monument, located at 905 East Pratt Street in the Inner Harbor, preserves Fort McHenry. The National Park Service maintains the fort with exhibits on the 1814 siege. Visiting hours run daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours during summer months (verify current hours through the National Park Service website, as seasonal adjustments occur). The basic admission is free for children under 15, with fees for adults (check the official site for current pricing, as fees are set by the National Park Service and subject to change). The fort's exhibits display period weaponry, uniforms, and personal artifacts from the 1814 garrison and explain the bombardment sequence in detail.

The Baltimore Museum of Industry, at 1415 Key Highway, also covers the war period and the battle's significance to Baltimore's maritime economy, with exhibits on privateering and port defense.

The flag that flew over the fort during the bombardment, the 15-star, 15-stripe "Star-Spangled Banner," is preserved at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., not in Baltimore. However, a reproduction hangs at Fort McHenry.

Related Questions

Did the British win any battles during the War of 1812 in or near Baltimore? The British succeeded in raiding Washington, D.C., in August 1814, burning government buildings, but they did not capture or hold Baltimore. The city's successful defense under General Samuel Smith was the exception that limited further British operations in the Chesapeake region.

Why is September 14 significant in Baltimore's calendar? Defenders' Day, observed on September 14 in Maryland, commemorates the successful defense of Baltimore and Fort McHenry during the 1814 battle. It remains a state holiday in Maryland, though observed less widely than Independence Day.