Fernando's riflemen were assigned to General Stricker.
On September 11, 1814, the enemy appeared off Patapsco Bay, and before
sunrise on the 12th had landed, nine thousand strong, at North Point,
twelve miles from Baltimore. When news came that the British were
landing on North Point, General Smith, who had about nine thousand men
under his command, sent General Stricker with more than three thousand
of them, to watch the enemy, and act as circumstances might require.
Fernando Stevens' riflemen accompanied Stricker, and were sent forward
down a rocky ravine, where they might watch the enemy. Fernando left his
men in the deepest hollow while he, with only ten or twelve, crept
forward behind some large stones which lay at the roadside. About ten
paces to the right of Fernando was Sukey, with his formidable rifle
resting in the hollow of his left arm. Soon the head of the long column
could be seen advancing up the broad thoroughfare. Fernando saw two
gayly-dressed officers riding at the head. He afterward learned that
they were Generals Ross and Cockburn.
"Say, Fernando," said Sukey, "those fellows are officers, ain't they?"
"Yes."
"Must be generals by the clothes they wear?"
"Perhaps."
Ross was riding gayly along by the side of Cockburn, laughing and
jesting about making Baltimore his winter quarters, when on their left
there suddenly rang out the sharp crack of a rifle, while a little puff
of smoke curled up from the great black rock almost two hundred
paces distant.
Pages:
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312