War of 1812 Point Lookout State Park

1 war of 1812

1.1 origin of area name, point lookout
1.2 citizen militia post riders
1.3 british forces take point lookout

war of 1812
origin of area name, point lookout

the area got name role lookout post, used watch british ship movements during war of 1812.

during war of 1812 chesapeake bay major route british war ships, established naval , military base @ near-by tangier island in virginia royal navy under rear admiral george cockburn fort albion there, raided chesapeake bay waterfront towns, villages , farms , scattered community residents, , attacked , burned washington d.c. , unsuccessfully attacked city of baltimore during 1813 , 1814.

citizen militia post riders

during war of 1812, local citizen militia in st. mary s county established clandestine base on point lookout monitor movements of british warships on chesapeake bay. militia established secret nighttime system of post riders send intelligence reports point lookout washington, d.c., in order keep president james madison date on british movements. st. mary s county s roads notoriously rough @ time, , trek horse more 80 miles, relay system set up, passing messages 1 rider next.

british forces take point lookout

the citizen militia worked clandestinely in area on year, until british came ashore, seized , occupied point lookout. militia no match overwhelming power , number of seasoned british ground troops. had effect of blinding american intelligence efforts in region, , thought have contributed eventual burning of washington in august 1814 british troops. president madison , united states secretary of war, john armstrong, jr. later faulted not aiding militia in point lookout.