A Humiliating American Defeat at Bladensburg

This 18 pound cannonball was donated to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab several years ago by a nearby resident who found it on his property. Doubtless, this cannonball was fired during the Battle of St. Leonard’s Creek, where the British engaged with American Commodore Joshua … Continue reading →

Rocket’s Red Glare – The Battle of Baltimore and the Birth of the Star Spangled Banner

Figure 1. A 12 pound solid shot found during dredging in the Patapsco River near Fort McHenry. Resting for many years deep in the silt at the bottom of the Patapsco River, adjacent to Baltimore's Fort McHenry, this 12 pound cannonball's underwater fate belies its brief moment of glory. For … Continue reading →

The War of 1812 in Southern Maryland

Over the last several years, the sesquicentennial of the Civil War has been garnering a lot of attention. But the years 2012 to 2014 also mark the commemoration of another of our nation’s wars—albeit one that has not received nearly as much notice as the more famous War Between the States. Two … Continue reading →