Battle of St. Michaels

Battle of St. Michaels
Part of the War of 1812
Date August 10, 1813 Location St. Michaels, Maryland Result American victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	United States
Commanders and leaders
George Cockburn	Derry Benson
Casualties and losses
29	None

The Battle of St. Michaels was a battle during the War of 1812. Similar to the Battle of Craney Island a month earlier, American militia units were able to repulse a British landing attempt in the Chesapeake Bay.

After the British defeat at Craney Island and the failure to capture Norfolk, Admiral George Cockburn moved up the Chesapeake Bay. The shipyards at the small town of St. Michaels, Maryland, became an inviting target. In early August, the British Royal Navy approached, and General Derry Benson called out the Talbot County Militia. Benson also had several artillery pieces for the defense; one battery was placed at the harbor and another was placed in front of the town.

After midnight on August 10, the militia units manning the harbor battery spotted the British landing party. The British quickly landed and fired on the battery. As soon as the British opened fire the militia units fled. Only Captain William Dodson (commanding the battery) and one other man remained. They were able to get off one shot before they were forced to abandon the gun. The British advanced on the town. Benson's battery guarding the town was able to hold off the attack, and the British retreated. The British, though, claimed that they captured the town's battery and spiked the guns, making an orderly retreat. Local legend has it that the British naval guns had proved ineffective against the town because the townspeople had dimmed the lights in their homes and hung lanterns in trees beyond the town, causing the British gunners to overshoot the town and its defenses.

As at the Battle of Craney Island, American militia units had won a decisive victory without a single casualty. The British lost 2 wounded. The battle had been small, but it saved the St. Michaels shipyards from falling to the British.

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