Joseph Sterrett
| Joseph Sterett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1773 Maryland |
| Died | 1821 Maryland |
| Allegiance |
 United States of AmericaMaryland Militia |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel (United States) |
| Commands held | 5th Maryland Regiment, Maryland Militia |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | planter |
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Sterett (1773-1821), also known as Joseph Sterrett, was a Maryland militia officer who served during the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. At the Battle of Bladensberg and the Battle of North Point he commanded the 5th Maryland Regiment, composed largely of volunteers from Baltimore.
Sterett was born in 1773. He married Molly Harris, and farmed at a 260-acre slave plantation known as "Mount Deposit". The couple had nine children. They are as follows (YOB & Death where documented in parenthesis): David Harris(1801),Essex(1803-1835),Frances Mary(1804-1805),Josephine(1805-1826),James William(1808-1857),Mary Harris(Sterett)Winder(1810-1876),Joseph(1812-1874),Maria Ridgley (Sterett)Hollins(1814-1852),Louisa Sherlock(Sterett) Hollins(1816-1889), and Augusta Temple(1818-1819).
When war broke out between the United States and Great Britain, Sterett commanded the 5th Maryland Regiment, a so-called "dandy regiment" which was composed of around 500 men, mostly volunteers raised from the City of Baltimore. The 5th first saw action at the Battle of Bladensberg on August 24, 1814, where the regiment was placed in the first line of defense, and where the defending Americans would be routed by the British.
Pressed by the British attack, some of the militia units broke under fire and fell back, leaving the 5th exposed to the full weight of the enemy. Sterett's men "gallantly" held their ground, pushing the British back at bayonet point, but the 5th was soon flanked by the advancing enemy and Brigadier General Tobias Stansbury soon ordered a full retreat. Although the 5th had "evinced a disposition to make a gallant resistance", it was out-flanked by the redcoats and eventually forced to retreat in some disorder. After the battle, British forces entered Washington DC and burned many public buildings in the city.
Sterett's men also performed with great credit on September 12 at the Battle of North Point which, while tactically a defeat for the Americans, bought valuable time to organise the successful defense of Baltimore. As the British advanced, some of the militia regiments broke under fire, but the 5th Maryland Regiment and the 27th held their ground and were able to retreat in good order, having inflicted significant casualties on the advancing enemy.
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