The Battle of Bladensburg - Around 1200 on 24 August 1814

This is the situation around noon on the 24th of August. Brigadier General Winder the commander of 10th Military District--The District of Columbia, has finally arrived (lower right). Major-General Ross' feint towards Old Fields and the Washington bridge has Winder ordering and countermanding his orders to his various senior officers.

Most of the senior American officers including the Secretary of War and the Secretary of State knew that the British must come via Bladensburg if their target was Washington. But not Winder, he thought that they might attack Washington via a southern approach across the very long Eastern Branch Bridge over the Potomoc River. It seems that everyone but Winder understood that this bridge could be easily destroyed, and the river was far too wide and deep for a fording.

 Looking east down the Washington road with Bladensburg in the distance.

 Maryland Regiments of Colonel Beale's Annapolis Brigade wait for orders just above Tunnicliff bridge.

 Units of Brigadier-General Stansbury's brigade stretch out south to north across the Washington road (center foreground) and the Georgetown road in the distance.

 Colonel Wadsworth, the senior American artillery officer took the initiative on the 23rd and built this redoubt, knowing as did many competent officers that the British must come this way ie via Bladensnburg. Unfortunately, the embrasures were constructed for heavy guns so that the six pounder gun barrels were below the level of the gun port. Undaunted the gunners of the First Maryland Artillery Regiment dug out the embrasure with sticks.

 Colonel Beale leads the 17th and 32nd Annapolis regiments across the Bladensburg bridge. He has narrowly avoided being cut off by the advancing British.

 Looking northwards with key Bladnensburg bridge in the center.

 Looking west from behind Bladnesnburg. The bridge is just beyond the church.

 The north end of Bladensburg. It looks like there are some spectators(center right) waiting for the battle to commence.

 A view south to north through Bladensburg.

A view of the left flank of Stanbury's brigade sheltering in the apple orchard.

 Two guns of Captain Burch's Washington Light Artillery were placed (by Monroe) just north of the Georgetown road. Burch can protect Stansbury's left flank from this position. The other gun was ordered to unlimber to the right of the First Maryland Artillery regiment near the Washington road.

 LCol Tilghman and his Maryland cavalry regiments await orders just north of the Georgetown road.

The stage is set and the British will soon arrive. How will they engage American forces? Will the 85th make a historical dash across the Bladensburg bridge but suffer heavy casualties. Or will Ross wait for all of his regiments to catch up before making a general advance?