Surprise at Queenstown

On August 13, 1813, British forces set out from Kent Island to attack Queenstown with 300 troops by land and 300 by water, intending to surprise the Queen Anne's County militia. They mistakenly fired and warned the Americans, and British barges missed their intended landing point at Bowlingly and arrived at Blakeford instead. These errors allowed the militia to escape to Centreville. The British then ransacked Bowlingly, a prominent home in Queenstown. The skirmish that spoiled the surprise became known as the Battle of Slippery Hill. British and Americans exchanged fire on Queenstown Road, and an American militiaman shot the horse from under British commanding officer Sir Sydney Beckwith, adding to the confusion in the British ranks.

Queenstown, Maryland · United States