St. Michaels, a shipbuilding village, successfully fended off two British assaults in 1813 during the War of 1812. On August 10, British forces landed and overtook the gun battery at Parrot's Point, then spiked the cannon and returned to their vessels before exchanging cannon fire with the town's militia and withdrawing down the Miles River. The British returned on August 26, landing at Wades Point and sending 1,800 troops to march on the town, where a local contingent of about 500 confronted them. After a few shots were volleyed, the British departed. A letter from St. Michaels reported that no one was hurt, although grapeshot flew through the town like hail and balls passed through a number of houses. One cannonball was said to have crashed through William Merchant's house and bounced near his wife and daughter, giving the 1805 structure the name Cannonball House.