Providing For The Common Defense

Not all of the gunpowder stored in the magazine was for artillery use; some was used to make musket cartridges. On July 11, 1814, Major Armistead was ordered to prepare 320,000 rounds, and just four days later the first 20,000 had been made. This building became the ammunition depot for the entire defense of Baltimore. After the battle, Major Armistead had the magazine repaired and the walls doubled to the current size. In 1863 a larger magazine was built outside the fort walls near the present-day main gate, and during World War I coal used to heat the fort's interior buildings was stored in this room. On August 26, 1814, Captain Frederick Evans wrote, "We are here all hurry and confusion. I have at this moment the command of 60 men making musket cartridges..."

Baltimore, Maryland · United States