From Bulls (or Bull) Mountain, American militia had a commanding view of the Elk Neck peninsula, the Upper Chesapeake Bay and North East River to the north and west, and Elk River to the south and east. As enemy ships approached on April 28, 1813, the Americans relayed news to military posts from here to Elkton. Early in the spring of 1813, they established a camp of observation on the summit of Bulls Mountain and stationed a company of cavalry there to watch the enemy and give notice of their approach. Before radio and telegraph, signal systems and messengers on horseback relayed information, with flags in daytime and lanterns at night sometimes displaying coded messages. On the Elk Neck peninsula, cavalry carried news from station to station.