Battle of Caulk's Field

Battle of Caulk’s Field

Date	August 31, 1814
Location	near Fairlee, Maryland
Result	American victory

Belligerents

British Empire

United States

Commanders and leaders

Sir Peter Parker †

Philip Reed

Casualties and losses

14 killed
27 wounded

3 wounded
1 captured

The Battle of Caulk’s Field occurred during the War of 1812. Similar to the Battle of Craney Island a year earlier, American militia units were able to repulse a British landing attempt along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

As part of the British attacks on Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Sir Peter Parker, captain of the frigate HMS Menelaus, was ordered to sail into the upper Chesapeake Bay in order to keep Eastern Shore militia units from crossing the bay to aid Baltimore.

Royal Navy units landed late on August 30; the battle was sometime after midnight in the early morning of August 31. The site, in Kent County on Maryland's Eastern Shore, is commemorated with a granite marker. The battle occurred east of the hamlet of Georgetown and south of Fairlee (then called Belle Air). "Georgetown Crossroads" is sometimes referred to, but that location is miles away and is now known as Galena.

On September 12, 1814, the Boston Independent Chronicle trumpeted the good news. After the humiliating burning of Washington, it was a relief:

“We do not recollect ever to have read of a more brilliant and decisive exploit by a handful of militia hastily rallied by a partizan officer, than that described in the following extract of a letter, on the correctness of which the fullest reliance may be placed :-- Nat. Int.

“Chester Town Md., Sept. 1.

“On or about the 20th … the British frigate Menelaus, rating 38, carrying 49, and pierced for 54 guns, commanded by Sir Peter Parker, Bt. made her appearance in view of Rock Hall, upon which Lieut. Col. Reed called out the 21st regiment of the Maryland militia.

“On Sunday the 28th, the enemy came on shore at the farm of Mr. Henry Waller, being on the Chesapeake Bay about seven miles above Rock Hall, and burnt his dwelling houses, barns, all other outhouses, wheat in the granary and stack, and in short destroyed every thing by fire that they possibly could – his loss is estimated at 8 or 10 thousand dollars.

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