War of 1812
The 5th Maryland Regiment saw action during the War of 1812 at both the Battle of Bladensberg and the Battle of North Point. At Bladensberg the regiment was defeated, along with the rest of the army, by the advancing British, but at North Point they proved more effective. There, the Maryland Volunteers under General John Stricker bore the brunt of the British attack, holding off the enemy long enough for the defense of Baltimore to be successfully shored up. The battle formed part of the larger Battle of Baltimore and proved a turning point in the War of 1812.
Not all the militia regiments performed with equal distinction. The 51st, and some members of 39th, broke and ran under fire. However, the 5th and 27th held their ground and were able to retreat in good order having inflicted significant casualties on the advancing enemy.
Corporal John McHenry of the 5th Regiment wrote an account of the battle:
- "Our Regiment, the 5th, carried off the praise from the other regiments engaged, so did the company to which I have the honor to belong cover itself with glory. When compared to the Regiments we were the last that left the ground...had our Regiment not retreated at the time it did we should have been cut off in two minutes."
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—Paddy Chayefsky (1923–1981)