It is no secret that our metropolitan region saw significant military action during the War of 1812. The Chesapeake Campaign involved the British invasion of Maryland, the Battle of Bladensburg, the burning of the White House and the Capitol, and, in the summer of 1814, the Battle for Baltimore. What may be less known are the valiant efforts of the Maryland Militia, who held a historic line in Dundalk to prevent the British from advancing up the North Point Peninsula and into Baltimore.

The ground held by the Maryland Militia bordered Bear Creek near the area occupied today by General Stricker Middle School and Bear Creek Park. It includes the North Point State Battlefield and Battle Acre; and, we are pleased to report that it is destined to be a spur of the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.

Established by Congress in 2008, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail System traverses approximately 560 miles of land and water routes in the Chesapeake region of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia along which British armies and American defenders traveled and fought. It physically links hundreds of national and state parks, historic sites, museums and scenic views that provide opportunities for learning, recreation, and relaxation.

The foot trail that will honor the Maryland Militia is shown below and has been dubbed the “Maryland Line Trail.” Community members behind its development wanted the trail to provide a means for those traveling up Bear Creek in small boats to land and walk on foot to Battle Acre and the North Point State Battlefield. Given that much of the land over which the trail would pass is publicly owned, the idea seemed fairly feasible, with one small exception: the last leg of the trail would need to pass over property owned by the Charlesmont Apartment Complex, a private entity.