9am-10am: American picket lines collapse in
General Stricker received reports from his cavalry videttes that the British were enjoying breakfast at the Gorsuch. He was incensed by this news. He immediately sent what he later called "the whole of the rifle corps" to do what they could to harass and stir the British. But Dyer's riflemen returned sooner than Stricker expected, followed not long afterwards by the cavalry which had been observing the British movements since early dawn. The riflemen were made panicky by false reports from some cavalry that they were being cut off by British landings behind them. The British column resumed its march toward Baltimore a short while later, about 10am.
Map Below. Around 10am, September 12. Stricker's forces arrayed for battle.
Stricker set his main line in the woods along a fence at the edge of a
clearing. The 5th and 27th Regiments of Maryland Militia flanked the six
4-pounder guns of the Union Artillery situated on Long Log Lane (North
Point Road).
The corps of riflemen were placed on the far right of this line,
after falling back from their advanced positions.
Initially, the 51st and 39th Regiments were a short distance behind the
5th and 27th.
About a half mile further back, near Cook's tavern, was the 6th Regiment, in a
classic reserve position.
1:00-2:00 pm British General Ross mortally wounded.
Stricker, no longer having intelligence on the British force, next sent a small volunteer force forward under Major Heath. This was around 1:00 pm. This force, numbering around 250, did not advance far before encountering the now rapidly advancing British. The sounds of a small but sharp action could be heard by the American militia men waiting in array at the Bouldin Farm.
They would only later learn that it was during this brief encounter that shots fired by one or more American militiamen claimed the life of British Major General Ross. He had just ridden up to the sounds of the gunfire to assess the situation, then was shot as he turned back to bring up the straggling Light Brigade.
Map below. Around 1 pm. Major Heath's party of volunteers included Capt. Aisquith's
riflemen (Baltimore Sharp Shooters), two companies of the 5th regiment
(Capt. Levering's Independent Blues and Capt. Howard's Mechanical
Volunteers) and 1 cannon.
They do not advance far before running
headlong into the advancing British column.
After sharp skirmishing, Major Heath's volunteer party retired quickly back to the main forces arrayed at Bouldin farm. With General Ross fatally wounded, British second-in-command Col. Arthur Brooke now assumed command of the British force. Despite the unexpected loss of their popular General, the British troops pause only briefly before resuming their advance.