Lafayette in Elkridge

In April 1781 the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) and his soldiers were guarding the Chesapeake area, but were ordered to join the forces heading south to eventually be in Yorktown for the final battle against the British in Oct. 1781.  To lighten their mood and decrease desertions Lafayette had the men ride in wagons through Maryland and crossed the Patapsco River to camp at "Ridge Ferry" - Elkridge - on April 17 to 18.

"Lafayette's troops camped here April 17-18, 1781 on the way to engage Cornwallis in Virginia. George Washington passed many times."  Elk Ridge Landing marker on Rt. 1.

Lafayette's troops were poorly supplied and demoralized.  While in Baltimore, Lafayette used his own money as security to obtain supplies; the women were to make clothes out of the material and send it south.  He devised new techniques, “trying the power of novelty on their minds, by giving to the march [south] the air of a frolic.  His troops will ride in wagons and carts, from Elkridge landing to the limits of this state, and how much further he will continue this mode of movement, depends on Virginia.” 

“By these happy expedients, tranquillity and discipline were once more restored to his command; and every wagon or cart that could be procured, being put in requisition, the troops were rapidly hurried forward to Richmond. The novelty and relief pleased the soldiers; the increasing distance from their homes diminished the facility of desertion; the baggage and artillery were left to follow on; and the time thus gained was barely sufficient to check the advance of General Phillips. As Lafayette entered Richmond, the British army made its appearance at Manchester, on the opposite bank of James River.”   [McHenry in A Complete History of the Marquis de Lafayette. Hartford: 1845] 

Scharf, John.  History of Maryland 1765-1812, 1879 -

Lafayette to Gen Lee       Elk, April 10,1781.  [Elk River, 'Head of Elk' - Elkton]

"Sir:—I have received your Excellency's favor of the 8th instant, and most sincerely lament the depredations committed by the enemy. This cruel and savage way of making war is the more exasperating, as it is out of our power either to punish or prevent these devastations. Every town lying on the bay or the rivers is so defenceless and exposed, that each of them requires a force to defend it superior to what the enemy will send for its reduction. So far as relates to armed vessels and privateers, I should think that militia could be collected to oppose the landing of a few sailors. As to the movements of the British troops, they are so rapid, and it is so impossible to defend both shores of every river, that with the least judgment they may elude our opposition.

…

"It will be necessary that a collection of wagons and horses be made at Baltimore, in order to relieve those which we take from this place. I beg leave to request your Excellency will please to order that a quantity of live cattle and flour be also collected at that place; the rapidity of our movements wholly depends upon the precautions that will be taken for our transportation and subsistence. I hope, sir, that precautions will be taken for the safety of our stores now at or near Indian Landing….

Lafayette to Washington  April 17,1781   [Ridge Ferry  - Elkridge]

"My first object was to get the troops this (south) side of the Susquehanna, and request the militia officers to pick up deserters and send them to me immediately. I then made an address to the detachment, which, enforced by the difficulty of crossing the river, and the shame I endeavored to throw on desertion, has almost entirely stopped it. The men are now on the other side of the Ridge [Elkridge] Ferry, which is a new barrier: two deserters have been taken up, one of them I will have hanged tomorrow, and the other, as well as another soldier who behaved amiss, will be disgraced, so far as to be dismissed from their corps."

Scharf wrote:  "As the command of the Chesapeake by the British rendered it hazardous again to attempt the passage to Annapolis, four days after his arrival at the head of Elk, [Elkton, Md] Lafayette began his march for Virginia. Moving up the east side of the bay, he crossed the Susquehannah, on the 13th, and on the following day arrived in Baltimore. Immediately upon his arrival, to conciliate his troops and to supply their wants," ...  [Scharf, 1879]

"Lafayette crossed the Patapsco at this point [Elkridge] with his army on the way to Yorktown. One boat was overloaded and sank, drowning nine soldiers."

Scharf, John.  History of Baltimore City and County, 1881   

 
©2017 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD