Timothy Lloyd Tilghman will lecture about the Battle of Caulk’s Field celebrating its Bicentennial Anniversary on August 31, 2014. Join the Community Breakfast Group (CBG) on Thursday, August 7, 2014, at 7:30 am to learn about this impressive War of 1812 military victory in Kent County. The Caulk’s Field battleground is one of the best preserved War of 1812 battlefields remaining for Americans to visit present day.
Sir Peter Parker, a calculating British naval officer, garnered a brash reputation by pillaging the farms and livestock of Chesapeake Bay residents. Approaching midnight on August 30, Parker anchored the HMS Menelaus near Fairlee to conduct a nighttime assault. American scouts alerted Lt. Col. Philip Reed who assembled Maryland Militia situated near Caulk House erected in 1743.
Parker, caught by surprise of cannon fire, ordered his sailors to engage an attack. During the intense firefight, Parker was struck in his thigh and bled to death on the battlefield. The British sounded a retreat carrying the deceased Parker back to his ship. Maryland had secured an important battle victory following the burning of our country’s Capitol only one week before, lifting the spirits of a war weary populace.
Lieutenant Henry Tilghman, serving in Captain Bedinfield Hand’s company, Maryland Militia 21st Regiment, commanded three volunteer artillery divisions at the battleground on August 31, 1814. Tilghman, a distant family relative, earned his Master of Arts degree from the University of Baltimore in December 2002.
CBG meets for breakfast every Thursday at 7:30AM at the Holiday Inn Express in Chestertown. Our meetings start promptly at 7:30AM, so you may want to come at 7:15AM to get your breakfast before the meeting.
Trish McGee and Jeff Reed are candidates for member of the Board of Education. They will discuss the campaign at our August 14 meeting.
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