John Stricker

Biography

Brigadier General John Stricker (1758–1825) was a Maryland Militia officer who fought in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He commanded the Baltimore brigade of the Maryland Militia in the Battle of North Point on September 12, 1814, which formed a part of the larger Battle of Baltimore, and was a turning point in the War of 1812.

Early life

Stricker was born on February 15, 1759, at Frederick, Maryland. He was the son of Colonel George Stricker, who served during the Revolutionary War. The younger Stricker served as a cadet under his father's command, in the 1st Maryland Regiment, commanded by William Smallwood. He was present at the battles of Princeton (January 3, 1777), Brandywine (September 11, 1777), and Monmouth (June 28, 1778).

Battle of North Point

On September 12, 1814, a British force of around 9,000 men was landed at North Point in Maryland, aiming to march upon and capture the city of Baltimore. Stricker, as Brigadier General and commander of the third brigade of the Maryland Militia, was ordered to delay the British advance, in order to buy enough time to complete the building of defensive fortifications around Baltimore.

The fifth regiment of the Maryland Militia was assigned the task of holding the right flank of the American forces, and withstood two hours of rocket fire and artillery before eventually being ordered to fall back to the newly constructed line of trenches outside Baltimore. The British army, many of whom were veterans of Napoleonic Wars, were surprised by the strong resistance of the Maryland Militia and, having taken around 300 casualties, they withdrew.

The successful defense of Baltimore was an important boost to American morale and directly contributed to the end of the War of 1812. Today The First and Second Battalions of the 175th Infantry, Maryland Army National Guard, carry on the tradition of the 5th Maryland Regiment.