POLITICAL CHARACTER 29

waters of the state were occupied by the enemy
during the principal part of the war. Their flag
could be distinguished almost any time from the
capital of the state. The shores were frequent-
ly invaded. Several towns were wantonly des-
troyed. The principal sea port was bombarded
by a formidable fleet, and assailed at the same
time on land by a regular army. The territory
or the state was traversed by the marauding
army, which burnt the national capital. Several
severe battles were fought; and the citizens were
incessantly harrassed by the presence of the en-
emy, who having command of the waters, could
assail or retire at pleasure.

The number of Maryland militia that per-
formed actual service during the late war with
Great Britain, was nearly equal to the number
furnished by the state of New York—and more
than double the number furnished by any state
of the union except Virginia and New York. In
the year 1813, according to official returns made
to the United States War Department, Virgin-
ia had at different times, 25,577; Maryland
19,161; New York, 11,347; Ohio, 8,231; and
Tennessee, 6,914 militia in actual service—the
other states not so many. In 1814, Virginia had
42,395; New York, 35,808; Maryland, 23,320;
Pennsylvania, 15,667; i tnnrssee, 6,987; South

by the state. At this period, forty-four years after the
these of the war, nearly twenty thousand dollars are
paid annually from the state treasury in pensions to the
surviving revolutionary soldiers of the state, or to their
widows.

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