were discovered by African American John Stevens. Dodson's surprised men panicked, and most of them dropped their weapons and fled through a cornfield back to town. The British fired a volley from their muskets at the fleeing men, but damaged only the corn. The only men that remained with the guns were Dodson, Stevens, and a third man. The three men were able to re-position one gun, loaded with ball and canister, where it could fire effectively on the British. Having seen Dodson's men run, the British expected to capture the battery without resistance, but instead received the contents of a nine-pounder cannon. Despite their casualties, they continued to the guns while Dodson and his two men fled. The guns were captured and disabled. Concluding an important part of their mission, the British returned to the barges with their dead and wounded. The barges moved to less than half a mile (0.8 km) from town, but were unable to cross the boom that had been placed earlier. They fired at the town from two guns, then assumed a position further out in the river, where they continued firing "with much vigor". A St. Michaels legend is that the town hung lamps in trees away from the houses, confusing the British and causing them to overshoot their targets. Graham's battery at Dawson's wharf returned fire, and eventually fired a total of 10 shots. Hearing the cannon fire, the Easton artillerists moved their battery from the Bayside road to Mill Point in town, and fired a total of five shots as the British began to retreat. By 9:00am the artillery duel was over, and the British returned to their base. Benson, his infantry, and his cavalry were waiting at the town square. They outnumbered the British force, but did not need to engage. The town had been successfully defended, and did not suffer the same fate as Havre de Grace. Casualties Lieutenant Polkinghorne's report said his British ground force had losses of "only two wounded". Discussing American casualties, Benson's report mentioned that "some of the houses were perforated", but no "injury to any human being". He also implied that the British had casualties, mentioning "much blood on the grass at the water" where the British barges were located. A deserter from the Royal Navy claimed their casualties were one captain, one lieutenant of the marines, and twenty-seven privates. He also thought one