of the barges had significant damage. A second deserter believed that one of the British dead was an officer. Aftermath The British threatened St. Michaels again on August 26. This time, they sent 2,100 men in 60 barges. They landed about north of town, and 1,800 men met 500 Talbot County militia that included infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The largest Maryland Eastern Shore battle of the war lasted only a few volleys because the British withdrew. Warren reported that he had problems with desertions in the army and poor discipline in the marines. His men began preparing to sail away from Kent Island on August 22 after determining that attacks on Annapolis and Baltimore would be ill-advised because those American cities had received substantial reinforcements. He also wished to sail to Halifax, Canada, before the start of hurricane season. By September, Warren departed to Halifax, and Cockburn had departed for Bermuda. A small "skeleton force" was stationed at the Virginia Capes for blockade purposes. Performance and legend Lieutenant Polkinghorne of the British Royal Navy reported that he "deemed the object of the enterprize fulfilled". He did not see any vessels, and one of the reasons the British attacked St. Michaels was to destroy ships being built there. He captured a battery, split the carriages, and destroyed all ammunition. Contrary to Polkinghorne's report, a deserter claimed the expedition was considered a failure, with the reason given was that the expedition leader expected to meet unreliable militia, but instead had too small of a force to cope with regulars. Shots from the British six-pounder guns were generally high, and hit the roofs or higher bables of some houses. Warren's August 23 report to First Secretary of the Admiralty John W. Croker mentioned an attack upon Queenstown, but did not mention St. Michaels. The American artillerists were said to be more effective than their British counterparts. In addition to the blood found at the site where the British landed their barges, one newspaper reported that three barges were struck by shots fired by the town's artillery. Benson's report said the "militia generally behaved well", and did not mention that some fled without firing a shot. For years afterward, two of the Easton companies feuded with each other over their performance at the battle. The local story about the August 10 battle is that the town's citizens hung lanterns high in trees, fooling the