throughout Talbot County were sent to St. Michaels to stand with the local infantry company, Saint Michaels Patriotic Blues, commanded by Captain Joseph Kemp with the artillery men commanded by Lieutenant William Dodson. Kemp's company and at least three of the Easton companies wore uniforms. The militia troops totaled to about 500 men, and they were led by Brigadier General Benson, Colonel Auld, and Colonel Thomas Jones. The men were quartered in the town's two churches. Benson placed three artillery batteries around the town. East of town, Dodson commanded a group of 30 men with a battery of four guns behind a small fortification. The location was Parrott's Point (also known as Parrott Point), and it was at the mouth of the town's harbor on the south side. A boom was placed across the mouth of the harbor to prevent vessels from entering. Within the town at Dawson's wharf (at the end of Mulberry Street), a two-gun battery on wheels was commanded by John Graham with John Thompson and Wrightson Jones manning the 6-pounder guns. Two more guns were placed outside of town in case the British landed behind the town and marched toward it. This battery of two guns was commanded by Lieutenant Clement Vickers and manned by men from Easton in the company Talbot Volunteer Artillerists. Videttes were stationed at various points to watch the British at Kent Island, and they reported to either Colonel Auld in St. Michaels or Brigadier General Benson in Easton. A British brig was seen making reconnaissance north of the town near Deep Water Point on the St. Michaels River. A deserter crossed the Eastern Bay and landed at Bayside. He said the British planned to attack St. Michaels within the week, but were worried about what they thought was a 10-gun battery. Battle Early in the morning on August 10, a total of 300 British soldiers and marines in nine to eighteen barges moved up the St. Michaels River. The river was over wide, and they traveled in fog and darkness along the shore opposite St. Michaels. Videttes on the St. Michaels side of the river did not observe the British force as it moved up the river and passed the harbor. The force crossed the river and arrived at about 4:00am near Parrott's Point in foggy darkness. They disembarked in water near the flank of the Dodson's guns and breastworks, and