"I have not yet seen landscape more pleasant than this part of the Susquehanna": Tracking the French and Continental Armies through Maryland

When people think about the archaeology of the American Revolution, their minds often go straight to battlefields. Often outnumbered with little supplies, colonial militia fought hard against enormous odds to gain independence from British rule, and well-preserved battlefields help relay these stories to the public. While these do indeed deserve attention, much more information about the lives of soldiers and the logistics of battle can be learned from cultural resources that lay outside the battlefield; taverns, civilian homes, and encampment sites, to name only a few, are the types of resources that can help flesh out the stories of war.

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) is currently studying similar cultural resources under a grant provided by the American Battlefield Protection Program. The grant focuses on the march of the combined forces of the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington and the French Expédition Particulière under the command of Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur Comte de Rochambeau. MHT archaeologists are specifically focusing on sites in Harford and Cecil Counties, as these areas are less likely to have been impacted by development. In 1781, many troops embarked from Elk Landing, Cecil County to make their way south to Yorktown on ships. The remainder broke into two columns to march south: infantry crossed on the ferry from Rodgers Tavern (Perryville) to Havre de Grace, while artillery and baggage accompanied by Lauzan’s Legion forded the Susquehanna River north at Bald Friar. These columns then converged in Bushtown (Abingdon) to continue south. This split resulted in “waves” of troops camping at the same campsite spread over several days, rather than staying as large groups. Less is recorded about the victorious march north, though they camped close to where they had stayed previously.

Researchers at MHT began these investigations by georectifying maps created by French engineers of encampment sites utilized during the marches. Previous studies have shown that these maps, created after the war by French cartographer Jean-Baptiste Berthier, are remarkably accurate and have helped pinpoint exact locations of the French encampment sites in modern day contexts.

Based on the results of georectification, several sites were chosen for further evaluation. Three areas in Elkton and one near Abingdon appeared to be the locations of encampment sites with no or limited development. In addition to these mapped areas, other locations were chosen for further study based on their description in primary documents like journals: the Deer Creek Friends Meeting House and a site in Churchville, both in Harford County, and Cummings Tavern in Cecil County.

Using varying combinations of magnetic susceptibility survey, gradiometer survey, ground penetrating radar, and metal detecting, MHT surveyed these seven sites with the help of 37 individual volunteers who contributed approximately 464 working hours to the efforts. Of these seven sites, two have been identified for further study – the Bushtown encampment site in Harford County and the Elk Landing site in Cecil County.

In Bushtown, troops set up encampments on the way down to Yorktown and on the march back north (Figure 1). Landowners have reported that metal detectorists have found Revolutionary War artifacts in the fields for years. The data collected by MHT archaeologists was incredibly interesting; gradiometer and magnetic susceptibility data showed areas with high metallic signatures in an area believed to be part of the Bush Furnace, which was active during the Revolutionary War. Additionally, ground penetrating radar identified at least four anomalies that share similar attributes: each described as a trench-like feature, approximately two meters long and one meter deep that starts just under the plowzone. These may be indicative of a “sink”, or latrine for the camps, which excavation will further investigate.

Figure 1: Georectified image of Bushtown map over modern-day Abingdon, Harford County, Maryland (Courtesy of MHT 2023)

Elk Landing was the site of longer encampment by troops, as well as a variety of other activities (Figure 2). Both the British and American armies moved soldiers via ship by Elk Landing over the course of the entire war, and Elk Landing saw further action during the War of 1812. Magnetic susceptibility, gradiometer, and ground penetrating radar survey were all conducted by MHT around Elk Landing. While the area nearest the Elk River appears to have been disturbed, GPR revealed an interesting group of anomalies away from the water: rectangular anomalies, approximately 1 meter wide and 50 cm deep, arranged in a semi-circle approximately 15 meters in diameter. The gradiometer results also showed a metallic signature near the western edge of this semi-circle. It is unclear from the remote sensing data what these anomalies may be, but excavations can determine if they are cultural features, and if so, their age and function.

Figure 2: Ground penetrating radar survey at Elk Landing, Cecil County, Maryland (Courtesy of MHT 2024)

MHT would like to excavate at these sites this year, which will include a large public outreach component and the ability for volunteers to work on site. It is the hope that this work can shed light on previously unknown or understudied resources, as well as provide details of the day-to-day lives of those who fought for American independence.

Note: This project was developed with the assistance of a grant from the National Park Service, as authorized under the American Battlefield Protection Program (54 USC 308101 – 308105). Any findings, opinions, or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and should not be interpreted to constitute the endorsement, policies, or views of the National Park Service, the American Battlefield Protection Program, or any other agency of the United States Government.