Under cover of dawn on August 10, 1813, the Battle of St. Michaels commenced as the British sent a landing party landed just south of the town, and after a brief exchange, validated the battery and returned to their boats. The British proceeded to bombard the town from the barges and a brig, but failed to destroy the shipyards or cause any substantial damage to the town. The militia returned fire from artillery batteries at Impy Dawson's wharf (the foot of Mulberry Street) and Mill Point (the foot of Carpenter Street). A contemporary report noted that "several houses were pierced" by the British fire. 