A plan to revitalize the Benedict waterfront got approval of the Charles County Commissioners on Tuesday. The Charles County Planning Commission approved the plan in August and multiple public hearings have been held.
Charles County Commissioner Ken Robinson (D: 1st) praised the efforts of county staff for their public outreach efforts during the meeting. The plan adds a county park with historic interpretation, upgrades to the riverfront, sidewalks and streetlights and a riverfront promenade.
Historical perspective is expected to focus on the British landing and encampment sites as well as Camp Stanton. A British Army, led by General Robert Ross, landed on Benedict on August 19, 1814. Benedict was an anchorage for the British as they prepared for an assault on Washington, DC.
Camp Stanton was constructed in 1863 for the purpose of recruiting and training African American soldiers following the Emancipation Proclamation. A school was also built on Camp Stanton to educate black soldiers.
More on the War of 1812 from the Maryland State Archives: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/chron/html/war1812.html
More on Camp Stanton from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/aapaxstanton.html
